Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committees and a Public Workshop, 71999-72000 [07-6099]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 19, 2007 / Notices than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon application for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each of the 10 applicants has satisfied the entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirements (66 FR 53826; 66 FR 66966; 68 FR 69434; 71 FR 646; 68 FR 61857; 68 FR 75715). Each of these 10 applicants has requested renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety while driving with the respective vision deficiencies over the past two years indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption standards. These factors provide an adequate basis for predicting each driver’s ability to continue to drive safely in interstate commerce. Therefore, FMCSA concludes that extending the exemption for each renewal applicant for a period of two years is likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Request for Comments FMCSA will review comments received at any time concerning a particular driver’s safety record and determine if the continuation of the exemption is consistent with the requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315. However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit comments by January 18, 2008. FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 can be satisfied by initially granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if needed, subsequent comments submitted by interested parties. As indicated above, the Agency previously published notices of final disposition announcing its decision to exempt these 10 individuals from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). The final decision to grant an exemption to each of these individuals was based on the merits of each case and only after careful consideration of the comments received to its notices of applications. The notices of applications stated in detail the qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each applicant for an exemption from the vision requirements. That information is available by consulting the above cited Federal Register publications. VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:40 Dec 18, 2007 Jkt 214001 71999 Interested parties or organizations possessing information that would otherwise show that any, or all of these drivers, are not currently achieving the statutory level of safety should immediately notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any adverse evidence submitted and, if safety is being compromised or if continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will take immediate steps to revoke the exemption of a driver. The meetings will be at the Hotel Palomar Arlington, 1121 North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Technical Advisory Committee Meetings: Cheryl Whetsel (202) 366– 4431, cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov; • Public Workshop on Special Permit Consideration and Criteria Discussion for 7-Year Reassessments: Zach Barrett (405) 954–5559, zach.barrett@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issued on: December 12, 2007. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E7–24559 Filed 12–18–07; 8:45 am] Members of the public may attend and may make a statement during the advisory committee meetings or during the public workshop. If you plan to make a statement please notify the relevant contact under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION by January 9. Please note the meetings’ presiding officer may deny a nonscheduled request to make a statement and may also limit the time of any speaker. Comments should reference Docket ID PHMSA–RSPA–1998–4470 (advisory committee) or Docket ID PHMSA– RSPA–2000–7666 (7-year reassessment workshop). Comments may be submitted in the following ways: • E-Gov Web Site: https:// www.regulations.gov. This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12– 140, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room W12–140, on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: Identify the docket ID, at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at https:// www.regulations.gov. Note: Comments will be posted without changes or edits to https://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the Regulatory Analyses and Notices section of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information. Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received for any of our BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket ID PHMSA–RSPA–1998–4470] Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committees and a Public Workshop Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meetings and workshop. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA’s Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The Committees will meet in a joint session to discuss PHMSA’s regulatory agenda and strategic plan. In conjunction with the advisory committee meetings, PHMSA will hold a public workshop. PHMSA will hold a half day public workshop to gather comments on the use of the special permit process to allow transmission pipeline operators to vary from the 7-year reassessment interval in integrity management programs. Specifically, special permits would allow operators to tailor their reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific threats. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for use in special permits. DATES: The TPSSC and the THLPSSC will meet on Thursday, January 17, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The public meeting on special permit consideration and criteria discussion for 7-year reassessments will be on Friday, January 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ADDRESSES: I. Meeting Details E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 72000 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 19, 2007 / Notices dockets. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477). Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact Cheryl Whetsel before January 2. Issued in Washington, DC on December 14, 2007. Jeffrey D. Wiese, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 07–6099 Filed 12–14–07; 2:15 pm] II. Committee Background The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are advisory committees mandated by statute to advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments, and safety policies for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. These advisory committees are established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and the pipeline safety law (49 U.S.C. chap. 601). Each committee consists of 15 members, five each representing government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC and the THLPSSC determine the reasonableness, costeffectiveness, and practicability of each proposed safety standard. The committees also evaluate the costbenefit analysis and risk assessment information on each proposal. [STB Ex Parte No. 385 (Sub-No. 6)] mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES III. Preliminary Meeting Schedules Joint Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committees Thursday, January 17 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) The TPSSC and THLPSSC will meet to introduce new members and to discuss their roles and responsibilities. They will also discuss PHMSA’s 2008 regulatory agenda and plans to carry out the DOT and PHMSA strategic plans. Special Permit Consideration and Criteria Discussion for 7-Year Reassessments Friday, January 18 (8 a.m.–12 p.m.) Integrity management regulations applicable to gas transmission pipelines required all operators to do a baseline assessment of pipelines. PHMSA will hold a public workshop to gather comments on the use of a special permit to allow certain transmission pipeline operators to tailor reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific threats, instead of using the 7-year mandatory reassessment required now. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for these special permits. PHMSA will post more detailed agendas and any additional information or changes on its Web page (https:// phmsa.dot.gov) approximately 15 days before the meeting date. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115; 60118. VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:40 Dec 18, 2007 Jkt 214001 BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board Waybill Sample AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT. ACTION: Clarification. SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board provides notice that all railroads required to submit a waybill sample under 49 CFR part 1244 shall report fuel surcharge revenues in the waybill field ‘‘Freight Revenue,’’ columns 83–91 in the waybill file record layout. DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective on January 1, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mac Frampton, (202) 245–0317 or mac.frampton@stb.dot.gov. [Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1–800–877–8339.] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A carload waybill, which is a document describing the characteristics of an individual rail shipment, identifies originating and terminating freight stations, the names of all railroads participating in the movement, the points of all railroad interchanges, the number of cars, the car types, movement weight in hundredweight, the commodity, and the freight revenue. Under 49 CFR part 1244, a railroad is required to file carload waybill sample information (Waybill Sample) for all line-haul revenue waybills terminating on its lines if, in any of the three preceding years, it terminated 4500 or more carloads, or it terminated at least 5% of the total revenue carloads that terminate in a particular state. The Waybill Sample is the Board’s primary source of information about freight rail shipments terminated in the United States. Of particular importance, the Board relies on the data in the Freight Revenue field to compute its ‘‘Revenue Shortfall Allocation Method’’ (RSAM) benchmarks. For the most part, carriers are already reporting revenue derived from fuel surcharges within the Freight Revenue field. However, a few carriers are using the ‘‘Miscellaneous Charges’’ field to report fuel surcharge revenue. This notice clarifies that all reporting carriers PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 should report their fuel surcharge revenues in the Freight Revenue field. This clarification will provide for uniformity in the reporting of fuel surcharge revenue in the Waybill Sample and therefore improve the accuracy and utility of the Board’s RSAM calculations. To purchase a copy of this decision, write to, e-mail or call: ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd., Suite 103, Lanham, MD 20706; e-mail asapdc@verizon.net; telephone (202) 306–4004. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through FIRS at 1– 800–877–8339.] Board decisions, notices, filings, and hearings transcripts are also available on our Web site at https://www.stb.dot.gov. Decided: December 12, 2007. By the Board, Chairman Nottingham, Vice Chairman Buttrey, and Commissioner Mulvey. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–24589 Filed 12–18–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 35108] Permian Basin Railways, Inc.— Acquisition of Control Exemption— Mount Hood Railroad Permian Basin Railways, Inc. (PBR) has filed a verified notice of exemption to permit PBR to acquire control of the Mount Hood Railroad (MHRR) by purchasing 100% of the outstanding stock of MHRR.1 PBR is a noncarrier holding company, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, also a noncarrier. PBR owns the following Class III rail carriers: Texas-New Mexico Railroad, West Texas & Lubbock Railway, Arizona Eastern Railway, San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, and the Chicago Terminal Railway. The transaction is scheduled to be consummated on or about December 31, 2007, but consummation can lawfully occur no earlier than January 2, 2008, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption was filed). Applicant states that: (i) The rail lines involved in this transaction do not connect with any rail lines now controlled, directly or indirectly, by 1 A copy of a draft Agreement for Sale of Stock, as required by 49 CFR 1180.6(a)(7)(ii), was filed under seal along with a motion for protective order. The motion is being addressed in a separate decision. E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71999-72000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6099]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470]


Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Pipeline Safety Standards 
Advisory Committees and a Public Workshop

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

ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meetings and workshop.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces public meetings of PHMSA's Technical 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous 
Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The Committees 
will meet in a joint session to discuss PHMSA's regulatory agenda and 
strategic plan. In conjunction with the advisory committee meetings, 
PHMSA will hold a public workshop.
    PHMSA will hold a half day public workshop to gather comments on 
the use of the special permit process to allow transmission pipeline 
operators to vary from the 7-year reassessment interval in integrity 
management programs. Specifically, special permits would allow 
operators to tailor their reassessment intervals, based on pipe 
specific threats. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for 
use in special permits.

DATES: The TPSSC and the THLPSSC will meet on Thursday, January 17, 
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The public meeting on special permit 
consideration and criteria discussion for 7-year reassessments will be 
on Friday, January 18, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be at the Hotel Palomar Arlington, 1121 
North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     Technical Advisory Committee Meetings: Cheryl Whetsel 
(202) 366-4431, cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov;
     Public Workshop on Special Permit Consideration and 
Criteria Discussion for 7-Year Reassessments: Zach Barrett (405) 954-
5559, zach.barrett@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Meeting Details

    Members of the public may attend and may make a statement during 
the advisory committee meetings or during the public workshop. If you 
plan to make a statement please notify the relevant contact under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION by January 9. Please note the meetings' presiding 
officer may deny a nonscheduled request to make a statement and may 
also limit the time of any speaker.
    Comments should reference Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470 (advisory 
committee) or Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-2000-7666 (7-year reassessment 
workshop). Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
     E-Gov Web Site: https://www.regulations.gov. This site 
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice 
issued by any agency. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room W12-140, 
on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    Instructions: Identify the docket ID, at the beginning of your 
comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit two copies. If 
you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit 
comments at https://www.regulations.gov. Note: Comments will be posted 
without changes or edits to https://www.regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading in 
the Regulatory Analyses and Notices section of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for additional information.
    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any of our

[[Page 72000]]

dockets. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
    Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please 
contact Cheryl Whetsel before January 2.

II. Committee Background

    The TPSSC and the THLPSSC are advisory committees mandated by 
statute to advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments, 
and safety policies for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. 
These advisory committees are established under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and the pipeline safety 
law (49 U.S.C. chap. 601). Each committee consists of 15 members, five 
each representing government, industry, and the public. The TPSSC and 
the THLPSSC determine the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and 
practicability of each proposed safety standard. The committees also 
evaluate the cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment information on 
each proposal.

III. Preliminary Meeting Schedules

    Joint Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committees
    Thursday, January 17 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
    The TPSSC and THLPSSC will meet to introduce new members and to 
discuss their roles and responsibilities. They will also discuss 
PHMSA's 2008 regulatory agenda and plans to carry out the DOT and PHMSA 
strategic plans.

Special Permit Consideration and Criteria Discussion for 7-Year 
Reassessments Friday, January 18 (8 a.m.-12 p.m.)

    Integrity management regulations applicable to gas transmission 
pipelines required all operators to do a baseline assessment of 
pipelines. PHMSA will hold a public workshop to gather comments on the 
use of a special permit to allow certain transmission pipeline 
operators to tailor reassessment intervals, based on pipe specific 
threats, instead of using the 7-year mandatory reassessment required 
now. PHMSA will ask for feedback on criteria developed for these 
special permits.
    PHMSA will post more detailed agendas and any additional 
information or changes on its Web page (https://phmsa.dot.gov) 
approximately 15 days before the meeting date.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115; 60118.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 14, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 07-6099 Filed 12-14-07; 2:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

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