Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities, 65642-65646 [2022-23627]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 209 / Monday, October 31, 2022 / Notices
IV. Rule Requirements
Paragraph S6.5(b) of FMVSS No. 119
includes the requirements relevant to
this petition. Each tire must be marked
on each sidewall with the TIN required
by part 574. Specifically, section
574.5(f) states that the only symbols that
manufacturers and retreaders are
allowed to use in the tire identification
number are: A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K, L,
M, N, P, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.
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V. Summary of CTA’s Petition
The following views and arguments
presented in this section, ‘‘V. Summary
of CTA’s Petition,’’ are the views and
arguments provided by CTA. They do
not reflect the views of the Agency.
CTA begins its petition by describing
the subject noncompliance and
contending that it is inconsequential
because the subject tires can still be
registered with the unauthorized
symbols and can be identified in the
event of a recall.
CTA explains that it uses a third-party
company, Computerized Information
and Management Services, Inc. (CIMS),
who maintains ‘‘a database of all CTA’s
tire registrations for the purpose of
identifying purchasers of tires in the
event of a future recall.’’ Further, CTA
states that the database can be searched
for not only exact matches but also
‘‘close matching database entries,’’
which would mean the database can
perform a search ‘‘if an ‘I’ was
misrepresented as a ‘1’ or vice versa.’’
CTA says that in the event of a recall,
the subject tires can be identified in the
U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association’s
tire recall search tool 1 because it uses
an algorithm in which the unauthorized
letter can be used interchangeably with
a corresponding allowed number, for
example, ‘‘G or 6, I or 1, O or 0, etc.’’
CTA states that NHTSA has
previously assigned a plant code
containing an unauthorized letter to
Continental Tire’s location in Timisoara,
Romania. In that case, CTA says the
plant code contained the letter ‘‘G’’
which CTA believes ‘‘does not cause
any issues with tire registration and
would not affect the registration search
in the case of a recall.’’ Therefore, CTA
argues, that the use of the unauthorized
symbols in the TIN of the subject tires
will not affect tire registration or the
identification of the TIN in the event of
a recall.
CTA says that it has stopped the sale
of the subject tires and ‘‘has initiated the
process of changing tire curing molds to
compliant DOT TIN’s’’ and that ‘‘the
1 https://recallinfo.ustires.org/.
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mold change dates will be documented
in the CTA specification system for
future traceability.’’ CTA also says that
it is taking action to prevent the
reoccurrence of the subject
noncompliance by modifying its
sidewall specification system to include
‘‘a control point before a DOT TIN can
be released for production.’’
Additionally, CTA says that it will
comply with the new 13 character TIN
requirement by including a 3 character
assigned plant code and the 6 digit
manufacturer code that will be
‘‘automatically generated by the
specification system, which assures that
only authorized symbols are used.’’
CTA concludes its petition by stating
that the subject noncompliance is
inconsequential as it relates to motor
vehicle safety and that its petition to be
exempted from providing notification of
the noncompliance, as required by 49
U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the
noncompliance, as required by 49
U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.
VI. NHTSA’s Analysis
NHTSA has evaluated the merits of
the inconsequential noncompliance
petition submitted by CTA and is
granting their request for relief from
notification and remedy based on the
following:
• Operational Safety & Performance:
NHTSA has not identified a manner in
which the incorrect characters in the
TIN will have an effect on the
operational safety and performance of
the affected tires.
• Traceability & Identification:
NHTSA currently has no reason to
believe that the registration rate of the
tires will decrease due to the use of
unauthorized characters. CTA
demonstrated that the affected tires can
be registered by using either the actual
or the alternative, visually similar,
characters (examples are ‘‘G’’ and ‘‘6’’,
‘‘1’’ and ‘‘I’’, etc.). Further, CTA
demonstrated that, through the use of
CIMS, registrations using a similar
unauthorized symbol in lieu of a
permitted symbol may be retrieved from
the CIMS registration database. This
will ensure that in the event of a recall,
registration information for variations of
the TIN numbers including both the
permitted and unauthorized symbols
will be included, and therefore the
notification to consumers will not be
diminished. Finally, NHTSA believes
that the incorrect characters in the TIN
will not prevent consumers from
identifying the affected tires in the event
of a recall.
