Pipeline Safety: Meetings on Assuring Distribution Pipeline Integrity, 15988-15989 [05-6067]

Download as PDF 15988 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 29, 2005 / Notices 7. Spyker argues that granting the exemption would be consistent with the Agency’s previous decisions.5 8. Spyker argues that granting the exemption would increase choices available to the U.S. driving population in the high-performance vehicle segment. 9. Spyker argues that granting the exemption would increase jobs in the U.S. associated with sales and maintenance of the C–8. published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov. We shall consider all comments received before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated below. To the extent possible, we shall also consider comments filed after the closing date. We shall publish a notice of final action on the application in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. IV. How You May Comment On Spyker Application Comment closing date: April 28, 2005. (49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50. and 501.8) We invite you to submit comments on the application described above. You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No NHTSA–2005–20455] by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site by clicking on ‘‘Help and Information’’ or ‘‘Help/Info.’’ • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https:// dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket in order to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL– 401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 5 See 69 FR 5658 (February 5, 2004), and 69 FR 3192 (January 22, 2004). VerDate jul<14>2003 17:01 Mar 28, 2005 Jkt 205001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Feygin in the Office of Chief Counsel, NCC–112, (Phone: 202–366– 2992; Fax 202–366–3820; E-mail: George.Feygin@nhtsa.dot.gov). Issued on: March 23, 2005. Stephen R. Kratzke, Associate Administrator for Rulemaking. [FR Doc. 05–6073 Filed 3–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–59–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) [Docket No. PHMSA–04–19854] Pipeline Safety: Meetings on Assuring Distribution Pipeline Integrity Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of meetings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) plans to conduct several work group meetings in 2005 to evaluate ways to enhance integrity of gas distribution pipeline systems. The work groups include representatives of OPS, state pipeline safety regulators, the gas distribution industry, the Gas Pipeline Technology Committee, the Fire Marshal’s Association, and the public. The next meeting will be held March 29–31, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. ADDRESSES: The March 29–31 meeting will be held at Hilton Suites Dallas North, 13402 Noel Road, Dallas, Texas 75240. The phone number for Hilton reservations is (972) 503–8701. The particular meeting rooms will be posted by the hotel each day. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni, OPS, (202) 366–4571; mike.israni@dot.gov. OPS has implemented regulations over the last five years to address integrity management of hazardous liquid and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00172 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 gas transmission pipelines. OPS has now begun an effort to consider whether requirements should be imposed to enhance the integrity of gas distribution pipeline systems and, if so, how those requirements should be structured. OPS is working with a work group consisting of representatives of state pipeline safety regulators, the gas distribution industry, the Gas Pipeline Technology Committee, the Fire Marshal’s Association, and the public. Members of this group plan to meet periodically in 2005 to evaluate various topics regarding the need for and nature of potential distribution integrity management requirements. Executive represents of the study group met in Dulles, VA on March 16 and 17, 2005, to begin this effort. That group concluded that further investigation of potential approaches to assuring distribution integrity is needed. The executive group further concluded that the most useful approach is likely to include a combination of a high-level, risk-based federal regulation with implementation guidance included in a consensus standard or a guidance document. States, which are principally responsible for regulating distribution system safety, could impose additional requirements beyond the federal regulation and could adopt all or portions of the guidance. The executive group also concluded that a program of public education could be important to reducing the frequency of damage caused by excavations near distribution pipelines and that research and development should be conducted to identify improved means of assessing the integrity of distribution pipelines. The continued evaluation of the potential need for distribution integrity management requirements and/or guidance will begin with meetings to be held at Hilton Suites Dallas North, 13402 Noel Road Dallas, Texas 75240, on March 29–31, 2005. Meetings on March 29 and 30 will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and March 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The participants will be formed into four study groups to evaluate strategic options, risk control practices, protection against outside force damage, and data issues related to understanding distribution integrity threats. The agenda for this meeting will include: Joint Meeting Introduction & Planned Report to Congress. Mission, Action Plan and Options. Group Structure & Responsibilities. Charge to Sub Groups. Steering Committee Decisions and Direction. E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 29, 2005 / Notices Industry Views on Plan, Options & Team Responsibilities. Individual Study Groups Each sub group will discuss what it needs to do to accomplish its mission. Each will: • Identify specific tasks that need to be accomplished. • Identify inputs needed from other sub groups or other sources. • Identify support needs to accomplish needed tasks. • Develop a draft schedule for accomplishing its mission. The sub groups will report their findings in a joint session before the meeting is adjourned. OPS expects that this effort will involve a series of meetings by each sub group, and the Steering Committee. The date and time of future meetings will be set to suit the schedules of the participants. OPS will announce the time and place of future meetings on the Web site (https://ops.dot.gov). OPS will also post on that web site minutes of meetings, copies of nonproprietary documents considered during the meetings, and work group products. Interested persons may attend these meetings as observers. Observers will be given an opportunity to provide comments at the end of day. