[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 167 (Tuesday, September 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42506-42507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16717]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
[Docket No.: PHMSA-2025-0680]
Pipeline Safety: Gas and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committees
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations for membership.
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SUMMARY: The Department solicits nominations for membership to serve on
the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the
Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), and the Technical Hazardous
Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the Liquid
Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC). GPAC and LPAC are Federal advisory
committees that review and provide recommendations on standards
affecting pipeline safety.
DATES: Nominations for GPAC and LPAC members must be received on or
before October 2, 2025.
ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should refer to the docket number
above and be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Berry, Transportation
Specialist, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 720-601-
3577. Interested parties can also access information about GPAC and
LPAC by visiting PHMSA's website at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards-rulemaking/pipeline/pipeline-advisory-committees.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GPAC and LPAC (``the Committees'') were
established by the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) in
accordance with 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 60115 and are operated
in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Ch. 10.
The purpose of the Committees is to review and provide recommendations
on the technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and
practicability of proposed amendments to PHMSA's Federal pipeline
safety standards. The Committees also review and provide
recommendations on the risk assessments that PHMSA prepares to support
those proposed amendments.
The Committees are subject to renewal every two years and are
expected to meet approximately four times each calendar year. Unless
otherwise required by law or approved by the Secretary, all meetings
will be held virtually.
In this notice, the Department is soliciting nominations for
membership to the Committees. The Committees provide advice to the
Secretary and PHMSA and report to the Associate Administrator for
Pipeline Safety. Members are appointed by the Secretary after
consultation with public and private agencies that are concerned with
the technical aspect of gas or hazardous liquid transportation or the
operation of pipeline facilities. GPAC members must be experienced in
the safety regulation of gas transportation and pipeline facilities or
must be qualified technically to evaluate gas pipeline safety standards
or risk-management principles by their training, experience, or
knowledge in one or more fields of engineering applicable to the
transportation of gas or operation of a gas pipeline facility. LPAC
members must be experienced in the safety regulation of transporting
hazardous liquid and of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities or
technically qualified--by training, experience, or knowledge in at
least one field of engineering applicable to transporting hazardous
liquid or operating a hazardous liquid pipeline facility--to evaluate
hazardous liquid pipeline safety standards or risk management
principles.
The Committees shall each comprise approximately 15 members that
include: (1) five members from departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities of the Federal Government and the States; (2) five
members from the natural gas or
[[Page 42507]]
hazardous liquid industry, selected in consultation with industry
representatives; and (3) five members from the public. Two of the
government members of each Committee must be State officials. In
addition, each Committee must have at least three industry members who
currently participate in the active operation of natural gas or
hazardous liquid pipelines or pipeline facilities, while at least one
industry member must have a background, education, or experience in
risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Each Committee must have two
public members who have a background, education, or experience in
environmental protection or public safety, while at least one public
member must have a background, education, or experience in risk
assessment and cost-benefit analysis. At least one public member of
each Committee may not have any financial interest in the pipeline,
petroleum, or natural gas industries. Finally, no public member of a
Committee may have a significant financial interest in the pipeline,
petroleum, or natural gas industries.
Members will serve three-year terms but may be reappointed. Past
members of the Committees are welcome to apply. The Department is
interested in ensuring membership is balanced fairly in terms of the
points of view represented and the functions to be performed by each
Committee. PHMSA is also interested in applicants who can provide
recommendations on the technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-
effectiveness, and practicability of proposed amendments to the Federal
pipeline safety standards and on the risk assessments that PHMSA
prepares to support those amendments.
Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Qualified
individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by any individual or
organization. To be considered for the Committees, nominators should
submit the following information:
(1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone,
fax, and email address) of the individual requesting consideration.
(2) A letter of support from a company, union, trade association,
academic, or nonprofit organization on letterhead containing a brief
description of why the nominee should be considered for membership.
(3) Short biography of nominee, including professional and academic
credentials.
(4) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Committee
eligibility requirements.
Please do not send company, trade association, or organization
brochures, or any other information. Materials submitted should total
two pages or less. Should more information be needed, DOT staff will
contact the nominee, obtain information from the nominee's past
affiliations, or obtain information from publicly available sources,
such as the internet.
Nominations must be received before October 2, 2025. Nominees
selected for appointment to the Committees will be notified by return
email and by a letter of appointment.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2025.
Linda Daugherty,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2025-16717 Filed 8-29-25; 8:45 am]
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