Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration August 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

PHMSA is considering whether changes are needed to the regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines. In particular, PHMSA is considering whether integrity management (IM) requirements should be changed, including adding more prescriptive language in some areas, and whether other issues related to system integrity should be addressed by strengthening or expanding non-IM requirements. Among the specific issues PHMSA is considering concerning IM requirements is whether the definition of a high-consequence area (HCA) should be revised, and whether additional restrictions should be placed on the use of specific pipeline assessment methods. With respect to non-IM requirements, PHMSA is considering whether revised requirements are needed on new construction or existing pipelines concerning mainline valves, including valve spacing and installation of remotely operated or automatically operated valves; whether requirements for corrosion control of steel pipelines should be strengthened; and whether new regulations are needed to govern the safety of gathering lines and underground gas storage facilities. Additional issues PHMSA is considering are addressed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Section under background.

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 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA published a notice with request for comments in the Federal Register on June 9, 2011 (76 FR 33808) on an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137-0622, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Public Awareness Program'' and received no comments. PHMSA is now forwarding the information collection request to the OMB and providing an additional 30 days for comments.

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