Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities, 14092-14097 [2022-05192]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
14092
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
Submit comments on or before
April 11, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by DOT Docket Number
MARAD–2022–0052 by any one of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Search
MARAD–2022–0052 and follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket
Management Facility is in the West
Building, Ground Floor of the U.S.
Department of Transportation. The
Docket Management Facility location
address is: U.S. Department of
Transportation, MARAD–2022–0052,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building, Room W12–140, Washington,
DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except on
Federal holidays.
may comment on the effect this action
may have on U.S. vessel builders or
businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag
vessels. If MARAD determines, in
accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and
MARAD’s regulations at 46 CFR part
388, that the employment of the vessel
in the coastwise trade to carry no more
than 12 passengers will have an unduly
adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or
a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in
that business, MARAD will not issue an
approval of the vessel’s coastwise
endorsement eligibility. Comments
should refer to the vessel name, state the
commenter’s interest in the application,
and address the eligibility criteria given
in section 388.4 of MARAD’s
regulations at 46 CFR part 388.
Note: If you mail or hand-deliver your
comments, we recommend that you include
your name and a mailing address, an email
address, or a telephone number in the body
of your document so that we can contact you
if we have questions regarding your
submission.
Please submit your comments,
including the attachments, following the
instructions provided under the above
heading entitled ADDRESSES. Be advised
that it may take a few hours or even
days for your comment to be reflected
on the docket. In addition, your
comments must be written in English.
We encourage you to provide concise
comments and you may attach
additional documents as necessary.
There is no limit on the length of the
attachments.
DATES:
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
specific docket number. All comments
received will be posted without change
to the docket at www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments, or to submit
comments that are confidential in
nature, see the section entitled Public
Participation.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Mead, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Room W23–459,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202–
366–5723, Email James.Mead@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
described in the application, the
intended service of the vessel
MARGARET ANNA is:
—Intended Commercial Use of Vessel:
‘‘The vessel will be used for sail
training operations and expeditions
on coastwise and transoceanic
routes.’’
—Geographic Region Including Base of
Operations: ‘‘Maine, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New York, Maryland,
Virginia, South Carolina, Florida,
Michigan, and Illinois’’ (Base of
Operations: Annapolis, MD)
—Vessel Length and Type: 65.5′ Sail
The complete application is available
for review identified in the DOT docket
as MARAD 2022–0052 at https://
www.regulations.gov. Interested parties
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
Public Participation
How do I submit comments?
Where do I go to read public comments,
and find supporting information?
Go to the docket online at https://
www.regulations.gov, keyword search
MARAD–2022–0052 or visit the Docket
Management Facility (see ADDRESSES for
hours of operation). We recommend that
you periodically check the Docket for
new submissions and supporting
material.
Will my comments be made available to
the public?
Yes. Be aware that your entire
comment, including your personal
identifying information, will be made
publicly available.
May I submit comments confidentially?
If you wish to submit comments
under a claim of confidentiality, you
should submit the information you
claim to be confidential commercial
information by email to SmallVessels@
dot.gov. Include in the email subject
heading ‘‘Contains Confidential
Commercial Information’’ or ‘‘Contains
CCI’’ and state in your submission, with
specificity, the basis for any such
confidential claim highlighting or
denoting the CCI portions. If possible,
please provide a summary of your
PO 00000
Frm 00132
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
submission that can be made available
to the public.
In the event MARAD receives a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request for the information, procedures
described in the Department’s FOIA
regulation at 49 CFR 7.29 will be
followed. Only information that is
ultimately determined to be confidential
under those procedures will be exempt
from disclosure under FOIA.
Privacy Act
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c),
DOT solicits comments from the public
to better inform its rulemaking process.
DOT posts these comments, without
edit, to www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records
notice, DOT/ALL–14 FDMS, accessible
through www.dot.gov/privacy. To
facilitate comment tracking and
response, we encourage commenters to
provide their name, or the name of their
organization; however, submission of
names is completely optional. Whether
or not commenters identify themselves,
all timely comments will be fully
considered.
(Authority: 49 CFR 1.93(a), 46 U.S.C. 55103,
46 U.S.C. 12121)
By Order of the Acting Maritime
Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022–05125 Filed 3–10–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. PHMSA–2021–0054]
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection
Activities
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
PHMSA invites comments on proposed
revisions to Form PHMSA F 7000–1,
‘‘Accident Report—Hazardous Liquid
and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Systems,’’
under Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Control No. 2137–0047; Form
PHMSA F 7100.2–1, ‘‘Annual Report for
Natural and Other Gas Transmission
and Gathering Pipeline Systems,’’ under
OMB Control No. 2137–0522; Form
PHMSA F 7000–1.1, ‘‘Annual Report for
Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide
Pipeline Systems,’’ under OMB Control
No. 2137–0614; Form PHMSA F 7100.1–
1, ‘‘Annual Report for Gas Distribution
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
Systems,’’ under OMB Control No.
2137–0629; and Forms PHMSA F
7100.1, ‘‘Incident Report—Gas
Distribution Systems,’’ PHMSA F
7100.2, ‘‘Incident Report—Gas
Transmission and Gathering Systems,’’
and PHMSA F 7100.3, ‘‘Incident
Report—Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Facilities,’’ each under OMB Control
No. 2137–0635.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 10,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted in the following ways:
E-Gov Website: https://
www.regulations.gov. This site allows
the public to enter comments on any
Federal Register notice issued by any
agency.
Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
West Building, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 on the
ground level of DOT, West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket
number, PHMSA–2021–0054 at the
beginning of your comments. Note that
all comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Docket: For access to the docket or to
read background documents or
comments, go to https://
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
Room W12–140 on the ground level of
DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., ET, Monday
through Friday, except federal holidays.
If you wish to receive confirmation of
receipt of your written comments,
please include a self-addressed,
stamped postcard with the following
statement: ‘‘Comments on: PHMSA–
2021–0054.’’ The Docket Clerk will date
stamp the postcard prior to returning it
to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that
due to delays in the delivery of U.S.
mail to federal offices in Washington,
DC, we recommend that persons
consider an alternative method
(internet, fax, or professional delivery
service) of submitting comments to the
docket and ensuring their timely receipt
at DOT.