Other Arguments: The Agency does
not find an errant plant code assignment
using unauthorized symbols as
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compelling support for this petition.
Further, a previous error committed by
the Agency does not negate the
requirements as stated in 49 CFR 574.5
(f).
VII. NHTSA’s Decision
In consideration of the foregoing,
NHTSA finds that CTA has met its
burden of persuasion that the subject
FMVSS No. 119 noncompliance in the
affected tires is inconsequential to
motor vehicle safety. Accordingly,
CTA’s petition is hereby granted and
CTA is consequently exempted from the
obligation of providing notification of,
and a free remedy for, that
noncompliance under 49 U.S.C. 30118
and 30120.
NHTSA notes that the statutory
provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to
file inconsequentiality petitions, only
allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers
from the duties to notify owners,
purchasers, and dealers of a defect or
noncompliance and to remedy the
defect or noncompliance. Therefore, the
granting of this petition only applies to
the subject tires that CTA no longer
controlled at the time it determined that
the noncompliance existed. However,
the granting of this petition does not
relieve equipment distributors and
dealers of the prohibitions on the sale,
offer for sale, or introduction or delivery
for introduction into interstate
commerce of the noncompliant tires
under their control after CTA notified
them that the subject noncompliance
existed.
(Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and
501.8)
Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022–23598 Filed 10–28–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–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 compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the information
collection requests abstracted below are
being forwarded to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 209 / Monday, October 31, 2022 / Notices
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review and comment. A Federal
Register notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the
information collection was published on
March 11, 2022.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
November 30, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The public is invited to
submit comments regarding this
information collection request,
including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Management
and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for
the Office of the Secretary of
Transportation, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20503. Comments can
also be submitted electronically at
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela
Hill by telephone at 202–680–2034, by
email at angela.hill@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title 5, Code of Regulations (CFR)
section 1320.8(d), requires PHMSA to
provide interested members of the
public and affected agencies the
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping requests
before they are submitted to OMB for
approval. In accordance with this
regulation, on March 11, 2022, PHMSA
published a Federal Register notice (87
FR 14092) with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on its plan
to request revisions to the following
forms: 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
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.
PHMSA proposed to revise the annual
reports to collect data on excavation
damage events to align with the
Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA’s)
Damage Information Reporting Tool
(DIRT) root causes. PHMSA proposed to
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revise its incident and accident reports,
to update the excavation damage
questions to match the 2018 version of
DIRT and collect state one-call law
exemption data when any sub-cause is
selected under excavation damage. In
the hazardous liquid accident report,
PHMSA proposed requiring the
collection of tank data in Parts C3u and
C3v for all reports where A14, ‘‘Part of
system involved in the Accident,’’ is
‘‘Onshore Breakout Tank or Storage
Vessel.’’ In all three gas incident reports,
PHMSA proposed adding the local time
and date of ‘‘confirmed discovery’’ to
better assess operator compliance with
PHMSA’s reporting regulations. Finally,
PHMSA proposed removing Part E of
the gas distribution annual report
pertaining to the number of excess flow
valves (EFVs) and manual service line
shut-off valves installed or in the
system.
During the 60-day comment period,
PHMSA received comments from
Sander Resources, the GPA Midstream
Association (GPA Midstream), the
Interstate Natural Gas Association of
America (INGAA), and a joint comment
from the American Petroleum Institute
and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines
(API/AOPL). The comments, organized
by topic area, are summarized and
addressed below.
II. Response to Public Comments
A. Common Ground Alliance Damage
Information Reporting Tool
Sander Resources opines that aligning
PHMSA data with the CGA DIRT Report
does not increase pipeline safety and
does little to improve the quality or
completeness of the data currently being
collected by CGA. Sander Resources
believes the noticed information
collection will result in increased cost
and greater administrative burden with
no benefit to operators, regulators, or
other stakeholders within the damage
prevention space. Also, Sander
Resources opines there is a greater
burden on operators since states require
different reporting information on
excavation damage. Sanders Resources
states this comes at a time where many
operators are already under pressure
due to the new and pending regulatory
changes.
