[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12798-12800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03361]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 191, 192, and 193

[Docket No. PHMSA-2024-0005]


Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Technical 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the Gas Pipeline

[[Page 12799]]

Advisory Committee (GPAC), to complete discussion of the notices of 
proposed rulemakings (NPRMs) titled ``Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and 
Repair'' and ``Class Location Change Requirements.''

DATES: PHMSA will hold a public meeting from March 25, 2024, to March 
29, 2024. The GPAC will meet each day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET 
(start and end times are subject to change) to discuss the NPRMs. 
However, the meeting may end early if the GPAC completes its review of 
the proposed rules. Members of the public who wish to attend are asked 
to register no later than March 18, 2024. PHMSA requests that 
individuals who require accommodations because of a disability notify 
Tewabe Asebe by email at [email protected] at least five days prior 
to the meeting. Comments on the proceedings of the GPAC meeting must be 
submitted by April 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in person at the Westin Crystal 
City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. However, PHMSA will 
provide a Microsoft Teams link on the meeting web page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=169 for the public to 
listen to the meeting (please note: attendees who participate via 
Microsoft Teams will not have the opportunity to provide comments 
during the meeting). The agenda and any additional information, 
including information on how to participate in the meeting, will be 
published on the meeting web page. Presentations will be available on 
the meeting website and at https://www.regulations.gov/ in docket 
number PHMSA-2024-0005 no later than 30 days following the meeting. You 
may submit comments, identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2024-0005, by any 
of the following methods:
     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.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays.
     Instructions: Identify Docket No. PHMSA-2024-0005 at the 
beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit 
two copies. Internet users may submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov. If you would like confirmation that PHMSA received 
your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard labeled 
``Comments on PHMSA-2024-0005.'' The docket clerk will date stamp the 
postcard prior to returning it to you via U.S. mail.
     Note: All comments received will be posted without edits 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for more information. 
Anyone can use the site to search all comments by the name of the 
submitting individual or, if the comment was submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc., the name of the signing 
individual. Therefore, please review the complete DOT Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register at 65 FR 19477 or the Privacy Notice 
at https://www.regulations.gov before submitting comments.
     Privacy Act Statement: DOT may solicit comments from the 
public regarding certain general notices. 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), which 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 (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice 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 provide 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 a copy of the original document with the CBI deleted along 
with the original, unaltered document; and (3) explain why the 
information you are submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Tewabe Asebe, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Submission containing 
CBI can also be emailed to Tewabe Asebe by encrypted 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 or to read background 
documents or comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
online instructions for accessing the dockets. Alternatively, this 
information is available by visiting DOT at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
West Building: Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9:00 
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tewabe Asebe, Office of Pipeline 
Safety, by phone at 202-366-5523 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Meeting Agenda

    The GPAC will meet from March 25, 2024, to March 29, 2024, to 
discuss ``Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair'' NPRM that PHMSA 
published in the Federal Register on May 18, 2023, (88 FR 31890),\1\ 
and if time permits the ``Class Location Change Requirements'' NPRM 
that PHMSA published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2020, (85 
FR 65142). The GPAC will review the NPRMs and their associated 
regulatory analyses, including, but not limited to, the cost-benefit 
and risk assessment analyses; regulatory impact analyses; environmental 
assessments, and other materials pertaining to the NPRMs provided in 
the respective public dockets. While the meeting is scheduled for five 
days, the GPAC may complete its review of the proposed rules in less 
time. PHMSA will post additional details on the meeting website in 
advance of the meeting as they become available.
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    \1\ The public docket for the Leak Detection and Repair NPRM can 
be found at https://regulations.gov in Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039.
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    From November 27, 2023, to December 1, 2023, the GPAC met and 
discussed part of the Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair NPRM and 
provided to PHMSA recommendations on a number of the proposed 
requirements. The transcript of the meeting is posted on the meeting 
website at: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=167 
and at https://www.regulations.gov/. The Leak Detection and Repair NPRM 
proposes to make regulatory amendments that implement congressional 
mandates in the ``Protecting Our Infrastructure of

