[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11923-11924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03140]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No: PHMSA-2023-0076]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the six information collection requests 
abstracted below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. A Federal Register notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information 
collections was published on November 6, 2023.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit comments regarding these 
information collection requests, including suggestions for reducing the 
burden, to Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk 
Officer for the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be submitted 
electronically at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-680-
2034 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations Sec.  1320.8(d), requires the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to 
provide interested members of the public and affected agencies the 
opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
requests before they are submitted to OMB for approval. In accordance 
with this regulation, on November 6, 2023, PHMSA published a Federal 
Register notice (88 FR 76270) with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments on its intent to request OMB's renewed approval of several 
information collection requests that are due to expire in 2024.
    During the 60-day comment period, PHMSA received one comment from 
National Propane Gas Association on a matter not pertaining to the 
proposed renewal of the impacted information collections.

II. Summary of Impacted Collections

    Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, requires 
PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected entities 
an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
requests. PHMSA will request a three-year term of approval for each of 
the following information collection activities.
    The following information is provided for each information 
collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control 
number; (3) Current expiration date; (4) Type of request; (5) Abstract 
of the information collection activity; (6) Description of affected 
public; (7) Estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping 
burden; and (8) Frequency of collection.
    PHMSA requests comments on the following:
    1. Title: Pipeline Safety: Integrity Management Program for Gas 
Distribution Pipelines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0625.
    Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations require operators 
of gas distribution pipelines to develop and implement integrity 
management (IM) programs. The purpose of these programs is to enhance 
safety by identifying and reducing pipeline integrity risks. PHMSA 
requires that operators maintain records demonstrating compliance with 
these requirements for 10 years and that these records must include 
superseded IM plans.
    Affected Public: Operators of gas distribution pipeline systems.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3,882.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 723,192.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    2. Title: Post-Accident Drug Testing for Pipeline Operators.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0632.
    Current Expiration Date: 8/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.

[[Page 11924]]

    Abstract: Pursuant to 49 CFR 199.227, operators are required to 
maintain records of its alcohol misuse prevention program. The post-
accident drug testing for pipeline operators information collection 
pertains specifically to 49 CFR 199.227(b)(4), that requires operators 
to maintain records of decisions not to administer post-accident 
employee alcohol tests for a minimum of three years. Operators must 
make those records available to PHMSA upon request.
    Affected Public: Operators of PHMSA-regulated pipelines.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Total Annual Responses: 609.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,218.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    3. Title: Recordkeeping Requirements for Liquefied Natural Gas 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0048.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations, 
liquefied natural gas facility operators are required to maintain 
records, make reports, and provide information regarding their 
liquefied natural gas facilities to PHMSA upon request.
    Affected Public: Operators of liquefied natural gas facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 40,400.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 12,120.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    4. Title: Customer-Owned Service Lines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0594.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to 49 CFR 192.16, operators of gas service lines 
who do not maintain their customers' buried piping between service 
lines and building walls or gas utilization equipment are required to 
send written notices to their customers prescribing the proper 
maintenance of these gas lines and of the potential hazards of not 
properly maintaining these gas lines. Operators also must maintain 
records that include a copy of the notice currently in use and evidence 
that notices were sent to customers within the previous three years. 
The purpose of the collection is to provide PHMSA with adequate 
information about how customer-owned service lines are being maintained 
to prevent the potential hazards associated with not maintaining the 
lines. Examples of sufficient notification include a prepared 
notification with the customer's bill.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 550,000.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 9,167.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    5. Title: Periodic Underwater Inspection and Notification of 
Abandoned Underwater Pipelines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0618.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations at 49 CFR 192.612 
and 49 CFR 195.413 require operators of pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico 
and its inlets in waters less than 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep to conduct 
periodic underwater inspections to determine whether the pipelines are 
exposed underwater pipelines or pose a hazard to navigation. If an 
operator discovers that its underwater pipeline is exposed or poses a 
hazard to navigation, among other remedial actions, the operator must 
contact the National Response Center by telephone within 24 hours of 
discovery and report the location of the exposed pipeline or hazardous 
pipeline.
    PHMSA's regulations for reporting the abandonment of underwater 
pipelines can be found at 49 CFR 192.727 and 49 CFR 195.59. These 
provisions contain certain requirements for disconnecting and purging 
abandoned pipelines and require operators to notify PHMSA of each 
abandoned offshore pipeline facility and each abandoned onshore 
pipeline facility that crosses over, under, or through a commercially 
navigable waterway.
    Affected Public: Operators of pipeline facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 92.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,372.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    6. Title: Recordkeeping for Underground Natural Gas Storage 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0634.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations at 49 CFR 192.12 
require operators of underground natural gas storage facilities to 
maintain documentation and provide information to PHMSA upon request. 
Examples of the required records include operations and maintenance 
procedures, results of required tests, records of inspections and 
repairs, and notifications to the public.
    Affected Public: Operators of underground natural gas storage 
facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 136.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 220.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) The need for this information collections for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended, and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2024, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
John A. Gale,
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-03140 Filed 2-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P