Pipeline Safety: Dynamic Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and Monitoring Records on Offshore Floating Facilities., 38024-38025 [E8-14953]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices
this notice. Renewal of the exemption
will enable these 11 drivers to continue
to operate CMVs as part of a team of
drivers to develop, design and/or test
engines for vehicles that will be
manufactured, assembled, sold or
primarily used in the United States.
The drivers are: Shiro Fukuda, Wataru
Kumakura, Takehito Yaguchi, Tsutomu
Yamazaki, Toshiya Asari, Shintaro
Moroi, Masaru Otsu, Satoru Amemiya,
Tsuyoshi Koyama, Nobuyuki Miyazaki,
and Hiroyoshi Takahashi. These drivers
are a team of Isuzu engineers and
technicians who operate CMVs in the
United States to test and evaluate
production and prototype CMVs to be
sold for use on U.S. highways. Isuzu
estimates that each driver will drive
approximately 5,000 miles per year on
U.S. roads. The drivers have valid
Japanese-issued CDLs and are
experienced CMV operators. Each of the
drivers satisfied strict standards in order
to obtain a CDL in Japan, and each has
extensive CMV training and experience.
Isuzu believes that the drivers will
continue to achieve a level of safety
equivalent to the level of safety that
would be obtained absent the
exemption. Isuzu states in its
application for exemption that none of
these drivers received any traffic
citations or was involved in any
accidents from the inception of the
exemption on October 16, 2003, through
the date of this application for renewal.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Method To Ensure an Equivalent or
Greater Level of Safety
Drivers applying to obtain a Japaneseissued CDL must successfully pass a
knowledge test and a skills test before
a license to operate a CMV is issued.
Prior to taking the tests, drivers are
required to hold a conventional driver’s
license for at least three years. Thus, the
requirements of a Japanese-issued CDL
are considered comparable to, or at least
as effective as, the requirements of 49
CFR part 383. The process of licensure
in Japan assesses the driver’s ability to
operate a CMV in a manner comparable
to the process of licensure employed by
States of the United States. A driver
granted a Japanese CDL may legally
operate any CMV permitted on the roads
of Japan; there are no limits on the type
or weight of vehicles that may be
operated by CMV drivers.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C.
31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA
requests public comment on Isuzu’s
request for renewal of the exemption of
these 11 CMV drivers from the
requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. The
Agency requests that interested parties
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:51 Jul 01, 2008
Jkt 214001
with specific data concerning the safety
record of drivers listed in this notice
submit comments by August 1, 2008.
FMCSA will review all comments
received by close of business on this
date. To the extent practicable, the
Agency will consider comments
received in the public docket after this
date. Comments will be available for
examination in the docket as described
in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Issued on: June 26, 2008.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and
Program Development.
[FR Doc. E8–14995 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping
Requirements; Agency Information
Collection Activity Under OMB Review
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice
announces that the Information
Collection abstracted below has been
forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. The nature of the information
collection is described as well as its
expected burden. The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on the following
collection of information was published
on February 22, 2008, and comments
were due by April 22, 2008. No
comments were received.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before August 1, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean
McKeever, Maritime Administration,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone:
202–366–5737; or e-mail:
jean.mckeever@dot.gov. Copies of this
collection also can be obtained from that
office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maritime
Administration (MARAD).
Title: Title XI Obligation Guarantees.
OMB Control Number: 2133–0018.
Type of Request: Extension of
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals/
businesses interested in obtaining loan
guarantees for construction or
reconstruction of vessels as well as
businesses interested in shipyard
modernization and improvements.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Forms: MA–163, MA–163A.
Abstract: In accordance with the
Merchant Marine Act, 1936, MARAD is
authorized to execute a full faith and
credit guarantee by the United States of
debt obligations issued to finance or
refinance the construction or
reconstruction of vessels. In addition,
the program allows for financing
shipyard modernization and
improvement projects.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 280
hours.
Addressees: Send comments to the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attention
MARAD Desk Officer.
Comments Are Invited on: Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection; ways
to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
within 30 days of publication.
Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 26,
2008.
Murray Bloom,
Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E8–15017 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket ID PHMSA–2008–0162]
Pipeline Safety: Dynamic Riser
Inspection, Maintenance, and
Monitoring Records on Offshore
Floating Facilities.
