Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of Operators' Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe, 4327-4328 [2022-01596]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2022 / Notices
2021.1 FRA determined that many
estimated paperwork burdens were
either outdated or accounted for in other
regulatory sections. Additionally, FRA
found the associated burdens related to
train equipment inspection and testing,
as well as employee training and job
briefings have been addressed
previously when FRA calculated the
economic costs of the regulation. FRA
also notes below where it anticipates
zero railroad submissions during this 3year ICR period.
Type of Request: Extension without
change (with changes in estimates) of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 34 railroads
and manufacturers.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
4,860,940.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
95,946 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent (Total Cost
Equivalent): $7,173,483.2
Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR
1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA
informs all interested parties that a
respondent is not required to respond
to, conduct, or sponsor a collection of
information that does not display a
currently valid OMB control number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2022–01603 Filed 1–26–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA–2021–0123]
Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar
Addressing Inspection of Operators’
Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks,
Minimize Releases of Methane, and
Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public informational
webinar.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
AGENCY:
1 The adjustments to the estimated paperwork
burdens are also described within this ICR’s
Supporting Statement available for public review
after this 30-day notice is published in the Federal
Register at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/.
2 FRA updated the total cost equivalent from
$7,149,477 to $7,173,483 to correct a previous
calculation error in the 60-day notice.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 256001
This notice announces a
public informational webinar on the
scope of Section 114 of the Protecting
our Infrastructure of Pipelines and
Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES
Act of 2020). The webinar will also
cover PHMSA and state inspection
plans to ensure compliance of operators’
inspection and maintenance procedures
to eliminate hazardous leaks, minimizes
releases of methane (the predominant
component of natural gas), and the
replacement or remediation of facilities
known to leak.
DATES: The informational public
webinar will be held on February 17,
2022, from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.,
ET. Members of the public who wish to
attend this webinar must register no
later than February 11, 2022.
Individuals requiring accommodations,
such as sign language interpretation or
other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA
no later than February 11, 2022. For
additional information, please see the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The informational public
webinar will be held virtually. The
agenda and instructions on how to
attend will be available on the meeting
website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/
meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mkey=0913558
304&mtg=159 once they are finalized.
Presentations from the informational
public webinar will be available on the
meeting website no later than 5 business
days following the webinar.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor,
Program Development Division, by
phone at (609) 771–7810 or by email at
byron.coy@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
I. Background
The mission of PHMSA is to protect
people and the environment by
advancing the safe transportation of
energy products and other hazardous
materials that are essential to our daily
lives. PHMSA’s mission includes
prevention of the release of natural gas
that can release methane into the
atmosphere. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
methane is a potent greenhouse gas with
a global warming potential (GWP) of 28–
36 times greater than that of carbon
dioxide over a 100-year period.
Compared to carbon dioxide, methane
gas has a stronger warming effect, but a
shorter lifespan in the atmosphere. Due
to the high GWP, minimizing releases of
methane (both fugitive and vented
emissions) has near-term benefits to
mitigating the consequences of climate
change. Likewise, remediation or
replacement of pipeline facilities that
PO 00000
Frm 00137
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4327
are known to leak based on material,
design, or past operating and
maintenance history can result in
enhanced public safety, environmental
protection, and economic benefits.
The PIPES Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–
260, Division R) was signed into law on
December 27, 2020. This law contains
several provisions that specifically
address the elimination of hazardous
leaks and minimization of releases of
natural gas from pipeline facilities.
Section 114(b) of the PIPES Act of 2020
contains self-executing provisions that
apply directly to pipeline operators.
This section requires each pipeline
operator to update its inspection and
maintenance plan required under 49
U.S.C. 60108(a) no later than one year
after the date of enactment of the PIPES
Act of 2020 (i.e., by December 27, 2021)
to address the elimination of hazardous
leaks and minimization of releases of
natural gas (including, and not limited
to, intentional venting during normal
operations and maintenance) from the
operators’ pipeline facilities (49 U.S.C.
60108(a)(2)(D)). The PIPES Act of 2020
also requires those plans to address the
replacement or remediation of pipelines
that are known to leak due to their
material (including cast iron,
unprotected steel, wrought iron, and
historic plastics with known issues),
design, or past operating and
maintenance history (49 U.S.C.
60108(a)(2)(E)). In addition, 49 U.S.C.
60108(a)(2) requires that operators
continue updating these plans to meet
the requirements of any future
regulations related to leak detection and
repair that are promulgated under 49
U.S.C. 60102(q). Pursuant to the PIPES
Act of 2020, operators must have
completed updates to their plans by
December 27, 2021, and PHMSA (along
with our state partners) is required to
inspect these plans in 2022.
