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

This notice is to advise interested persons that on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will conduct a public meeting in preparation for the 49th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN SCOE TDG). The UN SCOE TDG meeting will be held July 27 to July 6, 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. PHMSA is soliciting comments about potential new work items, which may be considered for inclusion in its international agenda and feedback on issues that PHMSA may put forward for consideration by the Sub-Committee. (See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for a list of potential UN SCOE TDG meeting topics.) Also on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a public meeting (Docket No. OSHA- 2016-0005) to discuss proposals in preparation for the 31st session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS), to be held July 5 to 8, 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. Time and Location: Both the PHMSA and the OSHA public meetings will take place on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at the DOT Headquarters, which is located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. PHMSA will host its public meeting between 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. EST in Conference Room 4 in DOT Headquarters, West Building. Then, OSHA will host its public meeting between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST in Conference Room 4 in DOT Headquarters, West Building. Advanced Meeting Registration: The DOT requests that attendees pre- register for these meetings by completing the form at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q3Z53PT. Attendees may use the same form to pre- register for both the PHMSA and the OSHA meetings. Failure to pre- register may delay your access into the DOT Headquarters building. Additionally, if you are attending in-person, arrive early to allow time for security checks necessary to access the building. Conference call-in and ``live meeting'' capability will be provided for both meetings. Specific information on call-in and live meeting access will be posted when available at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/ hazmat/regs/international under ``Upcoming Events'' and at https:// www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 special permit 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.

PHMSA is requesting nominations for individuals to serve on the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), also known as the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), also known as the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee. The GPAC is composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Transportation after consulting with public and private agencies concerned with the technical aspect of transporting gas or operating a gas pipeline facility. The LPAC is composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary after consulting with public and private agencies concerned with the technical aspect of transporting hazardous liquid or operating a hazardous liquid pipeline facility. With this notice, PHMSA is seeking nominations for two individuals from the general public: one on the LPAC and one on the GPAC. Additionally, PHMSA is seeking to fill four state commissioner vacancies, two on each committee and one federal government vacancy on the GPAC committee.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 special permit 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.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on special permits applications in (October to October 2014). The mode of transportation involved are identified 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. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Special Permits. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain special permits were issued.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 special permit 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.

This direct final rule incorporates by reference the most recent editions of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The purpose of this update is to enable non-specification (nurse tank) manufacturers and other DOT and UN specification packaging manufacturers to utilize current technology, materials, and practices to help maintain a high level of safety. PHMSA is replacing the ASME referenced standard (1998 Edition) with the new, current ASME standard (2015 Edition) for boiler and pressure vessels. PHMSA is also replacing the ASME 1998 Edition referenced standard of ASME's Transportation Systems for Liquids and Slurries: Pressure Piping to the current 2012 Edition.

This notice is announcing a public meeting to solicit input and obtain background information for the formulation of a future regulatory change to 49 CFR part 193, Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards. PHMSA is co-sponsoring a two-day Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Workshop with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives. PHMSA will also describe requirements for transporting LNG in commerce by rail, highway, and waterway, as authorized in the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR parts 100-185. This workshop will bring federal and state regulators, emergency responders, NFPA 59A technical committee members, industry, and interested members of the public together to participate in shaping a future LNG rule.

PHMSA is issuing this guidance clarifying that: (1) Firework manufacturers may have more than one U.S. Designated Agent provided they follow certain criteria; and (2) inclusion of electronic contact information can help reduce processing times for approval requests.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations applicable to the safety of onshore gas transmission and gathering pipelines. PHMSA proposes changes to the integrity management (IM) requirements and proposes changes to address issues related to non-IM requirements. This NPRM also proposes modifying the regulation of onshore gas gathering lines.

In this final rule, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is adopting regulatory amendments applicable to the reverse logistics shipments of certain hazardous materials by highway transportation. This final rule revises the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to include a definition of ``reverse logistics'' and provides appropriate provisions for hazardous materials within the scope of this definition. This final rule also expands a previously existing exception for return shipments of used automobile batteries transported between a retail facility and a recycling center. The PHMSA incorporated recommendations from petitions for rulemaking and public comment into this rulemaking.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 special permit 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.

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 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.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 applications 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. Requests for modification of special permits (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. These applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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 special permit 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.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on special permits applications in (October to October 2014). The mode of transportation involved are identified 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. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Special Permits. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain special permits were issued.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PIIMSA 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.

Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is publishing this notice of special permit requests we have received from several natural gas pipeline operators, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This notice seeks public comments on these requests, including comments on any safety or environmental impacts. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will evaluate the requests and determine whether to grant or deny a special permit.

PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind all owners and operators of underground storage facilities used for the storage of natural gas, as defined in 49 CFR part 192, to consider the overall integrity of the facilities to ensure the safety of the public and operating personnel and to protect the environment. Operators are reminded to review their operations to identify the potential of facility leaks and failures caused by corrosion, chemical damage, mechanical damage, or other material deficiencies in piping, tubing, casing, valves, and associated facilities and the importance of reviewing the location and operations of shut-off and isolation systems and reviewing and updating emergency plans as necessary.

As required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt provisions contained in certain widely-used or long-standing special permits that have an established safety record. The adopted amendments are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests. The adopted amendments will also reduce paperwork burdens and facilitate commerce while maintaining an appropriate level of safety. PHMSA conducted an extensive analysis of all active special permits and codified, as appropriate, those special permits deemed suitable in this rulemaking.

On October 5, 2015, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA published a notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 60242) inviting comments on information collections titled ``Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas Gas Transmission Pipeline Operators; Control Room Management/Human Factors; Integrity Management Program for Gas Distribution Pipelines, and Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines,'' identified by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers 2137-0610, 2137-0624, 2137- 0625, and 2137-0589. These information collections will expire on March 31, 2016. PHMSA will request an extension with no change for the information collections 2137-0610, 0624, and 0625. PHMSA will request a renewal with revisions to the information collection 2137-0589 to revise the number of respondents PHMSA expected to comply with this information collection. During the 60-day comment period, PHMSA received no comments in response to these collections. PHMSA is publishing this notice to provide the public with an additional 30 days to comment on the renewal of these information collections and announce that these information collections will be submitted to OMB for approval.

PHMSA is withdrawing the notice proposing to stop the transportation of flammable liquid material in unprotected external product piping on DOT specification cargo tank motor vehicles as mandated by the ``Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act'' or the ``FAST Act''. Although PHMSA is withdrawing its rulemaking proposal, the agency will continue to consider methods to improve the safety of transporting flammable liquid by cargo tank motor vehicle. PHMSA will also continue to analyze current incident data and improve the collection of future incident data to assist in making an informed decision on methods to address this issue further, if warranted.