[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42284-42285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13900]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 191, 192, and 193

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039]
RIN 2137-AF51


Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 18, 2023, PHMSA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register titled: ``Pipeline Safety: 
Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair.'' PHMSA received requests to 
extend the comment period for stakeholders to have more time to 
evaluate the NPRM. PHMSA is therefore extending the comment period to 
August 16, 2023.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published at 88 FR 
31890 on May 18, 2023, is extended from July 17, 2023 to August 16, 
2023. The agency will, consistent with 49 CFR 190.323, consider late-
filed comments to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number 
PHMSA-2021-0039 by any of the following methods:
    E-Gov Web: https://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the public 
to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery: U.S. DOT Docket Management System, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Please include the docket number PHMSA-2021-0039 at 
the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, 
submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA has 
received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. 
Internet users may submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov/.

    Note: Comments are posted without changes or edits to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
There is a privacy statement published on https://www.regulations.gov.

    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), that can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from 
public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this document contain 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate 
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask 
PHMSA to give confidential treatment to information you give to the 
agency by taking the following steps: (1) mark each page of the 
original document submission containing CBI as ``Confidential''; (2) 
send PHMSA, along with the original document, a second copy of the 
original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the 
information you are submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Sayler Palabrica, Office of Pipeline Safety (PHP-30), 
Pipeline and Hazardous

[[Page 42285]]

Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 2nd Floor, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, or by email at 
[email protected]. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for accessing the docket. Alternatively, you may review 
the documents in person at the street address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sayler Palabrica, Transportation 
Specialist, by telephone at 202-744-0825 or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 18, 2023, PHMSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
titled ``Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair'' \1\ 
that proposed amendments to the pipeline safety regulations for gas 
distribution, gas transmission, gas gathering, underground natural gas 
storage, and liquefied natural gas storage facilities. Since the 
publication of the NPRM, PHMSA has received comment extension requests 
from the following entries:
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    \1\ 88 FR 31890 (May 18, 2023).

 National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives
 Gas Piping Technology Committee
 Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, American Fuel 
and Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Gas Association, American 
Petroleum Institute, American Public Gas Association, and the GPA 
Midstream Association
 Marcellus Shale Coalition
 NiSource Inc.

    PHMSA will extend the comment period for the NPRM from July 17, 
2023, to August 16, 2023. Consistent with 49 CFR 190.323, PHMSA will 
consider late-filed comments to the extent practicable.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2023, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2023-13900 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P