Privacy Act Statement: DOT may
solicit comments from the public
regarding certain general notices. DOT
posts these comments, without edit,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
including any personal information the
commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
Confidential Business Information:
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
is commercial or financial information
that is both customarily and actually
treated as private by its owner. Under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA,
5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive
to this notice contain commercial or
financial information that is customarily
treated as private, that you actually treat
as private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this notice, it is important
that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR
190.343, you may ask PHMSA to give
confidential treatment to information
you give to the Agency by taking the
following steps: (1) Mark each page of
the original document submission
containing CBI as ‘‘Confidential’’; (2)
send PHMSA, along with the original
document, a second copy of the original
document with the CBI deleted; and (3)
explain why the information you are
submitting is CBI. Submissions
containing CBI should be sent to Angela
Hill, DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, PHP–30, Washington, DC
20590–0001. Any commentary PHMSA
receives that is not specifically
designated as CBI will be placed in the
public docket for this matter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela Hill by telephone at 202–366–
1246, by email at Angela.Hill@dot.gov,
or by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, PHP–30, Washington,
DC 20590–0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), requires
PHMSA to provide interested members
of the public and affected entities an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping requests.
This notice identifies the proposed
changes to information collections
under OMB Control Numbers 2137–
0047, 2137–0522, 2137–0614, 2137–
0629, and 2137–0635 that PHMSA will
submit to OMB for approval.
Excavation damage is one of the
leading causes of serious pipeline
incidents. Additionally, the
consequences of these damages have the
potential to significantly impact the
environment and negatively affect
communities across our Nation. In 2000,
PHMSA was instrumental in creating
PO 00000
Frm 00133
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
14093
the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) a
non-profit organization established to
help reduce damage to the underground
facility infrastructure—ensuring public
safety, environmental protection, and
the reliability of utility services. In the
years since, PHMSA has continued
supporting CGA efforts. In 2003, the
CGA launched the Damage Information
Reporting Tool (DIRT) to collect
excavation damage data, including root
cause data to identify the underlying
causes of excavation damages to
underground facilities. Understanding
the root causes of excavation damage is
essential to identifying measures to
prevent future damage.
Since 2010, gas distribution pipeline
operators have submitted the number of
excavation damage events on their
pipelines and one-call notices of
excavation (tickets) involving their
facilities to PHMSA annually on Form
PHMSA F 7100.1–1, ‘‘Annual Report for
Gas Distribution Systems.’’ PHMSA
incident and accident reports were also
modified in 2010 to collect excavation
damage data in the format contemplated
in the CGA’s DIRT. In 2015, PHMSA
began collecting gas distribution annual
report excavation damage data in each
of the CGA DIRT root cause categories.
In 2018, to better understand the impact
of excavation damages to people,
property, and the environment, the CGA
added new questions to DIRT and
expanded the number of root cause
categories.
PHMSA plans to amend its forms to
continue alignment of PHMSA
submissions regarding excavation
damage to pipelines with the CGA’s
DIRT scheme to improve consistency
and to reduce burdens on operators.
Many pipeline operators submit data to
CGA DIRT, so consistency between the
DIRT and PHMSA submissions will
avoid duplication of efforts by pipeline
operators. The 2018 DIRT data structure
also produces more detail about
excavation damage root cause than
existing PHMSA forms. By collecting
more detailed data, PHMSA and
stakeholders can better understand the
gaps in current pipeline operator
damage prevention programs.
As gas gathering, gas transmission,
and hazardous liquid pipeline systems
are susceptible to excavation damage,
PHMSA is proposing to collect
excavation damage data on the annual
reports for these pipeline systems.
Differences among the predominant root
causes by pipeline system might
indicate different preventive measures
for each system type, so these data
points will be useful for PHMSA to
collect.
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
14094
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
PHMSA also proposes miscellaneous
changes to the forms and certain
instructions unrelated to excavation
damage root cause. These changes are
fully described in the following
paragraphs.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
A. Form PHMSA F 7000–1 Accident
Report—Hazardous Liquid and Carbon
Dioxide Pipeline Systems
In Part A4 of this form, operators are
instructed to enter the earliest local time
and date an accident reporting criterion
was met. In some cases, consequences
occur when the pipeline system fails,
but the extent of the consequences are
not known until hours, days, or weeks
later. PHMSA proposes clarifying the
instructions to ensure the form collects
the time consequences occurred rather
than the time operators fully
documented the extent of the
consequences.
In Part C3 of this form, operators
report the type of item that failed. When
a breakout tank weld fails, operators
select ‘‘onshore breakout tank or storage
vessel’’ in Part A14 and ‘‘weld’’ in Part
C3, but are currently unable to enter
additional data about the breakout tank
in Part C3, sections u and v.
PHMSA proposes to require the
collection of breakout tank data in Part
C3, sections u and v, for reports where
A14, describing the part of the system
involved in the accident, is ‘‘Onshore
Breakout Tank or Storage Vessel.’’ This
change would provide stakeholders
with data about the breakout tank
regardless of the item that failed on the
breakout tank.
In Part G3 of this report, operators
enter data when the cause of the
accident is excavation damage.
Currently, PHMSA instructs operators to
submit data about exemptions to onecall laws only when the sub-cause of an
accident is third-party excavation
damage. PHMSA proposes collecting
state law exemption data when any subcause within excavation damage is
selected. This change would improve
PHMSA’s ability to identify instances
where state law exemptions contributed
to the excavation damage accident no
matter which party (first, second, or
third) was excavating.
PHMSA believes that the current time
estimated for excavation damage
information collection provides
sufficient time for affected operators to
include the newly required information.
PHMSA does not expect operators to
incur additional burden due to these
revisions.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
B. Form PHMSA F 7100.2–1 Annual
Report for Natural and Other Gas
Transmission and Gathering Pipeline
Systems
PHMSA proposes adding a new part
to this form to collect the number of
one-call tickets and the number of
excavation damage events in each CGA
DIRT root cause category. Data for gas
transmission and gas gathering
pipelines would be reported separately.
C. Form PHMSA F 7000–1.1 Annual
Report for Hazardous Liquid and
Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Systems
PHMSA proposes adding a new part
to this form to collect the number of
one-call tickets and the number of
excavation damage events in each CGA
DIRT root cause category.
PHMSA proposes modifying Part J,
‘‘Miles of Pipe by Specified Minimum
Yield Strength,’’ to include columns for
pipe segments that are required to meet
some, but not all, of the 49 CFR part 195
requirements. Specifically, PHMSA
proposes adding a column for miles
regulated under § 195.11 and a column
for miles regulated under § 195.12.
These changes promote consistency
within the report since miles regulated
under §§ 195.11 and 195.12 are reported
in Parts H and I of this form.