The PIPES Act of 2020 further directs
the Comptroller General of the United
States to conduct a study to evaluate the
procedures used by PHMSA and states
in reviewing plans prepared by pipeline
operators under section 60108(a) and
provide recommendations for how to
further minimize releases of methane
from pipeline facilities without
compromising pipeline safety. No later
than 90 days after the date the
Comptroller General’s report is
published, the Secretary of
Transportation is required to submit to
Congress a report that includes a
response to the results of the study and
the recommendations contained in the
report.
On June 10, 2021, PHMSA published
an advisory bulletin in the Federal
Register titled ‘‘Statutory Mandate to
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
27JAN1
4328
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2022 / Notices
Update Inspection and Maintenance
Plans to Address Eliminating Hazardous
Leaks and Minimizing Releases of
Natural Gas from Pipeline Facilities’’
(86 FR 31002) reminding pipeline
operators of their obligation to comply
with Section 114 of the PIPES Act of
2020 by December 27, 2021. That
advisory bulletin reminded owners and
operators of pipeline facilities that the
PIPES Act of 2020 requires operators to
update their inspection and
maintenance plans to identify
procedures to prevent and mitigate both
vented/intentional and fugitive/
unintentional pipeline emissions.
Vented emissions can occur during
repairs, maintenance, or operations of
pressure relief systems, or other
controlled activities. Fugitive emissions
include leaks from mains or service
lines, meters, or excavation damage, as
well as other accidental releases.
II. Public Webinar Details and Agenda
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
The public informational webinar will
take place on February 17, 2022. During
the webinar, PHMSA will review the
scope and requirements of Section 114
and plans for PHMSA and state
inspection of the requirements.
Following opening remarks, the webinar
will address the following topics: (1)
Key elements of Section 114; (2)
Significant sources of natural gas
(primarily methane) emissions from
pipelines; (3) Discussion of which types
of pipeline facilities must comply with
each portion of Section 114; (4) PHMSA
and state inspections, including reviews
of a pipeline operator’s programs and
procedures to reduce methane
emissions; (5) Inspection topics related
to methane reduction and leak-prone
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:53 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 256001
pipes; (6) General review of how
operators’ programs and procedures will
be inspected; and (7) The timelines for
actions required by Section 114.
III. Public Participation
The webinar 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
organization affiliation. PHMSA is
committed to providing all participants
with equal access to these meetings. If
you need special accommodations,
please contact Byron Coy by phone at
(609) 771–7810 or via email at
byron.coy@dot.gov.
PHMSA is not always able to publish
a notice in the Federal Register quickly
enough to provide timely notification
regarding last minute changes that
impact a previously announced
meeting. Therefore, individuals should
check the meeting website listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice or
contact Byron Coy by phone at (609)
771–7810 or via email at byron.coy@
dot.gov regarding any possible changes.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 24,
2022, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022–01596 Filed 1–26–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Notice of OFAC Sanctions Action
Office of Foreign Assets
Control, Treasury.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00138
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ACTION:
Notice.
The U.S. Department of the
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is publishing the names
of one or more individuals and entities
that have been placed on OFAC’s
Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons List (SDN List) based
on OFAC’s determination that one or
more applicable legal criteria were
satisfied. All property and interests in
property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of
these persons are blocked, and U.S.
persons are generally prohibited from
engaging in transactions with them.
SUMMARY:
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for applicable date.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
OFAC: Andrea Gacki, Director, tel.:
202–622–2490; Associate Director for
Global Targeting, tel.: 202–622–2420;
Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.:
202–622–2480; Assistant Director for
Regulatory Affairs, tel.: 202–622–4855;
or the Assistant Director for Sanctions
Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202–622–
2490.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
The SDN List and additional
information concerning OFAC sanctions
programs are available on OFAC’s
website (https://www.treasury.gov/ofac).
Notice of OFAC Action
On January 21, 2022, OFAC
determined that the property and
interests in property subject to U.S.
jurisdiction of the following persons are
blocked under the relevant sanctions
authority listed below.
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
27JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4327-4328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01596]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0123]
Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of
Operators' Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of
Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public informational webinar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces a public informational webinar on the
scope of Section 114 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines
and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020). The webinar will
also cover PHMSA and state inspection plans to ensure compliance of
operators' inspection and maintenance procedures to eliminate hazardous
leaks, minimizes releases of methane (the predominant component of
natural gas), and the replacement or remediation of facilities known to
leak.
DATES: The informational public webinar will be held on February 17,
2022, from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., ET. Members of the public who
wish to attend this webinar must register no later than February 11,
2022. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language
interpretation or other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA no later than
February 11, 2022. For additional information, please see the ADDRESSES
section of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The informational public webinar will be held virtually. The
agenda and instructions on how to attend will be available on the
meeting website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mkey=0913558304&mtg=159 once they are finalized.