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory
Bulletin.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: To remind owners and
operators of the importance of retaining
inspection, maintenance, and
monitoring records for dynamic risers
located on offshore floating facilities.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 2, 2008 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Komiskey at 202–366–3169, or
by e-mail to
Elizabeth.Komiskey@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
A recent natural gas leak from a steel
catenary export riser in the Gulf of
Mexico created significant and
unexpected risk, as well as major supply
disruption. Though a root cause analysis
of this incident is not yet complete,
visual inspection by divers has
determined that the source of the leak
was a flexible joint on the riser. PHMSA
regularly monitors pipeline incidents
and operator performance nationwide
and responds as incident trends
necessitate, through an array of
regulatory measures including advisory
bulletins.
In 2004, another offshore riser flexible
joint failure resulted in a small oil spill.
Subsequent preemptive visual
inspections performed on other steel
catenary riser flexible joints in the Gulf
of Mexico discovered damage to the
elastomeric seal area near the rotating
ball and drove the replacement of four
flexible joints. The flexible joint riser
failures described above have created
potential safety risks on floating
production facilities, and have impacted
delivery of energy supplies from the
Gulf of Mexico.
The national consensus standard for
dynamic risers, American Petroleum
Institute Recommended Practice 2RD, is
currently under revision. The revised
version will directly address concerns
raised in this Advisory Bulletin by
including guidance for integrity
management of dynamic risers. PHMSA
will consider adopting the revised
standard into its regulations for both
natural gas and hazardous liquid
pipelines.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Advisory Bulletin (ABD–08–06)
To: Owners and operators of
hazardous liquid and natural gas
pipelines located on offshore floating
facilities.
Subject: Dynamic Riser Inspection,
Maintenance, and Monitoring Records
on Offshore Floating Facilities.
Purpose: To remind owners and
operators of the importance of retaining
inspection, maintenance, and
monitoring records for dynamic risers
located on offshore floating facilities.
PHMSA advises operators of
hazardous liquid and natural gas
pipelines with dynamic risers, such as
steel catenary risers on offshore floating
production facilities, to perform regular
inspection and maintenance of these
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:51 Jul 01, 2008
Jkt 214001
risers, monitor nearby environmental
conditions, and maintain records of
these activities. Failure of a dynamic
riser could significantly impact safety,
the environment, and delivery of an
important source of natural gas and
petroleum products used in the United
States. PHMSA strongly urges operators
to perform the above-listed actions and
any other actions needed to ensure the
safe and reliable operation of these
systems.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 25,
2008.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E8–14953 Filed 7–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Ex Parte No. 646 (Sub-No. 2)]
Simplified Standards for Rail Rate
Cases—Taxes in Revenue Shortfall
Allocation Method
Surface Transportation Board.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation
Board seeks public comments on a
proposal to adjust its Revenue Shortfall
Allocation Method (RSAM), which is a
component of its simplified standards
for reviewing the reasonableness of a
challenged rail rate, in order to account
for taxes.
DATES: Comments are due by August 1,
2008. Reply comments are due by
September 2, 2008. Rebuttal comments
are due by September 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted either via the Board’s e-filing
format or in the traditional paper
format. Any person using e-filing should
file a document and otherwise comply
with the instructions at the E-FILING
link on the Board’s Web site, at https://
www.stb.dot.gov. Any person submitting
a filing in the traditional paper format
should send an original and 10 copies
to: Surface Transportation Board, Attn:
STB Ex Parte No. 646 (Sub-No.2), 395 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423–
0001.
Copies of written comments will be
available for viewing and self-copying
in the Board’s Public Docket Room,
Room 131, and will be posted to the
Board’s Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Timothy Strafford at 202–245–0356.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is
available through the Federal
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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38025
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
RSAM figure is one of three benchmarks
that together are used to determine the
reasonableness of a challenged rail rate.
Each benchmark is expressed as a ratio
of revenues to variable costs (R/VC
ratio). RSAM is intended to measure the
average markup that the railroad would
need to collect from all of its
‘‘potentially captive traffic’’ (traffic with
an R/VC ratio above 180%) to earn
adequate revenues as measured by the
Board under 49 U.S.C. 10704(a)(2) (i.e.,
earn a return on investment equal to the
railroad industry cost of capital). The
second benchmark, the R/VC>180
benchmark, measures the average
markup over variable cost currently
earned by the defendant railroad on its
potentially captive traffic. The third
benchmark, the R/VCcomp benchmark, is
used to compare the markup being paid
by the challenged traffic to the average
markup assessed on other comparable
potentially captive traffic.