D. Form PHMSA F 7100.1–1 Annual
Report for Gas Distribution Systems
PHMSA proposes replacing the CGA
DIRT root cause categories currently in
this form with the 2018 CGA DIRT root
cause categories.
PHMSA proposes removing Part E
pertaining to the number of excess flow
valves (EFVs) and manual service line
shut-off valves. In 2010, after the
conclusion of an EFV rulemaking,
PHMSA added the number of EFVs
installed during the year and the total
number of EFVs in the system. Also,
PHMSA added the number of shut-off
valves installed during the year and the
total number of shut-off valves in the
system as part of the 2016 final rule,
‘‘Expanding the Use of Excess Flow
Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to
Applications Other Than Single-Family
Residences’’ (Docket PHMSA–2011–
0009). PHMSA’s primary motivation for
collecting the number of EFVs and shutoff valves on the annual report was to
support PHMSA and state partner
inspector efforts to assess compliance
with the EFV rules. Based on feedback
from inspectors, PHMSA has
determined that operators’ annual
reporting of the number of EFVs and
shut-off valves is not helpful for
determining compliance. Inspectors
have been determining compliance by
PO 00000
Frm 00134
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
observing construction practices and
reviewing specific installation records.
When gas distribution incidents occur,
PHMSA collects data about EFVs and
shut-off valves specific to the incident
location. The collection of data in the
incident report provides additional
opportunities for inspectors to assess
operator compliance with the EFV
rulemakings. PHMSA has determined
that it no longer needs to collect EFV
and shut-off valve data in Part E of the
annual report.
E. Form PHMSA F 7100.1 Incident
Report—Gas Distribution Systems
In Part A4 of this form, operators are
instructed to enter the earliest local time
and date an incident reporting criterion
was met. In some cases, consequences
occur when the pipeline system fails,
but the extent of the consequences are
not known until hours, days, or weeks
later. PHMSA proposes clarifying the
instructions to ensure the form collects
the time consequences occurred rather
than the time operators fully
documented the extent of the
consequences.
The term ‘‘confirmed discovery’’ is
defined in § 191.3. PHMSA proposes
adding the local time and date of
‘‘confirmed discovery’’ in Part A of this
form. This data would enhance the
ability of PHMSA and stakeholders to
assess operator compliance with
PHMSA incident reporting regulations.
In Part G3 of this form, operators enter
data when the cause of the incident is
excavation damage. Currently, PHMSA
instructs operators to submit data about
exemptions to one-call laws only when
the sub-cause is third party excavation
damage. PHMSA proposes collecting
state law exemption data when any subcause within excavation damage is
selected. This change would improve
PHMSA’s ability to identify instances
where state law exemptions contributed
to the excavation damage incident no
matter which party (first, second, or
third) was excavating.
PHMSA proposes adding questions
from the 2018 edition of the CGA DIRT
and replacing the root cause categories
currently in the form to match the most
recent CGA DIRT root cause categories.
PHMSA believes that the current time
estimated for this information collection
provides sufficient time for affected
operators to include the newly required
information. PHMSA does not expect
operators to incur additional burden
due to these revisions.
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
F. Form PHMSA F 7100.2 Incident
Report—Gas Transmission and
Gathering Systems
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
PHMSA plans to change the name of
this form to include pipeline system
types that currently use the form to
submit incident data to PHMSA.
PHMSA proposes to change the name to
‘‘Incident Report—Gas Transmission,
Gas Gathering, and Underground
Natural Gas Storage Facilities.’’
In Part A4 of this form, operators are
instructed to enter the earliest local time
and date that an incident reporting
criterion was met. In some cases,
consequences occur when the pipeline
system fails, but the extent of the
consequences are not known until
hours, days, or weeks later. PHMSA
proposes clarifying the instructions to
ensure the form collects the time
consequences occurred rather than the
time operators fully documented the
extent of the consequences.
The term ‘‘confirmed discovery’’ is
defined in § 191.3. PHMSA proposes
adding the local time and date of
‘‘confirmed discovery’’ in Part A of this
form. This data would enhance the
ability of PHMSA and stakeholders to
assess operator compliance with
PHMSA incident reporting regulations.
In Part G3 of this form, operators enter
data when the cause of the incident is
excavation damage. Currently, PHMSA
instructs operators to submit data about
exemptions to one-call laws only when
the sub-cause is third-party excavation
damage. PHMSA proposes collecting
state law exemption data when any subcause within excavation damage is
selected. This change would improve
PHMSA’s ability to identify instances
where state law exemptions contributed
to the excavation damage incident no
matter which party (first, second, or
third) was excavating.
PHMSA proposes adding questions
from the 2018 edition of the CGA DIRT
and replacing the root cause categories
currently in the report with the 2018
CGA DIRT root cause categories.
PHMSA believes that the current time
estimated for this information collection
provides sufficient time for affected
operators to include the newly required
information. PHMSA does not expect
operators to incur additional burden
due to these revisions.
G. Form PHMSA F 7100.3 Incident
Report—Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Facilities
In Part A4, operators are instructed to
enter the earliest local time and date an
incident reporting criterion was met. In
some cases, consequences occur when
the pipeline system fails, but the extent
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
of the consequences are not known until
hours, days, or weeks later. PHMSA
proposes clarifying the instructions to
ensure the form collects the time
consequences occurred rather than the
time operators fully documented the
extent of the consequences.
The term ‘‘confirmed discovery’’ is
defined in § 191.3. PHMSA proposes
adding the local time and date of
‘‘confirmed discovery’’ in Part A of this
form. This data would enhance the
ability of PHMSA and stakeholders to
assess operator compliance with
PHMSA incident reporting regulations.
PHMSA believes that the current time
estimated for this information collection
provides sufficient time for affected
operators to include the newly required
information. PHMSA does not expect
operators to incur additional burden
due to these revisions.
II. Summary of Impacted Collection
Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of
Federal Regulations, requires PHMSA to
provide interested members of the
public and affected agencies an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping requests.
This notice identifies information
collection requests that PHMSA will
submit to OMB for revision.
The following information is provided
for these information collections: (1)
Title of the information collection; (2)
OMB control number; (3) Current
expiration date; (4) Type of request; (5)
Abstract of the information collection
activity; (6) Description of affected
public; (7) Estimate of total annual
reporting and recordkeeping burden;
and (8) Frequency of collection.
PHMSA will request a 3-year term of
approval for these information
collections. PHMSA requests comments
on the following information:
1. Title: Transportation of Hazardous
Liquids by Pipeline: Record Keeping
and Accident Reporting.
OMB Control Number: 2137–0047.