PHMSA’s proposed revisions for the
three annual report forms is limited to
collecting the total number of one-call
tickets and the total number of
excavation damage events in each of 26
CGA DIRT root cause categories on an
annual basis. The current gas
distribution annual report includes only
four root cause categories, and the other
annual reports currently do not collect
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data regarding excavation damage.
PHMSA recognizes an increased burden
on operators for all three annual reports
to provide the expanded root cause data.
While the collection of data does not
immediately impact pipeline safety,
reporting events under the 26 root cause
categories allows PHMSA and
stakeholders, including operators, to
better understand how or why
excavation damage events have
occurred, and thus identify potential
gaps in damage prevention programs.
Over the past twenty years, the leading
cause of incidents and accidents
resulting in fatality or injury has been
excavation damage. Having 26 root
cause values could allow stakeholders
to identify more specific corrective
measures than could be identified with
only four root causes. A better
understanding of gaps and the
implementation of corrective measures
could reduce the number of incidents
and accidents caused by excavation
damage.1 Finally, states may implement
different reporting requirements to
support unique state processes such as
excavation damage enforcement.
Regardless of the government agency
collecting data, the operator only needs
to determine the root cause once and
reporting which category the cause falls
under is a minimal additional burden.
Sander Resources also claims that the
26 new damage root cause categories are
overwhelmingly excavator-focused and
excavators will be found responsible for
inaccurately high numbers of events
reported.
PHMSA notes that 11 of the 26 root
cause categories are excavator-focused.
The categories are designed to capture
most of the causes of excavation damage
and are based on years of CGA
experience in evaluating the causes of
excavation damage events. Again, the
additional categories are intended to
better understand potential gaps in
pipeline damage prevention programs.
Sander Resources also expresses
concern that the new data collection
may result in duplicate reporting, that
PHMSA has not clarified whether the
data will be ‘‘normalized,’’ and that
reporting to PHMSA eliminates the
anonymity inherent in DIRT.
Although Sander Resources stated
their comments applied to the annual
report, PHMSA suspects that this
comment is intended for the incident
and accident reports. On the incident
1 PHMSA provides the currently collected
excavation damage data on its website at https://
portal.phmsa.dot.gov/PDMPublicReport/
?url=https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/analytics/saw.dll
?Portalpages&PortalPath=%2Fshared%2FPDM
%20Public%20website%2F_portal%2FExcavation
%20Damage.
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and accident reports, operators can
indicate whether they want PHMSA to
submit the data to CGA DIRT. Within
CGA DIRT, processes are currently in
place to minimize duplicate reporting. If
more than one stakeholder reports a
damage event to DIRT, the data is
‘‘normalized’’ to provide the most
accurate record for the event. PHMSA
collects excavation damage data only
from the operator and makes no changes
to the data. The incident and accident
report changes proposed by PHMSA
have no impact on the potential for
duplicate reporting in DIRT. Further,
since CGA DIRT is voluntary, a degree
of anonymity is maintained. However,
PHMSA has never collected incident
and accident reports anonymously.
Visibility of each operator’s data is
essential for PHMSA and stakeholders
to better understand gaps in pipeline
damage prevention programs.
Sander Resources states that PHMSA
only requires excavation damage data
when the reporting thresholds for
incidents or accidents are met and
suggests that PHMSA adjust the
reporting threshold downward
significantly. They also suggest that
PHMSA capture information on firstand second-party damage in addition to
third party damage.
PHMSA is proposing the collection of
the number of excavation damage events
in each of 26 root causes on the annual
reports. Most of the excavation damage
events included in the annual reports
would not be associated with reportable
incidents or accidents so collection of
the data on annual reports is a more
streamlined approach to collecting this
information. Regarding the party
causing the damage, neither CGA DIRT
nor PHMSA’s annual, incident, and
accident reports, limit the data
collection to damage events caused by a
third party.