Presentations from the informational public webinar will be
available on the meeting website no later than 5 business days
following the webinar.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor,
Program Development Division, by phone at (609) 771-7810 or by email at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The mission of PHMSA is to protect people and the environment by
advancing the safe transportation of energy products and other
hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. PHMSA's
mission includes prevention of the release of natural gas that can
release methane into the atmosphere. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, methane is a potent greenhouse gas
with a global warming potential (GWP) of 28-36 times greater than that
of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Compared to carbon dioxide,
methane gas has a stronger warming effect, but a shorter lifespan in
the atmosphere. Due to the high GWP, minimizing releases of methane
(both fugitive and vented emissions) has near-term benefits to
mitigating the consequences of climate change. Likewise, remediation or
replacement of pipeline facilities that are known to leak based on
material, design, or past operating and maintenance history can result
in enhanced public safety, environmental protection, and economic
benefits.
The PIPES Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260, Division R) was signed into
law on December 27, 2020. This law contains several provisions that
specifically address the elimination of hazardous leaks and
minimization of releases of natural gas from pipeline facilities.
Section 114(b) of the PIPES Act of 2020 contains self-executing
provisions that apply directly to pipeline operators. This section
requires each pipeline operator to update its inspection and
maintenance plan required under 49 U.S.C. 60108(a) no later than one
year after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2020 (i.e., by
December 27, 2021) to address the elimination of hazardous leaks and
minimization of releases of natural gas (including, and not limited to,
intentional venting during normal operations and maintenance) from the
operators' pipeline facilities (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(D)). The PIPES
Act of 2020 also requires those plans to address the replacement or
remediation of pipelines that are known to leak due to their material
(including cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, and historic
plastics with known issues), design, or past operating and maintenance
history (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(E)). In addition, 49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)
requires that operators continue updating these plans to meet the
requirements of any future regulations related to leak detection and
repair that are promulgated under 49 U.S.C. 60102(q). Pursuant to the
PIPES Act of 2020, operators must have completed updates to their plans
by December 27, 2021, and PHMSA (along with our state partners) is
required to inspect these plans in 2022.
The PIPES Act of 2020 further directs the Comptroller General of
the United States to conduct a study to evaluate the procedures used by
PHMSA and states in reviewing plans prepared by pipeline operators
under section 60108(a) and provide recommendations for how to further
minimize releases of methane from pipeline facilities without
compromising pipeline safety. No later than 90 days after the date the
Comptroller General's report is published, the Secretary of
Transportation is required to submit to Congress a report that includes
a response to the results of the study and the recommendations
contained in the report.
On June 10, 2021, PHMSA published an advisory bulletin in the
Federal Register titled ``Statutory Mandate to
[[Page 4328]]
Update Inspection and Maintenance Plans to Address Eliminating
Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas from Pipeline
Facilities'' (86 FR 31002) reminding pipeline operators of their
obligation to comply with Section 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020 by
December 27, 2021. That advisory bulletin reminded owners and operators
of pipeline facilities that the PIPES Act of 2020 requires operators to
update their inspection and maintenance plans to identify procedures to
prevent and mitigate both vented/intentional and fugitive/unintentional
pipeline emissions. Vented emissions can occur during repairs,
maintenance, or operations of pressure relief systems, or other
controlled activities. Fugitive emissions include leaks from mains or
service lines, meters, or excavation damage, as well as other
accidental releases.
II. Public Webinar Details and Agenda
The public informational webinar will take place on February 17,
2022. During the webinar, PHMSA will review the scope and requirements
of Section 114 and plans for PHMSA and state inspection of the
requirements. Following opening remarks, the webinar will address the
following topics: (1) Key elements of Section 114; (2) Significant
sources of natural gas (primarily methane) emissions from pipelines;
(3) Discussion of which types of pipeline facilities must comply with
each portion of Section 114; (4) PHMSA and state inspections, including
reviews of a pipeline operator's programs and procedures to reduce
methane emissions; (5) Inspection topics related to methane reduction
and leak-prone pipes; (6) General review of how operators' programs and
procedures will be inspected; and (7) The timelines for actions
required by Section 114.
III. Public Participation
The webinar 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 organization affiliation. PHMSA is committed to providing all
participants with equal access to these meetings. If you need special
accommodations, please contact Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810 or
via email at [email protected].
PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal
Register quickly enough to provide timely notification regarding last
minute changes that impact a previously announced meeting. Therefore,
individuals should check the meeting website listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice or contact Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810
or via email at [email protected] regarding any possible changes.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 24, 2022, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-01596 Filed 1-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
