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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requests (ICR) abstracted below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on these collections of information was published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2011 [76 FR 56872] under Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0223 (Notice No. 11-9).

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made a safety recommendation to PHMSA that excess flow valves be installed in all new and renewed gas service lines, regardless of a customer's classification, when the operating conditions are compatible with readily available valves. In response to that recommendation, PHMSA is seeking public comment on several issues relating to the expanded use of excess flow valves (EFVs) in gas distribution systems. PHMSA is also interested in seeking comment from gas distribution system operators on their experiences using EFVs, particularly from a cost-benefit perspective.

An undetermined number of high pressure DOT specification cylinders were improperly marked from approximately August 2007 to August 2011 and marked with a RIN of B377. Prior to filling these cylinders, a person must verify that the cylinder has been properly requalified by an authorized requalification company and properly marked.

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 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.

PHMSA is co-sponsoring a one-day Emergency Responder Forum with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives and the United States Fire Administration. The purpose of the forum is to convene a meeting of emergency response and management community leaders, pipeline safety regulators, pipeline industry representatives, and interested members of the public to solicit expert counsel that will inform the development of a strategy for improving emergency responders' ability to prepare for and respond to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline emergencies.