B. Time/Date Incident Reporting Criteria
Met
GPA Midstream recommends that
PHMSA clarify that property damage
amounts in section A4 on the incident
and accident report forms are estimates
only. If PHMSA chooses to retain
section A4 and add time/date of
confirmed discovery to section A19,
INGAA recommends that PHMSA
acknowledge that property damage
amounts in section A4 are often
estimated. GPA Midstream and INGAA
also recommend that PHMSA remove
A4 from the Gas Transmission and
Gathering Incident Report since PHMSA
is proposing to add time/date of
confirmed discovery to section A19 of
those reports, and the commenters
believe the inputs are duplicative.
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PHMSA understands that property
damage values are typically estimates.
PHMSA has traditionally used section
A4 of the incident and accident report
forms to collect the time/date of the
incident or accident. The report text and
instructions have been changed over the
past ten years in response to the wide
variety of incident and accident
timelines. PHMSA’s proposed changes
to the instructions for A4 were made in
response to apparent confusion on the
part of operators and other stakeholders
who believed that the A4 value should
be the time/date when the operator first
finishes estimating property damage or
the time/date when an injured person is
admitted to the hospital. In A4, PHMSA
intends to collect the time/date that
consequences began occurring. In
response to the comments, PHMSA
proposes to make it clear in the
instructions that it expects the operator
to report the time/date the incident/
accident occurred or began, not the
time/date the property damage estimates
were generated by the operator (i.e., not
the time/date the operator believed the
criteria were met). PHMSA will also
change the name of A4 in the incident
and accident reports from ‘‘Earliest local
time and date an incident (accident)
reporting criteria was met’’ to ‘‘Incident
(Accident) local time and date.’’ In the
instructions, PHMSA maintains the
underlying proposal to report the time/
date that consequences began occurring.
As discussed above, PHMSA proposes
maintaining A4 to collect the earliest
time/date that consequences began
occurring. In 49 CFR 191.3, confirmed
discovery means ‘‘when it can be
reasonably determined, based on
information available to the operator at
the time a reportable event has
occurred, even if only based on a
preliminary evaluation.’’ The regulatory
requirement associated with confirmed
discovery is in section 191.5, which
requires notice to the National Response
Center at the earliest practicable
moment following discovery, but no
later than one hour after confirmed
discovery. Confirmed discovery is
related to the time required for the
operator to conduct a preliminary
evaluation after the operator became
aware that consequences were
occurring. In many instances, the actual
time/date of the event reported in A4
and confirmed discovery reported in
A19 will be very close together. In other
cases, there may be significant time
between the first occurrence of
consequences (reported in A4) and
confirmed discovery by the operator
(reported in A19). Both of these time/
date values are important and provide
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PHMSA and stakeholders with an
indication of the time required for the
operator to become aware of
consequences and conduct its
preliminary evaluation.
C. Accident Report Breakout Tank Data
API/AOPL do not believe that revising
Part C of the Hazardous Liquid and
Carbon Dioxide Accident Report for the
scenario of a tank weld failure will
improve data quality and recommend
that PHMSA clarify specifically how
tank releases should be reported as
operators have multiple options at the
time.
In response to this comment, PHMSA
has made several changes to its original
proposal, including amendments to the
following data fields on the form: ITEM_
INVOLVED (C3), TANK_VESSEL_
SUBTYPE (C3u), and CAUSE of
‘‘Material Failure of Pipe or Weld’’ (G5).