Current Expiration Date: 3/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information
collection covers the recordkeeping
requirements and the collection of
accident data from operators of
hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide
pipelines. Part 195 requires hazardous
liquid operators to file an accident
report as soon as practicable, but not
later than 30 days after discovery of the
accident, on DOT Form 7000–1
whenever there is a reportable accident.
With respect to accidents caused by
excavation damage to a pipeline,
PHMSA is revising this information
collection to require state law
exemption data when any sub-cause is
PO 00000
Frm 00135
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
14095
selected within the excavation damage
causes. PHMSA believes that the current
time estimated for this information
collection provides sufficient time for
affected operators to include the newly
required information. PHMSA does not
expect operators to incur additional
burden due to this revision.
Affected Public: Operators of
Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide
Pipeline Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated number of responses:
1,644.
Estimated annual burden hours:
53,504.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
2. Title: Annual and Incident Reports
for Gas Pipeline Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137–0522.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information
collection covers the requirements for
operators of natural gas pipelines,
underground natural gas storage
facilities, and liquefied natural gas
facilities to submit annual and incident
reports to DOT/PHMSA. Currently,
PHMSA receives an estimated 2,247
reports from operators in compliance
with these requirements resulting in an
overall time burden of 71,801 hours
annually.
Section 191.17 requires operators of
underground natural gas storage
facilities, gas transmission systems, and
gas gathering systems to submit an
annual report by March 15, for the
preceding calendar year. This revision
includes changes to the ‘‘Annual Report
for Natural and Other Gas Transmission
and Gathering Pipeline Systems’’ to
collect data on excavation damages.
Each year, gas transmission operators
submit an estimated 1,440 annual
reports to PHMSA. The current
estimated burden for each annual report
is 47 hours for an overall reporting
burden of 67,680 hours [47 hours ×
1,440 reports]. Because gas transmission
operators are new to collecting and
submitting data on excavation damages,
PHMSA estimates that it will take the
estimated 1,440 respondents a one-time
effort of 18 hours, per operator, to
update their systems to accommodate
the new data request. This will result in
operators incurring a one-time burden of
25,920 hours [18 hours × 1,440 reports].
PHMSA expects that it will take gas
transmission operators an additional
hour, annually, to include the newly
requested excavation damage data in
their annual report submission.
Therefore, over the course of the threeyear approval for the information
collection, the average time increase to
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
14096
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
the gas transmission annual report
burden will be 7 hours [(18 hours + 3
hours)/3] each year—resulting in the
annual time burden to increase from 47
hours to 54 hours per report. This will
result in an overall burden increase of
10,080 hours [7 hours × 1,440 reports]
due to this revision. The total annual
burden for submitting the gas
transmission annual report will be
77,760 hours [54 hours × 1,440 reports].
Based on the annual burden increase of
10,080 hours for the gas transmission
annual reports, the estimated annual
burden for this entire information
collection, including the annual report
burden for liquefied natural gas and
underground natural gas storage
operators, and the immediate notice of
incidents, will increase from 71,801
hours to 81,881 hours [71,801 hours +
10,080].
Affected Public: Operators of Natural
Gas Pipelines, Underground Natural Gas
Storage Facilities, and Liquefied Natural
Gas Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated number of responses:
2,247.
Estimated annual burden hours:
81,881.
Frequency of collection: Annually and
on occasion.
3. Title: Hazardous Liquid Pipeline
Operator Annual Report.
OMB Control Number: 2137–0614.
Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information
collection covers the collection of
annual report data from operators of
hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide
pipelines. Part 195 requires these
pipeline operators to submit reports
each year. This revision includes
collecting excavation damage data and
changes to the report form to improve
consistency. Each year, hazardous
liquid operators submit an estimated
475 annual reports to PHMSA. The
current estimated burden for operators
to submit each report is 19 hours for an
overall annual reporting burden of 9,025
hours [19 hours × 475 reports]. Because
hazardous liquid operators are new to
collecting and submitting data on
excavation damages, PHMSA estimates
that it will take each of these 475
respondents a one-time effort of 18
hours, per operator, to update their
systems to accommodate the new data
request. This will result in a one-time
burden of 8,550 hours [475 responses ×
18 hours]. PHMSA expects that it will
take hazardous liquid operators an
additional hour, annually, to include
the newly requested excavation damage
data in their annual report submission.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
Therefore, over the course of the threeyear approval for the information
collection, the average increase to the
annual report burden will be 7 hours
[(18 hours + 3 hours)/3]. As a result, the
annual reporting burden will increase
from 19 hours to 26 hours per report.
This will result in an estimated annual
reporting burden of 12,350 hours [475
reports × 26 hours].
Affected Public: Operators of
Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide
Pipeline Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 475.
Estimated annual burden hours:
12,350.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
4. Title: Annual Report for Gas
Distribution Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137–0629.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information
collection covers the collection of data
from operators of gas distribution
pipeline systems for annual reports.
Section 191.17 requires operators of gas
distribution systems to submit an
annual report by March 15, for the
preceding calendar year. This revision
includes updating the CGA DIRT root
causes and removing data about manual
service line shut-off valves and excess
flow valves. Each year, gas distribution
operators submit approximately 1,446
annual reports to PHMSA. The current
estimated burden for operators to
submit each report is 17.5 hours for an
overall annual reporting burden of
25,305 hours [17.5 hours × 1,446
reports]. Because gas distribution
operators are currently collecting and
submitting data on excavation damages,
PHMSA estimates that these
respondents will incur a one-time effort
of 9 hours, per operator, to update their
systems to accommodate the expanded
data request. This will result in a onetime burden of 13,014 hours [1,446
reports × 9 hours]. PHMSA expects that
it will take gas distribution operators an
additional hour, annually, to add the
newly expanded excavation damage
data to their annual report submission.
Therefore, over the course of the threeyear approval for the information
collection, the average increase to the
annual report burden will be 4 hours [(9
hours + 3 hours)/3] each year. As a
result, the annual reporting burden will
increase from 17.5 hours to 21.5 hours
per report. This will result in an
estimated annual reporting burden of
31,089 hours [1,446 reports × 21.5
hours].
PHMSA is also revising the burden
estimate to account for the elimination
PO 00000
Frm 00136
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of the requirement to report EFV data.
PHMSA currently estimates that it takes
gas distribution operators 1.5 hours, per
report, to submit the total number of
EFVs and shut-off valves installed and
maintained in each calendar year.