[[Page 12800]]

Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020'' to enhance safety and 
reduce methane emissions from new and existing gas transmission 
pipelines, distribution pipelines, regulated (Types A, B, C, and 
offshore) gas gathering pipelines, underground natural gas storage 
facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities. Among the proposed 
amendments for part 192-regulated gas pipelines are strengthened 
leakage survey and patrolling requirements; performance standards for 
advanced leak detection programs; leak grading and repair criteria with 
mandatory repair timelines; requirements for mitigation of emissions 
from blowdowns; pressure relief device design, configuration, and 
maintenance requirements; and clarified requirements for investigating 
failures. Finally, this NPRM proposes to expand reporting requirements 
for operators of all gas pipeline facilities within DOT's jurisdiction, 
including underground natural gas storage facilities and liquefied 
natural gas facilities. PHMSA requested public comments with a 
submission deadline of August 16, 2023.\2\ PHMSA received over 43,000 
comments on the NPRM.
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    \2\ 88 FR 42284.
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    In the ``Class Location Change Requirements'' NPRM, PHMSA proposes 
to revise the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations to amend the 
requirements for gas transmission pipeline segments that experience a 
change in class location. Under the existing regulations, pipeline 
segments located in areas where the population density has 
significantly increased must perform one of the following actions: 
reduce the pressure of the pipeline segment; pressure test the pipeline 
segment to higher standards; or replace the pipeline segment. This 
proposed rule would add an alternative set of requirements operators 
could use--based on implementation of integrity management principles 
and pipe eligibility criteria--to manage certain pipeline segments 
where the class location has changed from a Class 1 location to a Class 
3 location. Through required periodic assessments, repair criteria, and 
other additional preventive and mitigative measures, PHMSA expects this 
alternative approach will provide long-term safety benefits consistent 
with the current natural gas pipeline safety rules while also providing 
cost savings for pipeline operators. PHMSA requested public comments 
with a submission deadline of December 14, 2020.\3\ PHMSA received 14 
comments on the NPRM.
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    \3\ 85 FR 65142
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    Following the GPAC meeting, PHMSA will evaluate the GPAC's 
recommendations and publish final rules that address the comments 
received and relevant information from the GPAC meeting report.

II. Background

    The GPAC is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that provides 
the Secretary of Transportation and PHMSA with recommendations on 
proposed standards for the transportation of gas by pipeline. The 
committee was established in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 60115 and the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463) to 
review PHMSA's regulatory initiatives and determine their technical 
feasibility, reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability. 
The committee consists of 15 members, with membership evenly divided 
among Federal and State governments, regulated industry, and the 
general public.

III. Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who 
wish to attend must register on the meeting website and include their 
names and affiliations. PHMSA will provide members of the public 
reasonable opportunity to make a statement during this meeting. 
However, commenters may be limited to 3 minutes each to accommodate the 
business of the committee, and trade organizations are asked to have no 
more than one speaker per organization. PHMSA will provide a Microsoft 
Teams link on the meeting web page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=169 for the public to listen to the meeting 
(please note: attendees who listen to the meeting via Microsoft Teams 
will not have the opportunity to make a statement during the meeting). 
Additionally, PHMSA will record the meeting and post the recording to 
the public docket. PHMSA is committed to providing all participants 
with equal access to this meeting. Comments on the proceedings of the 
GPAC meeting must be submitted by April 29, 2024. If you need an 
accommodation due to a disability, please contact Tewabe Asebe by phone 
at 202-366-5523 or by email at [email protected].
    PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register quickly enough to provide timely notice regarding last-minute 
issues that impact a previously announced advisory committee meeting 
including start and end times. Therefore, individuals should check the 
meeting website or contact Tewabe Asebe regarding any possible changes.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 14, 2024, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2024-03361 Filed 2-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P