For C3, PHMSA proposes a default,
unalterable value of ‘‘Tank/Vessel’’ in
C3 when SYSTEM_PART_INVOLVED
(A14) is ‘‘Onshore Breakout Tank or
Storage Vessel, Including Attached
Appurtenances.’’ These changes will
eliminate multiple options for reporting
tank releases. PHMSA also proposes to
modify the instructions for C3u and add
additional options. The proposed
instructions are to report the failure
path in C3u. Based on text submitted by
operators when ‘‘Other’’ is selected in
C3 or C3u, PHMSA proposes adding
‘‘Vent’’ and ‘‘Manway’’ as additional
C3u failure path options. Currently, the
G5 CAUSE is selectable only when C3
is ‘‘Pipe’’ or ‘‘Weld.’’ Since PHMSA is
proposing to allow only ‘‘Tank/Vessel’’
in C3 for tank releases and tanks have
welds, we also propose allowing the
selection of the G5 CAUSE when C3 is
‘‘Tank/Vessel.’’ With these changes,
stakeholders would have a clear picture
of tank releases through a combination
of the failure path in C3u and the cause
of the accident. For example, the failure
of a weld in a tank shell would be
reported with ‘‘Tank Shell’’ in C3u and
a ‘‘Material Failure of Pipe or Weld’’ in
G5.
Further, PHMSA will continue
improving the clarity of existing
accident reports. For example, for some
tank failures, operators have entered
‘‘Other’’ for C3 when they should have
selected ‘‘Tank/Vessel’’ in C3 and
‘‘Mixer’’ in C3u. PHMSA plans to ask
operators to replace ‘‘Other’’ selections
with specific data, which will improve
the quality and clarity of accident
reports. PHMSA is committed to
continually improving the clarity of the
reports to collect the best data possible
and appreciates the API/AOPL
comments supporting these efforts.
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III. Summary of Impacted Collections
This notice announces that PHMSA
will submit the information collection
revision requests abstracted below to
OMB for approval. 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 form, ‘‘PHMSA F 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
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facilities, and liquefied natural gas
facilities to submit annual and incident
reports to 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. The revision to
this information collection 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 damage,
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
gas transmission and gathering
operators incurring a one-time burden of
25,920 hours [18 hours × 1,440 reports].
In addition, 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
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 for all of these operators, will
increase from 71,801 hours to 81,881
hours [71,801 hours + 10,080].
Affected Public: Operators of natural
gas transmission pipelines,
underground natural gas storage
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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 damage, 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.
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.
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65646
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 209 / Monday, October 31, 2022 / Notices
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
cause categories 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 damage, PHMSA estimates
that these respondents will incur a onetime effort of nine 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 × 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 ×
21.5 hours].
PHMSA is also revising the burden
estimate to account for the elimination
of the requirement to report EFV/shutoff valve 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:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:15 Oct 28, 2022
Jkt 259001
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 systems (form PHMSA F
7100.1, ‘‘Incident Report—Gas
Distribution Systems’’), gas transmission
and gathering systems (form PHMSA F
7100.2, ‘‘Incident Report—Gas
Transmission and Gathering Systems’’),
and liquefied natural gas facilities
(PHMSA F 7100.3, ‘‘Incident Report—
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities,’’
each under OMB Control No. 2137–
0635). 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 the event as
well as the ‘‘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, operators of underground
natural gas, and operators of liquefied
natural gas facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 259.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours:
3,108.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for the renewal and
revision of this collection of information
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,
(c) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are required to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques.
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 October 25,
2022, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022–23627 Filed 10–28–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection Request Submitted for
Public Comment; Comment Request
for Form 1099–DIV
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Internal Revenue Service,
as part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
invites the public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on proposed and/or
continuing information collections, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is
soliciting comments concerning Form
1099–DIV, Dividends and Distributions.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before December 30, 2022
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Andre´s Garcia, Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or
by email to pra.comments@irs.gov.
Please include, ‘‘OMB Number: 1545–
0110—Public Comment Request Notice’’
in the Subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the form and instructions
should be directed to Ronald J. Durbala,
at (202) 317–5746, at Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or
through the internet at
RJoseph.Durbala@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Dividends and Distributions.
OMB Number: 1545–0110.
Regulation Project Number: Form
1099–DIV.