Therefore, the burden hour for this
requirement is 2,169 hours [1.5 hours ×
1,446 reports). PHMSA is proposing to
eliminate this requirement which will
result in a 2,169-hour burden reduction.
Based on the revisions discussed above,
the burden hour estimate for the gas
distribution annual report will be 20
hours [17.5 hours (current) + 4 hours
(DIRT revisions)—1.5 hours (eliminated
EFV/shut-off valve data)] for a total
annual burden of 28,920 hours [20
hours × 1,446 reports].
Affected Public: Operators of Gas
Distribution Pipeline Systems.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated number of responses:
1,446.
Estimated annual burden hours:
28,920.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
5. Title: Incident Reports for Natural
Gas Pipeline Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137–0635.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information
collection covers the collection of
incident data from operators of gas
distribution, gas gathering, gas
transmission, underground natural gas
storage facilities, and liquefied natural
gas facilities. Part 191 requires these
operators to submit incident reports
when certain criteria are met. This
revision includes changes to form
PHMSA F 7100.1, ‘‘Incident Report—
Gas Distribution Systems,’’ to collect
more state one-call law exemption data
and update the CGA DIRT questions. In
the ‘‘Incident Report—Gas Transmission
and Gathering Systems’’ form, this
revision includes changing the name of
the form, collecting more state one-call
law exemption data, and updating the
CGA DIRT questions. In all three
incident reports, this revision includes
collecting the local time and date of
‘‘confirmed discovery.’’ PHMSA does
not expect operators to incur additional
time due to these revisions. PHMSA
expects the current time estimated for
this information collection to be
sufficient for affected operators to
include the newly required information.
Affected Public: Gas Pipeline
Operators and Operators of
Underground Natural Gas and Liquefied
Natural Gas Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 259.
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2022 / Notices
Estimated Annual Burden Hours:
3,108.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for the revision of these
information collections for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of the Agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques.
(e) Additional information that would
be appropriate to collect to inform the
reduction in risk to people, property,
and the environment due to excavation
damages.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as
amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7,
2022, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022–05192 Filed 3–10–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. PHMSA–2021–0085]
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection
Activities
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
PHMSA invites public comments on its
intent to request Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) approval to revise
and renew an information collection
currently under OMB Control Number
2137–0596 titled: ‘‘National Pipeline
Mapping System Program.’’ The
information collection currently
requires operators to submit geospatial
data, attributes, metadata, public contact
information, and a transmittal letter
appropriate for use in the National
Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS).
Acceptable formats and additional
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:10 Mar 10, 2022
Jkt 256001
information are specified in the NPMS
Attribute Standards document available
at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. The
proposed revisions would modify one
attribute approved in January 2020 that
pipeline operators must submit to
PHMSA, extend the expiration date of
the information collection established
by OMB, and require gas transmission
operators to submit additional attributes
to the NPMS.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 10,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted in the following ways:
E-Gov Website: https://
www.regulations.gov. This site allows
the public to enter comments on any
Federal Register notice issued by any
agency.
Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
West Building, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 on the
ground level of DOT, West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket
number, PHMSA–2021–0085 at the
beginning of your comments. Note that
all comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. You
should know that 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.).
Therefore, you may want to review
DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement
in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477) or visit
https://www.regulations.gov before
submitting any such comments.
Docket: For access to the docket or to
read background documents or
comments, go to https://
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
Room W12–140 on the ground level of
DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., ET, Monday
through Friday, except federal holidays.
If you wish to receive confirmation of
receipt of your written comments,
please include a self-addressed,
stamped postcard with the following
statement: ‘‘Comments on: PHMSA–
2021–0085.’’ The Docket Clerk will date
PO 00000
Frm 00137
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
14097
stamp the postcard prior to returning it
to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that
due to delays in the delivery of U.S.
mail to federal offices in Washington,
DC, we recommend that persons
consider an alternative method
(internet, fax, or professional delivery
service) of submitting comments to the
docket and ensuring their timely receipt
at DOT.
Privacy Act Statement: DOT may
solicit comments from the public
regarding certain general notices. DOT
posts these comments, without edit,
including any personal information the
commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
Confidential Business Information:
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
is commercial or financial information
that is both customarily and actually
treated as private by its owner. Under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
(5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments
responsive to this notice contain
commercial or financial information
that is customarily treated as private,
that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this
notice, it is important that you clearly
designate the submitted comments as
CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you
may ask PHMSA to give confidential
treatment to information you give to the
Agency by taking the following steps:
(1) Mark each page of the original
document submission containing CBI as
‘‘Confidential’’; (2) send PHMSA, along
with the original document, a second
copy of the original document with the
CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the
information you are submitting is CBI.
Any commentary PHMSA receives that
is not specifically designated as CBI will
be placed in the public docket for this
matter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela Hill by email at Angela.Hill@
dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of
Federal Regulations, requires PHMSA to
provide interested members of the
public and affected entities an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping requests.
This notice identifies the proposed
changes to the information collection
under OMB Control Number 2137–0596
that PHMSA will submit to OMB for
approval.
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14092-14097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05192]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0054]
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA
invites comments on proposed revisions to Form PHMSA F 7000-1,
``Accident Report--Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline
Systems,'' under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No.
2137-0047; Form PHMSA F 7100.2-1, ``Annual Report for Natural and Other
Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems,'' under OMB Control
No. 2137-0522; Form PHMSA F 7000-1.1, ``Annual Report for Hazardous
Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Systems,'' under OMB Control No.
2137-0614; Form PHMSA F 7100.1-1, ``Annual Report for Gas Distribution
[[Page 14093]]
Systems,'' under OMB Control No. 2137-0629; and Forms PHMSA F 7100.1,
``Incident Report--Gas Distribution Systems,'' PHMSA F 7100.2,
``Incident Report--Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems,'' and PHMSA
F 7100.3, ``Incident Report--Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities,''
each under OMB Control No. 2137-0635.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
May 10, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
E-Gov Website: https://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the
public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any
agency.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of DOT, West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2021-0054 at the
beginning of your comments. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or to Room W12-
140 on the ground level of DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., ET, Monday through
Friday, except federal holidays. If you wish to receive confirmation of
receipt of your written comments, please include a self-addressed,
stamped postcard with the following statement: ``Comments on: PHMSA-
2021-0054.'' The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to
returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays
in the delivery of U.S. mail to federal offices in Washington, DC, we
recommend that persons consider an alternative method (internet, fax,
or professional delivery service) of submitting comments to the docket
and ensuring their timely receipt at DOT.
