Department of Transportation September 25, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for renewal and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 11, 2008 [FR Vol. 73, pages 4000840010]. No comments were received.

Recent observations by PHMSA indicate possible inconsistencies in how natural gas transmission pipeline operators assess and repair anomalies, such as corrosion defects, and apply the results of calculations to their decision making for further action. Special permits granted by PHMSA over the past two years prescribe specific assessment and repair procedures for pipelines operating under a class location change and maximum allowable operating pressure special permit. Moreover, recent research indicating that existing methods of predicting the remaining strength of corroded pipe could provide non- conservative results (i.e., the pipe will fail at a pressure lower than that predicted) in some circumstances. Non-conservative results could be obtained even when the dimensions of pipeline anomalies are known with precision. PHMSA is sponsoring a Workshop on Assessment and Repair of Anomalies in Pipelines to allow stakeholders of the pipeline safety community to learn about and discuss these research results, current evaluation practices, and methods to assure pipeline safety. The discussion of current evaluation practices and methods to assure pipeline safety should include: A review of safety factors used to evaluate anomalies when assessing in-line tool and excavation results, review of how outside forces and overpressure may effect anomaly stresses, how ILI tool accuracy is applied to anomaly evaluation, and how anomaly growth rates in assessments are considered.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 19, 2008, vol. 73, no. 119, page 34972-34973. The requested information is included in air carriers' applications for insurance when insurance is not available from private sources.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.