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65642-65646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23627]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the information collection requests abstracted
below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for
[[Page 65643]]
review and comment. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the information collection was published
on March 11, 2022.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
November 30, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit comments regarding this
information collection request, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer
for the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be submitted electronically at
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-680-2034,
by email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title 5, Code of Regulations (CFR) section 1320.8(d), requires
PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies
the opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping
requests before they are submitted to OMB for approval. In accordance
with this regulation, on March 11, 2022, PHMSA published a Federal
Register notice (87 FR 14092) with a 60-day comment period soliciting
comments on its plan to request revisions to the following forms: 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 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.
PHMSA proposed to revise the annual reports to collect data on
excavation damage events to align with the Common Ground Alliance's
(CGA's) Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) root causes. PHMSA
proposed to revise its incident and accident reports, to update the
excavation damage questions to match the 2018 version of DIRT and
collect state one-call law exemption data when any sub-cause is
selected under excavation damage. In the hazardous liquid accident
report, PHMSA proposed requiring the collection of tank data in Parts
C3u and C3v for all reports where A14, ``Part of system involved in the
Accident,'' is ``Onshore Breakout Tank or Storage Vessel.'' In all
three gas incident reports, PHMSA proposed adding the local time and
date of ``confirmed discovery'' to better assess operator compliance
with PHMSA's reporting regulations. Finally, PHMSA proposed removing
Part E of the gas distribution annual report pertaining to the number
of excess flow valves (EFVs) and manual service line shut-off valves
installed or in the system.
During the 60-day comment period, PHMSA received comments from
Sander Resources, the GPA Midstream Association (GPA Midstream), the
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), and a joint
comment from the American Petroleum Institute and the Association of
Oil Pipe Lines (API/AOPL). The comments, organized by topic area, are
summarized and addressed below.
II. Response to Public Comments
A. Common Ground Alliance Damage Information Reporting Tool
Sander Resources opines that aligning PHMSA data with the CGA DIRT
Report does not increase pipeline safety and does little to improve the
quality or completeness of the data currently being collected by CGA.
Sander Resources believes the noticed information collection will
result in increased cost and greater administrative burden with no
benefit to operators, regulators, or other stakeholders within the
damage prevention space. Also, Sander Resources opines there is a
greater burden on operators since states require different reporting
information on excavation damage. Sanders Resources states this comes
at a time where many operators are already under pressure due to the
new and pending regulatory changes.
PHMSA's proposed revisions for the three annual report forms is
limited to collecting the total number of one-call tickets and the
total number of excavation damage events in each of 26 CGA DIRT root
cause categories on an annual basis. The current gas distribution
annual report includes only four root cause categories, and the other
annual reports currently do not collect data regarding excavation
damage. PHMSA recognizes an increased burden on operators for all three
annual reports to provide the expanded root cause data. While the
collection of data does not immediately impact pipeline safety,
reporting events under the 26 root cause categories allows PHMSA and
stakeholders, including operators, to better understand how or why
excavation damage events have occurred, and thus identify potential
gaps in damage prevention programs. Over the past twenty years, the
leading cause of incidents and accidents resulting in fatality or
injury has been excavation damage. Having 26 root cause values could
allow stakeholders to identify more specific corrective measures than
could be identified with only four root causes. A better understanding
of gaps and the implementation of corrective measures could reduce the
number of incidents and accidents caused by excavation damage.\1\
Finally, states may implement different reporting requirements to
support unique state processes such as excavation damage enforcement.
Regardless of the government agency collecting data, the operator only
needs to determine the root cause once and reporting which category the
cause falls under is a minimal additional burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ PHMSA provides the currently collected excavation damage
data on its website at https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/PDMPublicReport/?url=https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/analytics/saw.dll?Portalpages&PortalPath=%2Fshared%2FPDM%20Public%20website%2F_portal%2FExcavation%20Damage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sander Resources also claims that the 26 new damage root cause
categories are overwhelmingly excavator-focused and excavators will be
found responsible for inaccurately high numbers of events reported.
PHMSA notes that 11 of the 26 root cause categories are excavator-
focused. The categories are designed to capture most of the causes of
excavation damage and are based on years of CGA experience in
evaluating the causes of excavation damage events. Again, the
additional categories are intended to better understand potential gaps
in pipeline damage prevention programs.