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115. Florence L. Hamn, Director, Office of Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 05–6067 Filed 3–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION diamond crossings at Bushnell are restored.1 As a condition to this exemption, any employees affected by the acquisition of the temporary trackage rights will be protected by the conditions imposed in Norfolk and Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN, 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.— Lease and Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980), and any employee affected by the discontinuance of those trackage rights will be protected by the conditions set out in Oregon Short Line R. Co.—Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C.91 (1979). This notice is filed under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(8). If it contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the transaction. An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB Finance Docket No. 34668, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423– 0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on Daniel A. LaKemper, Keokuk Junction Railway Co., 1318 S. Johanson Road, Peoria, IL 61607. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at https:// www.stb.dot.gov. Decided: March 22, 2005. By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 05–6025 Filed 3–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 34668] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Keokuk Junction Railway Co.— Temporary Trackage Rights Exemption—BNSF Railway Company Surface Transportation Board BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has agreed to grant temporary overhead trackage rights to Keokuk Junction Railway Co. (KJRY) over BNSF’s lines between Blair Junction, IL (Beardstown Subdivision milepost 157.1), and Bushnell, IL (Brookfield Subdivision milepost 191.5), a distance of approximately 3.5 miles. The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on March 18, 2005, and the temporary trackage rights will expire on or before March 17, 2006. The purpose of the temporary trackage rights is to allow KJRY to bridge its trains between Blair Junction and a point just to the east of Bushnell until the VerDate jul<14>2003 17:01 Mar 28, 2005 Jkt 205001 [STB Docket No. AB–32 (Sub–No. 93X), STB Docket No. 355 (Sub–No. 31X)] Boston and Maine Corporation— Discontinuance of Service Exemption—in Suffolk County, MA; Springfield Terminal Railway Company—Discontinuance of Service Exemption—in Suffolk County, MA On March 11, 2005, the Boston and Maine Corporation (B&M) and Springfield Terminal Railway Company (ST) jointly filed with the Board a 1 The Board ordered the restoration of the diamond crossings in Keokuk Junction Railway Company—Feeder Line Acquisition—Line of Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway Corporation Between La Harpe and Hollis, IL, STB Finance Docket No. 34335 (STB served Feb. 7, 2005). PO 00000 Frm 00173 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15989 petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903. B&M and ST seek to discontinue service over a line of railroad known as the Mystic Wharf Branch, extending from milepost 0.0 to milepost 1.45 in Suffolk County, MA.1 The line traverses U.S. Postal Service ZIP Code 02129 and includes no stations. The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in the possession of B&M will be made available promptly to those requesting it. The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line R.Co.— Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). By issuing this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be issued by June 29, 2005. Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) will be due no later than 10 days after service of a decision granting the petition for exemption. Each OFA must be accompanied by a $1,200 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).2 All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket Nos. AB–32 (Sub-No. 93) and AB–355 (Sub-No. 31X), and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–0001, and (2) Katherine E. Potter, Law Department, Iron House Park, North Billerica, MA 01862. Replies to the petition are due on or before April 20, 2005. Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance procedures may contact the Board’s Office of Public Services at (202) 565–1592 or refer to the full abandonment or discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the Board’s Section of Environmental Analysis at 1 In 2003, B&M sold the underlying real estate, track and related structures of the Mystic Wharf Branch to the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), and retained a perpetual easement to perform rail service. Massport also entered into an operating agreement with B&M and ST for ST to provide rail service on the line. See Massachusetts Port Authority—Acquisition Exemption—Certain Assets of Boston and Maine Corporation, STB Finance Docket No. 34276 (STB served Mar. 25, 2003). Because B&M is seeking authority only to discontinue service over the line, B&M remains obligated to seek abandonment authority to extinguish fully its common carrier rights and obligations under the perpetual easement. 2 Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are not appropriate. Likewise, no environmental or historic documentation is required under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and 1105.8. E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15988-15989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6067]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

