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

This notice announces a public meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC). The GPAC will meet to discuss the gathering line component of the proposed rule titled ``Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines.''

This notice announces that PHMSA will host four public meetings during 2019 in advance of certain international meetings. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals. The first meeting will be held in preparation to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 19 meeting (WG/19) being held April 1-5, 2019, in Montreal, Canada. The second meeting will be held in preparation to the 55th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) being held July 1-5, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. The third meeting will be held in preparation to the 27th meeting of the ICAO DGP (DGP/27) being held September 9-20, 2019, in Montreal, Canada. Finally, the fourth meeting will be held in preparation to the 56th session of the UNSCOE TDG being held December 2-11, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. Time and Location: Each public meeting will take place approximately two weeks preceding the international meeting at DOT Headquarters, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Specific information for each meeting will be posted when available on the PHMSA website at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/ international-program/international-program-overview under ``Upcoming Events.'' This information will include the public meeting date, time, conference call-in number, and details for advanced registration.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to seek public comments on a request for a special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on two information collections that will be expiring in 2019. PHMSA will request an extension, without change, for the information collections identified by OMB control number 2137-0578 and 2137-0605.

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.

PHMSA issues this interim final rule (IFR) to revise the Hazardous Materials Regulations for lithium cells and batteries transported by aircraft. This IFR prohibits the transport of lithium ion cells and batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft; requires lithium ion cells and batteries to be shipped at not more than a 30 percent state of charge aboard cargo-only aircraft when not packed with or contained in equipment; and limits the use of alternative provisions for small lithium cell or battery shipments to one package per consignment. This IFR does not restrict passengers or crew members from bringing personal items or electronic devices containing lithium cells or batteries aboard aircraft, or restrict cargo-only aircraft from transporting lithium ion cells or batteries at a state of charge exceeding 30 percent when packed with or contained in equipment or devices.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on 3 information collections pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which PHMSA intends to request renewal from the Office of Management and Budget.

PHMSA is revising the Hazardous Materials Regulations pertaining to the Hazardous Materials Grants Program and the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant. This final rule aligns with the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (``Uniform Guidance'') and implements new requirements set forth by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015.

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.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the information collection request abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. PHMSA proposes revising certain parts of the forms and instructions for the Operator Assignment Request (PHMSA F 1000.1) and National Registry Notification (PHMSA F 1000.2) currently approved under OMB control number 2137-0627. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection was published on August 9, 2018.

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.

PHMSA has determined that the minimum random drug testing rate for covered employees will remain at 50 percent during calendar year 2019. Operators are reminded that drug and alcohol testing information must be submitted for contractors who are performing or are ready to perform covered functions. For calendar year 2018 reporting, the ``user name'' and ``password'' for the Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (DAMIS) will be available in the PHMSA Portal.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to seek public comments on a request for a special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, this final rule provides the 2018 inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations. This rule also finalizes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's and the Office of the Secretary's catch-up inflation adjustment interim final rules required by the same Act.

PHMSA is preparing to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the renewal, without change, of the information collection covering the Gas and Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certifications currently approved under OMB control number 2137-0584. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments from affected agencies and members of the public on the information collection detailed below.

PHMSA is issuing an emergency waiver order to persons conducting operations under the direction of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 or United States Coast Guard (USCG) Eleventh District within the California Wildfire emergency area. The Waiver is granted to support the EPA and USCG in taking appropriate actions to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment caused by actual or potential oil and hazardous materials incidents resulting from the California Wildfires. This Waiver Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for 30 days from the date of issuance.

PHMSA is publishing this document to seek public comments on frequently asked questions (FAQs) developed to provide guidance on what constitutes sufficient justification for an operator to request a 6- month extension to a gas pipeline's 7-year integrity management reassessment interval. This guidance, which consists of one revised and two new FAQs, will implement authority granted by Congress in Section 5(e) of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (2011 Act).

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.

In this rulemaking, PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations in response to 19 petitions for rulemaking submitted by the regulated community to update, clarify, streamline, or provide relief from miscellaneous regulatory requirements. By adopting these deregulatory amendments, PHMSA is allowing more efficient and effective ways of transporting hazardous materials in commerce while maintaining an equivalent level of safety.

On July 13, 2018, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA published a notice in the Federal Register (83 FR 32710) inviting comments on a revision to form PHMSA F 7000-1.1Annual Report for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Systems, which is currently collected under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 2137-0614. This information collection expires on October 31, 2018. During the public comment period, PHMSA received two comments in response to the proposed revision to this information collection. PHMSA is publishing this notice to respond to the comments received and to announce that the Information Collection Request will be submitted to OMB for approval.

PHMSA is issuing an emergency waiver order to persons conducting operations under the direction of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 or United States Coast Guard (USCG) Seventh or Eighth Districts within the Hurricane Michael emergency area of Georgia. The Waiver is granted to support the EPA and USCG in taking appropriate actions to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a threat to public health, welfare, or the environment caused by actual or potential oil and hazardous materials incidents resulting from Hurricane Michael. This Waiver Order is effective immediately and shall remain in effect for 30 days from the date of issuance.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comment on a request for special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

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 notice announces that on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, PHMSA will host two public meetings. The first meetingled by PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals and discuss potential new work items for inclusion in the agenda of the 54th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG). The second meetingled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)will discuss proposals in preparation for the 36th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS). Time and Location: Both public meetings will be held at DOT Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Conference Center, Washington, DC 20590-0001 on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. PHMSA Public Meeting: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. OSHA Public Meeting: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Registration: DOT requests that attendees pre-register for these meetings by completing the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ XGN8J7X. Attendees may use the same form to pre-register for both meetings. Failure to pre-register may delay access into the DOT Headquarters building. Additionally, if attending in person, please arrive early to allow time for clearing required building security checks. Conference call-in and ``Skype meeting'' capability will be provided for both meetings. Specific information about remote meeting access information will be posted when available at https:// www.phmsa.dot.gov/international-program/international-program -overview under ``Upcoming Events''.