Sander Resources also expresses concern that the new data
collection may result in duplicate reporting, that PHMSA has not
clarified whether the data will be ``normalized,'' and that reporting
to PHMSA eliminates the anonymity inherent in DIRT.
Although Sander Resources stated their comments applied to the
annual report, PHMSA suspects that this comment is intended for the
incident and accident reports. On the incident
[[Page 65644]]
and accident reports, operators can indicate whether they want PHMSA to
submit the data to CGA DIRT. Within CGA DIRT, processes are currently
in place to minimize duplicate reporting. If more than one stakeholder
reports a damage event to DIRT, the data is ``normalized'' to provide
the most accurate record for the event. PHMSA collects excavation
damage data only from the operator and makes no changes to the data.
The incident and accident report changes proposed by PHMSA have no
impact on the potential for duplicate reporting in DIRT. Further, since
CGA DIRT is voluntary, a degree of anonymity is maintained. However,
PHMSA has never collected incident and accident reports anonymously.
Visibility of each operator's data is essential for PHMSA and
stakeholders to better understand gaps in pipeline damage prevention
programs.
Sander Resources states that PHMSA only requires excavation damage
data when the reporting thresholds for incidents or accidents are met
and suggests that PHMSA adjust the reporting threshold downward
significantly. They also suggest that PHMSA capture information on
first- and second-party damage in addition to third party damage.
PHMSA is proposing the collection of the number of excavation
damage events in each of 26 root causes on the annual reports. Most of
the excavation damage events included in the annual reports would not
be associated with reportable incidents or accidents so collection of
the data on annual reports is a more streamlined approach to collecting
this information. Regarding the party causing the damage, neither CGA
DIRT nor PHMSA's annual, incident, and accident reports, limit the data
collection to damage events caused by a third party.
B. Time/Date Incident Reporting Criteria Met
GPA Midstream recommends that PHMSA clarify that property damage
amounts in section A4 on the incident and accident report forms are
estimates only. If PHMSA chooses to retain section A4 and add time/date
of confirmed discovery to section A19, INGAA recommends that PHMSA
acknowledge that property damage amounts in section A4 are often
estimated. GPA Midstream and INGAA also recommend that PHMSA remove A4
from the Gas Transmission and Gathering Incident Report since PHMSA is
proposing to add time/date of confirmed discovery to section A19 of
those reports, and the commenters believe the inputs are duplicative.
PHMSA understands that property damage values are typically
estimates. PHMSA has traditionally used section A4 of the incident and
accident report forms to collect the time/date of the incident or
accident. The report text and instructions have been changed over the
past ten years in response to the wide variety of incident and accident
timelines. PHMSA's proposed changes to the instructions for A4 were
made in response to apparent confusion on the part of operators and
other stakeholders who believed that the A4 value should be the time/
date when the operator first finishes estimating property damage or the
time/date when an injured person is admitted to the hospital. In A4,
PHMSA intends to collect the time/date that consequences began
occurring. In response to the comments, PHMSA proposes to make it clear
in the instructions that it expects the operator to report the time/
date the incident/accident occurred or began, not the time/date the
property damage estimates were generated by the operator (i.e., not the
time/date the operator believed the criteria were met). PHMSA will also
change the name of A4 in the incident and accident reports from
``Earliest local time and date an incident (accident) reporting
criteria was met'' to ``Incident (Accident) local time and date.'' In
the instructions, PHMSA maintains the underlying proposal to report the
time/date that consequences began occurring.