In Simplified Standards for Rail Rate
Cases, STB Ex. Parte 646 (Sub-No. 1)
(STB served Sept. 5, 2007) (Simplified
Standards), the Board changed the way
the RSAM benchmark is calculated to
address a flaw in that calculation.1
Under the current RSAM formula, the
Board uses the confidential Carload
Waybill Sample 2 to estimate the total
revenues earned by the carrier on
potentially captive traffic (REV>180) and
the total variable costs of the railroad to
handle that traffic (VC>180). The Board
also uses the carrier’s revenue shortfall
(or overage) shown in the Board’s
annual revenue adequacy determination
(REVshort/overage). RSAM is then
calculated as follows:
RSAM = (REV>180 + REVshort/overage) ÷
VC>180
In E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. v.
CSX Transportation, Inc., STB Docket
1 Previously, RSAM had been calculated by
computing the uniform markup above variable cost
that would be needed from all potentially captive
traffic ‘‘for the carrier to recover all of its URCS
fixed costs.’’ Rate Guidelines—Non-Coal
Proceedings, 1 S.T.B. 1004, 1027 (1996). When a
carrier is not ‘‘revenue adequate’’ under the Board’s
annual calculations, its RSAM figure (what it needs
to collect) should be greater than its R/VC >180 figure
(what it is actually collecting) and, conversely,
when a carrier is ‘‘revenue adequate’’ its RSAM
figure should be less than or equal its R/VC>180
figure. The problem was that this relationship
between RSAM and R/VC>180 did not hold true
under the Board’s prior method. See, e.g.,
Simplified Standards at 19–20.
2 The Carload Waybill Sample is a statistical
sampling of railroad waybills that is collected and
maintained for use by the Board and by the public
(with appropriate restrictions to protect the
confidentiality of individual traffic data). See 49
CFR 1244.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38024-38025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14953]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket ID PHMSA-2008-0162]
Pipeline Safety: Dynamic Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and
Monitoring Records on Offshore Floating Facilities.
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To remind owners and operators of the importance of retaining
inspection, maintenance, and monitoring records for dynamic risers
located on offshore floating facilities.
[[Page 38025]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Komiskey at 202-366-3169, or
by e-mail to Elizabeth.Komiskey@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
A recent natural gas leak from a steel catenary export riser in the
Gulf of Mexico created significant and unexpected risk, as well as
major supply disruption. Though a root cause analysis of this incident
is not yet complete, visual inspection by divers has determined that
the source of the leak was a flexible joint on the riser. PHMSA
regularly monitors pipeline incidents and operator performance
nationwide and responds as incident trends necessitate, through an
array of regulatory measures including advisory bulletins.
In 2004, another offshore riser flexible joint failure resulted in
a small oil spill. Subsequent preemptive visual inspections performed
on other steel catenary riser flexible joints in the Gulf of Mexico
discovered damage to the elastomeric seal area near the rotating ball
and drove the replacement of four flexible joints. The flexible joint
riser failures described above have created potential safety risks on
floating production facilities, and have impacted delivery of energy
supplies from the Gulf of Mexico.
The national consensus standard for dynamic risers, American
Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 2RD, is currently under
revision. The revised version will directly address concerns raised in
this Advisory Bulletin by including guidance for integrity management
of dynamic risers. PHMSA will consider adopting the revised standard
into its regulations for both natural gas and hazardous liquid
pipelines.
Advisory Bulletin (ABD-08-06)
To: Owners and operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas
pipelines located on offshore floating facilities.
Subject: Dynamic Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and Monitoring
Records on Offshore Floating Facilities.
Purpose: To remind owners and operators of the importance of
retaining inspection, maintenance, and monitoring records for dynamic
risers located on offshore floating facilities.
PHMSA advises operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas
pipelines with dynamic risers, such as steel catenary risers on
offshore floating production facilities, to perform regular inspection
and maintenance of these risers, monitor nearby environmental
conditions, and maintain records of these activities. Failure of a
dynamic riser could significantly impact safety, the environment, and
delivery of an important source of natural gas and petroleum products
used in the United States. PHMSA strongly urges operators to perform
the above-listed actions and any other actions needed to ensure the
safe and reliable operation of these systems.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 25, 2008.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E8-14953 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