Privacy Act Statement: DOT may solicit comments from the public
regarding certain general notices. DOT posts these comments, without
edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL- 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.
Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this notice contain
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask
PHMSA to give confidential treatment to information you give to the
Agency by taking the following steps: (1) Mark each page of the
original document submission containing CBI as ``Confidential''; (2)
send PHMSA, along with the original document, a second copy of the
original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the
information you are submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI
should be sent to Angela Hill, DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this matter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-366-
1246, by email at [email protected], or by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected
entities an opportunity to comment on information collection and
recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies the proposed changes to
information collections under OMB Control Numbers 2137-0047, 2137-0522,
2137-0614, 2137-0629, and 2137-0635 that PHMSA will submit to OMB for
approval.
Excavation damage is one of the leading causes of serious pipeline
incidents. Additionally, the consequences of these damages have the
potential to significantly impact the environment and negatively affect
communities across our Nation. In 2000, PHMSA was instrumental in
creating the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) a non-profit organization
established to help reduce damage to the underground facility
infrastructure--ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and
the reliability of utility services. In the years since, PHMSA has
continued supporting CGA efforts. In 2003, the CGA launched the Damage
Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) to collect excavation damage data,
including root cause data to identify the underlying causes of
excavation damages to underground facilities. Understanding the root
causes of excavation damage is essential to identifying measures to
prevent future damage.
Since 2010, gas distribution pipeline operators have submitted the
number of excavation damage events on their pipelines and one-call
notices of excavation (tickets) involving their facilities to PHMSA
annually on Form PHMSA F 7100.1-1, ``Annual Report for Gas Distribution
Systems.'' PHMSA incident and accident reports were also modified in
2010 to collect excavation damage data in the format contemplated in
the CGA's DIRT. In 2015, PHMSA began collecting gas distribution annual
report excavation damage data in each of the CGA DIRT root cause
categories. In 2018, to better understand the impact of excavation
damages to people, property, and the environment, the CGA added new
questions to DIRT and expanded the number of root cause categories.
PHMSA plans to amend its forms to continue alignment of PHMSA
submissions regarding excavation damage to pipelines with the CGA's
DIRT scheme to improve consistency and to reduce burdens on operators.
Many pipeline operators submit data to CGA DIRT, so consistency between
the DIRT and PHMSA submissions will avoid duplication of efforts by
pipeline operators. The 2018 DIRT data structure also produces more
detail about excavation damage root cause than existing PHMSA forms. By
collecting more detailed data, PHMSA and stakeholders can better
understand the gaps in current pipeline operator damage prevention
programs.
As gas gathering, gas transmission, and hazardous liquid pipeline
systems are susceptible to excavation damage, PHMSA is proposing to
collect excavation damage data on the annual reports for these pipeline
systems. Differences among the predominant root causes by pipeline
system might indicate different preventive measures for each system
type, so these data points will be useful for PHMSA to collect.
[[Page 14094]]
PHMSA also proposes miscellaneous changes to the forms and certain
instructions unrelated to excavation damage root cause. These changes
are fully described in the following paragraphs.
A. Form PHMSA F 7000-1 Accident Report--Hazardous Liquid and Carbon
Dioxide Pipeline Systems
In Part A4 of this form, operators are instructed to enter the
earliest local time and date an accident reporting criterion was met.
In some cases, consequences occur when the pipeline system fails, but
the extent of the consequences are not known until hours, days, or
weeks later. PHMSA proposes clarifying the instructions to ensure the
form collects the time consequences occurred rather than the time
operators fully documented the extent of the consequences.
In Part C3 of this form, operators report the type of item that
failed. When a breakout tank weld fails, operators select ``onshore
breakout tank or storage vessel'' in Part A14 and ``weld'' in Part C3,
but are currently unable to enter additional data about the breakout
tank in Part C3, sections u and v.
PHMSA proposes to require the collection of breakout tank data in
Part C3, sections u and v, for reports where A14, describing the part
of the system involved in the accident, is ``Onshore Breakout Tank or
Storage Vessel.'' This change would provide stakeholders with data
about the breakout tank regardless of the item that failed on the
breakout tank.
In Part G3 of this report, operators enter data when the cause of
the accident is excavation damage. Currently, PHMSA instructs operators
to submit data about exemptions to one-call laws only when the sub-
cause of an accident is third-party excavation damage. PHMSA proposes
collecting state law exemption data when any sub-cause within
excavation damage is selected. This change would improve PHMSA's
ability to identify instances where state law exemptions contributed to
the excavation damage accident no matter which party (first, second, or
third) was excavating.
PHMSA believes that the current time estimated for excavation
damage information collection provides sufficient time for affected
operators to include the newly required information. PHMSA does not
expect operators to incur additional burden due to these revisions.
B. Form PHMSA F 7100.2-1 Annual Report for Natural and Other Gas
Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems
PHMSA proposes adding a new part to this form to collect the number
of one-call tickets and the number of excavation damage events in each
CGA DIRT root cause category. Data for gas transmission and gas
gathering pipelines would be reported separately.
C. Form PHMSA F 7000-1.1 Annual Report for Hazardous Liquid and Carbon
Dioxide Pipeline Systems
PHMSA proposes adding a new part to this form to collect the number
of one-call tickets and the number of excavation damage events in each
CGA DIRT root cause category.
PHMSA proposes modifying Part J, ``Miles of Pipe by Specified
Minimum Yield Strength,'' to include columns for pipe segments that are
required to meet some, but not all, of the 49 CFR part 195
requirements. Specifically, PHMSA proposes adding a column for miles
regulated under Sec. 195.11 and a column for miles regulated under
Sec. 195.12. These changes promote consistency within the report since
miles regulated under Sec. Sec. 195.11 and 195.12 are reported in
Parts H and I of this form.
D. Form PHMSA F 7100.1-1 Annual Report for Gas Distribution Systems
PHMSA proposes replacing the CGA DIRT root cause categories
currently in this form with the 2018 CGA DIRT root cause categories.
PHMSA proposes removing Part E pertaining to the number of excess
flow valves (EFVs) and manual service line shut-off valves. In 2010,
after the conclusion of an EFV rulemaking, PHMSA added the number of
EFVs installed during the year and the total number of EFVs in the
system. Also, PHMSA added the number of shut-off valves installed
during the year and the total number of shut-off valves in the system
as part of the 2016 final rule, ``Expanding the Use of Excess Flow
Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than Single-
Family Residences'' (Docket PHMSA-2011-0009). PHMSA's primary
motivation for collecting the number of EFVs and shut-off valves on the
annual report was to support PHMSA and state partner inspector efforts
to assess compliance with the EFV rules. Based on feedback from
inspectors, PHMSA has determined that operators' annual reporting of
the number of EFVs and shut-off valves is not helpful for determining
compliance. Inspectors have been determining compliance by observing
construction practices and reviewing specific installation records.
