Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 23, 2005, [FR 70, page 29553].

PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to add a definition for ``person who offers or offeror.'' The definition adopted in this final rule codifies long-standing interpretations and administrative determinations on the applicability of those regulations.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite the docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of exemptions (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. Their applications have been separated from the new application for exemption to facilitate processing.

Southern LNG (SLNG), requested a waiver of compliance from the regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301, which requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 2000 to comply with 49 CFR 193 and ANSI/NFPA 59A.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of exemption 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.

This notice seeks public comment on the need for PHMSA to collect paperwork information on pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas from hazardous liquid pipeline operators with less than 500 miles of pipelines. This information collection requires operators to provide direct integrity testing and evaluation of pipelines in high consequence areas. This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for the paperwork collection, to find ways to minimize the burden on these operators that must respond, to find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to verify the accuracy of the PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on private entities. This notice also seeks approval from OMB to renew the existing approval of this paperwork collection.

This notice seeks public comment on the need for PHMSA to collect paperwork information from hazardous liquid pipeline operators. The mission of PHMSA is to ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's approximately 161,000 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines. The requested paperwork will ensure that PHMSA can identify any trends in hazardous liquid pipeline safety and share it with the stakeholders for effective inspection programs, minimizing incidents. This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for the paperwork collection from the hazardous liquid pipeline operators, to find ways to minimize the burden on operators, to find ways to enhance the quality of the collected information, and to verify the accuracy of PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on private entities. This notice also seeks to renew the existing approval from OMB for this paperwork collection.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on April 14, 2005 [70 FR 19837].

The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) seeks public comments on two petitions for rulemaking filed by Arkema, Inc. The petitions request changes to the gas pipeline safety regulations to increase the design factor for new polyamide11 (PA-11) pipe and to allow use of PA-11 pipe for systems operating at up to 200 pounds per square inch gauge pressure (psig). These requested changes will allow the use of PA-11 pipe in gas pipelines in place of metal pipe.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of exemptions (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. There applications have been separated from the new application for exemption to facilitate processing.

PHMSA is correcting a Final Rule published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2005 (70 FR 28833). That Final Rule amended requirements for pipeline operators in 49 CFR parts 192 and 195 to develop and implement public awareness programs and incorporated by reference the guidelines of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162. The document was assigned the amendment numbers 192-100 and 195-84, which were already assigned to different amendments. This document corrects the amendment numbers, and corrects the language amending part 192 so that it is consistent with part 195.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2005. The direct final rule amended regulations that require operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to conduct programs to evaluate the qualifications of individuals who perform certain safety-related tasks on pipelines.

On December 20, 2004, the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)the predecessor agency to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)published a final rule under Docket Number RSPA-04-17036 (HM-215G) amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain alignment with international standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements. Because of recent changes to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions), and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN Recommendations), these revisions are necessary to facilitate the transport of hazardous materials in international commerce. This final rule corrects errors in the December 20, 2004 final rule.

This final rule notice announces Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collection request (ICR) OMB No. 2137-0620, ``Inspection and Testing of Meter Provers.'' This information collection has been approved by OMB until May 31, 2008. This notice also makes appropriate revisions to regulations concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act to incorporate this new information collection approval under OMB Control No. 2137-0620.

This notice announces public meetings of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) to discuss various regulatory issues.

This document alerts pipeline operators about the need to preplan for emergency response with utilities whose proximity to the pipeline may impact the response. Coordination with electric and other utilities may be critical in responding to a pipeline emergency. Preplanning would facilitate actions that may be needed for safety, such as removing sources of ignition or reducing the amount of combustible material.

This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will conduct public meetings in preparation for and to report the results of the 27th session of the United Nation's Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE) to be held July 4-8, 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland.

This Final Rule amends the requirements for pipeline operators to develop and implement public awareness (also known as public education) programs. The changes are part of PHMSA's \1\ Office of Pipeline Safety's (OPS) broad pipeline communications initiative to promote pipeline safety. Promoting pipeline safety requires enhanced communications (by pipeline operators) with the public to increase public awareness of pipeline operations and safety issues. The amendments for developing and implementing public awareness programs address the requirements of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act (PSIA) of 2002 \2\ and incorporate by reference the guidelines provided in the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, ``Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators.'' \3\

In accordance with theprocedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of exemptions (e.g., to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' demote a modification request. Their applications have been separated from the new application for exemption to facilitate processing.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on exemption applications in October 2003 to December 2004. The mode of transportation involved are identified by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1-Motor vehicle, 2-Rail freight, 3-Cargo vessel, 4-Cargo aircraft only, 5-Passenger- carrying aircraft. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Exemptions. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain exemptions were issued.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of exemption 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

This notice advises operators of gas, hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), intends to issue an Advisory Bulletin to begin collecting annual drug and alcohol testing data for contractor employees performing covered functions in the pipeline industry. The collection of contractor testing data is necessary for the calculation of the minimum annual percent rate for random drug testing, which is based on the reported positive rate for the entire industry. No regulatory change is necessary because the current rule already requires operators to report testing data for covered employees to OPS. The Advisory Bulletin will end the deferment period addressed in the preamble to the current rule for reporting contractor data and suggest a method for reporting the data that minimizes the problems associated with duplication. This notice proposes a method for reporting contractor data, seeks public comment on the method, and encourages suggestions for alternative approaches for reporting contractor testing data.

This notice seeks participants and provides information about the certification study project affecting individuals who operate computer-based systems for controlling the operation of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines (pipeline controllers) and the associated pilot program required by Section 13(b) of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA). This notice describes the purpose and scope of a project being undertaken by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) (formerly the Research and Special Programs Administration) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to determine what actions it should recommend for additional assurance that individuals who operate computer-based systems for controlling the operation of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines are adequately qualified and, if deemed necessary, certified to perform their job responsibilities. The public is invited to inquire about this project through the contact information below, and is encouraged to provide comments.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on certain information collections pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which PHMSA intends to request renewal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular exemption is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.