[Docket No. PHMSA-04-19854]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings on Assuring Distribution Pipeline 
Integrity

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) plans to conduct several 
work group meetings in 2005 to evaluate ways to enhance integrity of 
gas distribution pipeline systems. The work groups include 
representatives of OPS, state pipeline safety regulators, the gas 
distribution industry, the Gas Pipeline Technology Committee, the Fire 
Marshal's Association, and the public. The next meeting will be held 
March 29-31, 2005, in Dallas, Texas.

ADDRESSES: The March 29-31 meeting will be held at Hilton Suites Dallas 
North, 13402 Noel Road, Dallas, Texas 75240. The phone number for 
Hilton reservations is (972) 503-8701. The particular meeting rooms 
will be posted by the hotel each day.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni, OPS, (202) 366-4571; 
mike.israni@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPS has implemented regulations over the 
last five years to address integrity management of hazardous liquid and 
gas transmission pipelines. OPS has now begun an effort to consider 
whether requirements should be imposed to enhance the integrity of gas 
distribution pipeline systems and, if so, how those requirements should 
be structured. OPS is working with a work group consisting of 
representatives of state pipeline safety regulators, the gas 
distribution industry, the Gas Pipeline Technology Committee, the Fire 
Marshal's Association, and the public. Members of this group plan to 
meet periodically in 2005 to evaluate various topics regarding the need 
for and nature of potential distribution integrity management 
requirements.
    Executive represents of the study group met in Dulles, VA on March 
16 and 17, 2005, to begin this effort. That group concluded that 
further investigation of potential approaches to assuring distribution 
integrity is needed. The executive group further concluded that the 
most useful approach is likely to include a combination of a high-
level, risk-based federal regulation with implementation guidance 
included in a consensus standard or a guidance document. States, which 
are principally responsible for regulating distribution system safety, 
could impose additional requirements beyond the federal regulation and 
could adopt all or portions of the guidance. The executive group also 
concluded that a program of public education could be important to 
reducing the frequency of damage caused by excavations near 
distribution pipelines and that research and development should be 
conducted to identify improved means of assessing the integrity of 
distribution pipelines.
    The continued evaluation of the potential need for distribution 
integrity management requirements and/or guidance will begin with 
meetings to be held at Hilton Suites Dallas North, 13402 Noel Road 
Dallas, Texas 75240, on March 29-31, 2005. Meetings on March 29 and 30 
will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and March 31 from 8:30 a.m. 
to 11 a.m. The participants will be formed into four study groups to 
evaluate strategic options, risk control practices, protection against 
outside force damage, and data issues related to understanding 
distribution integrity threats. The agenda for this meeting will 
include:

Joint Meeting

    Introduction & Planned Report to Congress.
    Mission, Action Plan and Options.
    Group Structure & Responsibilities.
    Charge to Sub Groups.
    Steering Committee Decisions and Direction.

[[Page 15989]]

    Industry Views on Plan, Options & Team Responsibilities.

Individual Study Groups

    Each sub group will discuss what it needs to do to accomplish its 
mission. Each will:
     Identify specific tasks that need to be accomplished.
     Identify inputs needed from other sub groups or other 
sources.
     Identify support needs to accomplish needed tasks.
     Develop a draft schedule for accomplishing its mission.
    The sub groups will report their findings in a joint session before 
the meeting is adjourned.
    OPS expects that this effort will involve a series of meetings by 
each sub group, and the Steering Committee. The date and time of future 
meetings will be set to suit the schedules of the participants. OPS 
will announce the time and place of future meetings on the Web site 
(https://ops.dot.gov). OPS will also post on that web site minutes of 
meetings, copies of nonproprietary documents considered during the 
meetings, and work group products.
    Interested persons may attend these meetings as observers. 
Observers will be given an opportunity to provide comments at the end 
of day.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115.

Florence L. Hamn,
Director, Office of Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-6067 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M

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