When gas distribution incidents occur, PHMSA collects data about EFVs
and shut-off valves specific to the incident location. The collection
of data in the incident report provides additional opportunities for
inspectors to assess operator compliance with the EFV rulemakings.
PHMSA has determined that it no longer needs to collect EFV and shut-
off valve data in Part E of the annual report.
E. Form PHMSA F 7100.1 Incident Report--Gas Distribution Systems
In Part A4 of this form, operators are instructed to enter the
earliest local time and date an incident reporting criterion was met.
In some cases, consequences occur when the pipeline system fails, but
the extent of the consequences are not known until hours, days, or
weeks later. PHMSA proposes clarifying the instructions to ensure the
form collects the time consequences occurred rather than the time
operators fully documented the extent of the consequences.
The term ``confirmed discovery'' is defined in Sec. 191.3. PHMSA
proposes adding the local time and date of ``confirmed discovery'' in
Part A of this form. This data would enhance the ability of PHMSA and
stakeholders to assess operator compliance with PHMSA incident
reporting regulations.
In Part G3 of this form, operators enter data when the cause of the
incident is excavation damage. Currently, PHMSA instructs operators to
submit data about exemptions to one-call laws only when the sub-cause
is third party excavation damage. PHMSA proposes collecting state law
exemption data when any sub-cause within excavation damage is selected.
This change would improve PHMSA's ability to identify instances where
state law exemptions contributed to the excavation damage incident no
matter which party (first, second, or third) was excavating.
PHMSA proposes adding questions from the 2018 edition of the CGA
DIRT and replacing the root cause categories currently in the form to
match the most recent CGA DIRT root cause categories.
PHMSA believes that the current time estimated for this information
collection provides sufficient time for affected operators to include
the newly required information. PHMSA does not expect operators to
incur additional burden due to these revisions.
[[Page 14095]]
F. Form PHMSA F 7100.2 Incident Report--Gas Transmission and Gathering
Systems
PHMSA plans to change the name of this form to include pipeline
system types that currently use the form to submit incident data to
PHMSA. PHMSA proposes to change the name to ``Incident Report--Gas
Transmission, Gas Gathering, and Underground Natural Gas Storage
Facilities.''
In Part A4 of this form, operators are instructed to enter the
earliest local time and date that an incident reporting criterion was
met. In some cases, consequences occur when the pipeline system fails,
but the extent of the consequences are not known until hours, days, or
weeks later. PHMSA proposes clarifying the instructions to ensure the
form collects the time consequences occurred rather than the time
operators fully documented the extent of the consequences.
The term ``confirmed discovery'' is defined in Sec. 191.3. PHMSA
proposes adding the local time and date of ``confirmed discovery'' in
Part A of this form. This data would enhance the ability of PHMSA and
stakeholders to assess operator compliance with PHMSA incident
reporting regulations.
In Part G3 of this form, operators enter data when the cause of the
incident is excavation damage. Currently, PHMSA instructs operators to
submit data about exemptions to one-call laws only when the sub-cause
is third-party excavation damage. PHMSA proposes collecting state law
exemption data when any sub-cause within excavation damage is selected.
This change would improve PHMSA's ability to identify instances where
state law exemptions contributed to the excavation damage incident no
matter which party (first, second, or third) was excavating.
PHMSA proposes adding questions from the 2018 edition of the CGA
DIRT and replacing the root cause categories currently in the report
with the 2018 CGA DIRT root cause categories.
PHMSA believes that the current time estimated for this information
collection provides sufficient time for affected operators to include
the newly required information. PHMSA does not expect operators to
incur additional burden due to these revisions.
G. Form PHMSA F 7100.3 Incident Report--Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Facilities
In Part A4, operators are instructed to enter the earliest local
time and date an incident reporting criterion was met. In some cases,
consequences occur when the pipeline system fails, but the extent of
the consequences are not known until hours, days, or weeks later. PHMSA
proposes clarifying the instructions to ensure the form collects the
time consequences occurred rather than the time operators fully
documented the extent of the consequences.
The term ``confirmed discovery'' is defined in Sec. 191.3. PHMSA
proposes adding the local time and date of ``confirmed discovery'' in
Part A of this form. This data would enhance the ability of PHMSA and
stakeholders to assess operator compliance with PHMSA incident
reporting regulations.
PHMSA believes that the current time estimated for this information
collection provides sufficient time for affected operators to include
the newly required information. PHMSA does not expect operators to
incur additional burden due to these revisions.
II. Summary of Impacted Collection
Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, requires
PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies
an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping
requests. This notice identifies information collection requests that
PHMSA will submit to OMB for revision.
The following information is provided for these information
collections: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control
number; (3) Current expiration date; (4) Type of request; (5) Abstract
of the information collection activity; (6) Description of affected
public; (7) Estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping
burden; and (8) Frequency of collection.
PHMSA will request a 3-year term of approval for these information
collections. PHMSA requests comments on the following information:
1. Title: Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline: Record
Keeping and Accident Reporting.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0047.
Current Expiration Date: 3/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection covers the
recordkeeping requirements and the collection of accident data from
operators of hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines. Part 195
requires hazardous liquid operators to file an accident report as soon
as practicable, but not later than 30 days after discovery of the
accident, on DOT Form 7000-1 whenever there is a reportable accident.
With respect to accidents caused by excavation damage to a pipeline,
PHMSA is revising this information collection to require state law
exemption data when any sub-cause is selected within the excavation
damage causes. PHMSA believes that the current time estimated for this
information collection provides sufficient time for affected operators
to include the newly required information. PHMSA does not expect
operators to incur additional burden due to this revision.
Affected Public: Operators of Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide
Pipeline Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 1,644.
Estimated annual burden hours: 53,504.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
2. Title: Annual and Incident Reports for Gas Pipeline Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0522.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection covers the
requirements for operators of natural gas pipelines, underground
natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities to
submit annual and incident reports to DOT/PHMSA. Currently, PHMSA
receives an estimated 2,247 reports from operators in compliance with
these requirements resulting in an overall time burden of 71,801 hours
annually.
