Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee

AGENCY:

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of advisory committee meeting.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a public meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The committees will meet to discuss proposed rules on reporting requirements and standards publications and several future regulatory initiatives.

DATES:

The committees will meet on Wednesday, December 9, 2009, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST and on Thursday, December 10, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Attendees should register in advance at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg62.mtg. On-site registration will be available starting at noon on Wednesday. The meeting will not be web cast; however, presentations will be available on the meeting Web site within 30 days following the meeting.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be at The Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314. The phone number is 1-866-837-4210. PHMSA will post any new information or changes on the PHMSA/Office of Pipeline Safety Web page (http://PHMSA.dot.gov) about 15 days before the meeting takes place.

Comments on the meeting may be submitted to the docket in the following ways:

E-Gov Web Site: http://www.regulations.gov . This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency.

Fax: 1-202-493-2251.

Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2009-0203 at the beginning of your comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information provided. You should know that anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). Therefore, you may want to review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or view the Privacy Notice at http://www.regulations.gov before submitting any such comments.

Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or to Room W12-140 on the ground level of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your written comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with the following statement: “Comments on PHMSA-2009-0203.” The Docket Clerk will date-stamp the postcard prior to returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays in the delivery of U.S. mail to Federal offices in Washington, DC, we recommend that persons consider an alternative method (Internet, fax, or professional delivery service) of submitting comments to the docket and ensuring their timely receipt at DOT.

Privacy Act Statement

Anyone may search the electronic form of comments received in response to any of our dockets by the name of the individual who submitted the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement was published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to seek special assistance at the meeting, please contact Cheryl Whetsel at 202-366-4431 by November 30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information about the meeting, contact Cheryl Whetsel by phone at 202-366-4431 or by e-mail at cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Meeting Details

Members of the public may attend and make a statement during the advisory committee meeting. If you intend to make a statement, please notify PHMSA in advance by forwarding an e-mail to cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov by November 30, 2009.

II. Committee Background

The TPSSC and THLPSSC are statutorily mandated advisory committees that advise PHMSA on proposed safety standards, risk assessments, and safety policies for natural gas pipelines and for hazardous liquid pipelines. Both committees were established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and the pipeline safety law (49 U.S.C. Chap. 601). Each committee consists of 15 members—with membership evenly divided among the Federal and State government, the regulated industry, and the public. The committees advise PHMSA on the technical feasibility, practicability, and cost-effectiveness of each proposed pipeline safety standard.

III. Agenda

The agenda will include committee discussions on two proposed rules: (1) “Pipeline Safety: Updates to Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Reporting” published in the Federal Register on July 2, 2009 (74 FR 31675); and (2) “Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Edits” published in the Federal Register on July 22, 2009 (74 FR 36139). PHMSA staff will also brief the committees on several regulatory and policy initiatives.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115; 60118.