As discussed above, PHMSA proposes maintaining A4 to collect the
earliest time/date that consequences began occurring. In 49 CFR 191.3,
confirmed discovery means ``when it can be reasonably determined, based
on information available to the operator at the time a reportable event
has occurred, even if only based on a preliminary evaluation.'' The
regulatory requirement associated with confirmed discovery is in
section 191.5, which requires notice to the National Response Center at
the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than
one hour after confirmed discovery. Confirmed discovery is related to
the time required for the operator to conduct a preliminary evaluation
after the operator became aware that consequences were occurring. In
many instances, the actual time/date of the event reported in A4 and
confirmed discovery reported in A19 will be very close together. In
other cases, there may be significant time between the first occurrence
of consequences (reported in A4) and confirmed discovery by the
operator (reported in A19). Both of these time/date values are
important and provide PHMSA and stakeholders with an indication of the
time required for the operator to become aware of consequences and
conduct its preliminary evaluation.
C. Accident Report Breakout Tank Data
API/AOPL do not believe that revising Part C of the Hazardous
Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Accident Report for the scenario of a tank
weld failure will improve data quality and recommend that PHMSA clarify
specifically how tank releases should be reported as operators have
multiple options at the time.
In response to this comment, PHMSA has made several changes to its
original proposal, including amendments to the following data fields on
the form: ITEM_INVOLVED (C3), TANK_VESSEL_SUBTYPE (C3u), and CAUSE of
``Material Failure of Pipe or Weld'' (G5). For C3, PHMSA proposes a
default, unalterable value of ``Tank/Vessel'' in C3 when
SYSTEM_PART_INVOLVED (A14) is ``Onshore Breakout Tank or Storage
Vessel, Including Attached Appurtenances.'' These changes will
eliminate multiple options for reporting tank releases. PHMSA also
proposes to modify the instructions for C3u and add additional options.
The proposed instructions are to report the failure path in C3u. Based
on text submitted by operators when ``Other'' is selected in C3 or C3u,
PHMSA proposes adding ``Vent'' and ``Manway'' as additional C3u failure
path options. Currently, the G5 CAUSE is selectable only when C3 is
``Pipe'' or ``Weld.'' Since PHMSA is proposing to allow only ``Tank/
Vessel'' in C3 for tank releases and tanks have welds, we also propose
allowing the selection of the G5 CAUSE when C3 is ``Tank/Vessel.'' With
these changes, stakeholders would have a clear picture of tank releases
through a combination of the failure path in C3u and the cause of the
accident. For example, the failure of a weld in a tank shell would be
reported with ``Tank Shell'' in C3u and a ``Material Failure of Pipe or
Weld'' in G5.
Further, PHMSA will continue improving the clarity of existing
accident reports. For example, for some tank failures, operators have
entered ``Other'' for C3 when they should have selected ``Tank/Vessel''
in C3 and ``Mixer'' in C3u. PHMSA plans to ask operators to replace
``Other'' selections with specific data, which will improve the quality
and clarity of accident reports. PHMSA is committed to continually
improving the clarity of the reports to collect the best data possible
and appreciates the API/AOPL comments supporting these efforts.
[[Page 65645]]
III. Summary of Impacted Collections
This notice announces that PHMSA will submit the information
collection revision requests abstracted below to OMB for approval. 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 form, ``PHMSA F 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 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. The revision to this information collection 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 damage, 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 gas transmission and gathering
operators incurring a one-time burden of 25,920 hours [18 hours x 1,440
reports]. In addition, 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 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 for all of these operators, will increase from 71,801 hours
to 81,881 hours [71,801 hours + 10,080].
Affected Public: Operators of natural gas transmission 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 damage, 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.
[[Page 65646]]
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 cause categories 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 damage, PHMSA
estimates that these respondents will incur a one-time effort of nine
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/shut-off valve 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 systems
(form PHMSA F 7100.1, ``Incident Report--Gas Distribution Systems''),
gas transmission and gathering systems (form PHMSA F 7100.2, ``Incident
Report--Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems''), and liquefied
natural gas facilities (PHMSA F 7100.3, ``Incident Report--Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities,'' each under OMB Control No. 2137-0635).
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 the event as well as the
``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, operators of underground
natural gas, and operators of liquefied natural gas facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 259.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,108.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for the renewal and revision of this collection of
information 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,
(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 required to respond, including the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques.
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 October 25, 2022, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-23627 Filed 10-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