Section 191.17 requires operators of underground natural gas
storage facilities, gas transmission systems, and gas gathering systems
to submit an annual report by March 15, for the preceding calendar
year. This revision includes changes to the ``Annual Report for Natural
and Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems'' to collect
data on excavation damages. Each year, gas transmission operators
submit an estimated 1,440 annual reports to PHMSA. The current
estimated burden for each annual report is 47 hours for an overall
reporting burden of 67,680 hours [47 hours x 1,440 reports]. Because
gas transmission operators are new to collecting and submitting data on
excavation damages, PHMSA estimates that it will take the estimated
1,440 respondents a one-time effort of 18 hours, per operator, to
update their systems to accommodate the new data request. This will
result in operators incurring a one-time burden of 25,920 hours [18
hours x 1,440 reports]. PHMSA expects that it will take gas
transmission operators an additional hour, annually, to include the
newly requested excavation damage data in their annual report
submission. Therefore, over the course of the three-year approval for
the information collection, the average time increase to
[[Page 14096]]
the gas transmission annual report burden will be 7 hours [(18 hours +
3 hours)/3] each year--resulting in the annual time burden to increase
from 47 hours to 54 hours per report. This will result in an overall
burden increase of 10,080 hours [7 hours x 1,440 reports] due to this
revision. The total annual burden for submitting the gas transmission
annual report will be 77,760 hours [54 hours x 1,440 reports]. Based on
the annual burden increase of 10,080 hours for the gas transmission
annual reports, the estimated annual burden for this entire information
collection, including the annual report burden for liquefied natural
gas and underground natural gas storage operators, and the immediate
notice of incidents, will increase from 71,801 hours to 81,881 hours
[71,801 hours + 10,080].
Affected Public: Operators of Natural Gas Pipelines, Underground
Natural Gas Storage Facilities, and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 2,247.
Estimated annual burden hours: 81,881.
Frequency of collection: Annually and on occasion.
3. Title: Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operator Annual Report.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0614.
Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection covers the
collection of annual report data from operators of hazardous liquid and
carbon dioxide pipelines. Part 195 requires these pipeline operators to
submit reports each year. This revision includes collecting excavation
damage data and changes to the report form to improve consistency. Each
year, hazardous liquid operators submit an estimated 475 annual reports
to PHMSA. The current estimated burden for operators to submit each
report is 19 hours for an overall annual reporting burden of 9,025
hours [19 hours x 475 reports]. Because hazardous liquid operators are
new to collecting and submitting data on excavation damages, PHMSA
estimates that it will take each of these 475 respondents a one-time
effort of 18 hours, per operator, to update their systems to
accommodate the new data request. This will result in a one-time burden
of 8,550 hours [475 responses x 18 hours]. PHMSA expects that it will
take hazardous liquid operators an additional hour, annually, to
include the newly requested excavation damage data in their annual
report submission. Therefore, over the course of the three-year
approval for the information collection, the average increase to the
annual report burden will be 7 hours [(18 hours + 3 hours)/3]. As a
result, the annual reporting burden will increase from 19 hours to 26
hours per report. This will result in an estimated annual reporting
burden of 12,350 hours [475 reports x 26 hours].
Affected Public: Operators of Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide
Pipeline Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 475.
Estimated annual burden hours: 12,350.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
4. Title: Annual Report for Gas Distribution Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0629.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection covers the
collection of data from operators of gas distribution pipeline systems
for annual reports. Section 191.17 requires operators of gas
distribution systems to submit an annual report by March 15, for the
preceding calendar year. This revision includes updating the CGA DIRT
root causes and removing data about manual service line shut-off valves
and excess flow valves. Each year, gas distribution operators submit
approximately 1,446 annual reports to PHMSA. The current estimated
burden for operators to submit each report is 17.5 hours for an overall
annual reporting burden of 25,305 hours [17.5 hours x 1,446 reports].
Because gas distribution operators are currently collecting and
submitting data on excavation damages, PHMSA estimates that these
respondents will incur a one-time effort of 9 hours, per operator, to
update their systems to accommodate the expanded data request. This
will result in a one-time burden of 13,014 hours [1,446 reports x 9
hours]. PHMSA expects that it will take gas distribution operators an
additional hour, annually, to add the newly expanded excavation damage
data to their annual report submission. Therefore, over the course of
the three-year approval for the information collection, the average
increase to the annual report burden will be 4 hours [(9 hours + 3
hours)/3] each year. As a result, the annual reporting burden will
increase from 17.5 hours to 21.5 hours per report. This will result in
an estimated annual reporting burden of 31,089 hours [1,446 reports x
21.5 hours].
PHMSA is also revising the burden estimate to account for the
elimination of the requirement to report EFV data. PHMSA currently
estimates that it takes gas distribution operators 1.5 hours, per
report, to submit the total number of EFVs and shut-off valves
installed and maintained in each calendar year. Therefore, the burden
hour for this requirement is 2,169 hours [1.5 hours x 1,446 reports).
PHMSA is proposing to eliminate this requirement which will result in a
2,169-hour burden reduction. Based on the revisions discussed above,
the burden hour estimate for the gas distribution annual report will be
20 hours [17.5 hours (current) + 4 hours (DIRT revisions)--1.5 hours
(eliminated EFV/shut-off valve data)] for a total annual burden of
28,920 hours [20 hours x 1,446 reports].
Affected Public: Operators of Gas Distribution Pipeline Systems.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 1,446.
Estimated annual burden hours: 28,920.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
5. Title: Incident Reports for Natural Gas Pipeline Operators.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0635.
Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
Type of Request: Revision.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection covers the
collection of incident data from operators of gas distribution, gas
gathering, gas transmission, underground natural gas storage
facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities. Part 191 requires
these operators to submit incident reports when certain criteria are
met. This revision includes changes to form PHMSA F 7100.1, ``Incident
Report--Gas Distribution Systems,'' to collect more state one-call law
exemption data and update the CGA DIRT questions. In the ``Incident
Report--Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems'' form, this revision
includes changing the name of the form, collecting more state one-call
law exemption data, and updating the CGA DIRT questions. In all three
incident reports, this revision includes collecting the local time and
date of ``confirmed discovery.'' PHMSA does not expect operators to
incur additional time due to these revisions. PHMSA expects the current
time estimated for this information collection to be sufficient for
affected operators to include the newly required information.
Affected Public: Gas Pipeline Operators and Operators of
Underground Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 259.
[[Page 14097]]
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,108.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for the revision of these information collections for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.
(e) Additional information that would be appropriate to collect to
inform the reduction in risk to people, property, and the environment
due to excavation damages.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2022, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-05192 Filed 3-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
