Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration July 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number pertaining to hazardous materials transportation. This notice follows the publication of a PHMSA final rule titled ``Hazardous Materials: Liquefied Natural Gas by Rail'' [HM-264, 85 FR 44994] authorizing the transportation of liquefied natural gas by rail. PHMSA intends to request a renewal with change of currently approved OMB control number 2137-0612, ``Hazardous Materials Security Plans.''

PHMSA, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to allow for the bulk transport of ``Methane, refrigerated liquid,'' commonly known as liquefied natural gas (LNG), in rail tank cars. This rulemaking authorizes the transportation of LNG by rail in DOT-113C120W specification rail tank cars with enhanced outer tank requirements, subject to all applicable requirements and certain additional operational controls. The enhancements to the outer tank are indicated by the new specification suffix ``9'' (DOT-113C120W9).

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on February 12, 2020, amending PHMSA's regulations establishing minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities. That document inadvertently removed certain reporting requirements for natural gas pipeline operators. This document corrects the final regulations.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, 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 special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1 Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

This document responds to a joint Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) that was submitted on October 31, 2019, by the American Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Public Gas Association, and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (the Associations). In the Petition, the Associations requested that PHMSA amend the final rule titled ``Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments'' (Gas Transmission Final Rule) published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2019. In response to the Petition, PHMSA is amending the Gas Transmission Final Rule to address the requirements for recordkeeping and the applicability of maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) reconfirmation. The amendments are intended to clarify the regulatory requirements identified in the Petition without adversely affecting safety.