Notice2022-24068
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities: Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 4, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
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. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collections was published on June 16, 2022.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66773-66775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24068]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No: PHMSA-2022-0009]
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities: Natural Gas
Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the information collections was published
on June 16, 2022.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 5, 2022.
ADDRESSES: The public is invited to submit comments regarding these
information collection requests, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for
the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be submitted electronically at
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-680-
2034 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f2e21282a232e61272623230f2b203b61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8c9c6cfcdc4c986c0c1c4c4e8ccc7dc86cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 1320.8(d),
requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) to provide interested members of the public and
[[Page 66774]]
affected agencies the opportunity to comment on information collection
and recordkeeping requests before they are submitted to OMB for
approval. In accordance with this regulation, on June 16, 2022, PHMSA
published a Federal Register notice (87 FR 36374) with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on its intent to request OMB's three-year
approval of an information collection titled: ``The Natural Gas
Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program''
under OMB Control No. 2137-0641.
During the 60-day comment period, PHMSA received comments from the
American Public Gas Association (APGA), the Distribution Contractors
Association (DCA), and the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI). Both DCA and
PPI submitted comments in general support of the information
collection. APGA likewise expressed support for this information
collection request in that it facilitates the distribution of allocated
grant dollars. APGA also provided comments on various aspects of the
information collection request. The comments, organized by topic, are
summarized and addressed below.
II. Comment Summary
A summary of comments and PHMSA responses are detailed below.
A. Estimated Burden
APGA commented that due to the highly technical and granular data
required to complete the grant application, the actual burden hours
exceeded PHMSA's 82-hours' estimate. Specifically, APGA stated ``[d]ue
to the quantity of highly technical and granular data required in this
application, it has been the experience of APGA members that the
application takes more than 82 hours to complete. This is especially
true during the first iteration of the application. The application
expands beyond routine pipeline safety, design, construction, and
integrity management questions to include areas of less familiarity
with the average applicant. Many have had to rely upon subject matter
experts in the areas of grant writing, environmental mitigation
strategies, and cyber security guidelines.'' APGA estimated that the
average initial application required nearly 200 hours to complete.
PHMSA agrees that the application requires a variety of meticulous
details that may take additional time to collect in order to properly
prepare an application that complies with the Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO). PHMSA also believes that future rounds of NGDISM
NOFOs will require less time given the number of frequently asked
questions (FAQs) that are now available as well as PHMSA's intention to
incorporate many of APGA's suggested edits in future NOFO iterations.
As such, PHMSA has agreed to increase the estimated burden to 32,000
hours, for an average of 160 hours per applicant.
B. Technical Issues With Unique Entity Identifier and <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
APGA commented that their members experienced frustration during
the process of obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier through <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> and
with changing the settings in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> to complete the application.
APGA acknowledged that these areas are outside of PHMSA's control.
PHMSA acknowledges that many applicants experienced technical issues
with these two government sites and recommends applicants utilize the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> helpdesks to resolve any future technical
issues. For issues with <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, applicants can call 1-800-518-4726
or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1b2b4b1b1aeb3b581a6b3a0afb5b2efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="17646267677865635770657679636439707861">[email protected]</span></a>. For issues with <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, applicants can
call 866-606-8220 or create an incident ticket with the Federal Service
Desk at the following website: <a href="http://www.fsd.gov">www.fsd.gov</a>. Although PHMSA stands ready
to provide any assistance it can, all applicants are ultimately
responsible for working directly with both <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> and <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> to
resolve technical issues.
C. Suggestions To Enhance the Quality, Utility, and Clarity of the
Collected Information
APGA provided PHMSA with specific comments on various aspects of
the NOFO's Project Narrative requirements. In response to APGA, PHMSA
will take their comments into consideration when drafting future NOFOs
for this grant program. Summaries of the APGA comments, per section of
the NOFO, are detailed below.
1. Explanation of Evaluation and Select Criteria Equivalence
APGA suggested that Section 8 of the Project Narrative either be
removed or modified as it is largely duplicative of other sections,
adds unnecessary burden on applicants, and further constrains
applicants' ability to provide complete answers given the page
requirements. APGA suggested if PHMSA chooses to keep this section,
PHMSA should clarify whether applicants are expected to go through each
of the 23 elements in Section E.1 and reiterate their responses, or
whether other content is being requested.
2. Project Narrative Cover Letter
APGA commented that the ``Organization Name'' section of the cover
letter section requested information that is confusing given the goal
of the NGDISM Grant Program. APGA suggested PHMSA modify the language
for clarity.
3. Project Location
APGA commented that not all projects are geospatially specific and
that this element should be broadened to include the replacement of
assets throughout a service area or the purchase of equipment.
4. Project Schedule
APGA commented that many applicants were in the early stages of
project design when applying for a grant and exact project schedules
and milestones may not have been available at the time of application.
APGA suggested that PHMSA edit the language in this section for
clarity. APGA also suggested generally referring to the period-of-
performance to ensure consistency during future application years
should the period-of-performance change.
5. Environmental Outputs and Objectives
APGA commented that applicants may find it helpful for PHMSA to
provide examples of how applicants should describe methane mitigation
for their projects, whether in the form of application instructions or
in an FAQ document.
6. Buy America
APGA commented that there are many commonly used materials
throughout natural gas distribution systems that are known to be non-
compliant with the Buy America requirements in Section 70914 of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, such as large steel fittings
and piping. APGA encourages PHMSA to explore creating a specific waiver
for those materials for all NGDISM grant recipients.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ While the IIJA's Buy America requirements apply to this
program, the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301, et seq.) does not
apply to this program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
APGA suggested referencing the Transportation Security
Administration's Pipeline Security Guidelines in lieu of the
Presidential Policy Directive. APGA believes these guidelines are more
specific to the
[[Page 66775]]
pipeline industry and are more practical for implementation.
8. Environmental Analysis
APGA commented that it is unclear if PHMSA is requesting applicants
provide information concerning the nine sections of the Tier 2
Questionnaire in their initial applications. The information appears to
be provided for information and planning purposes only. Therefore, for
clarity, APGA recommended that it is moved to a separate section of the
instructions.
III. Summary of Impacted Collections
The following information is provided for the information
collection request: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB
control number; (3) Current expiration date; (4) Type of request; (5)
Abstract of the information collection activity; (6) Description of
affected public; (7) Estimate of total annual reporting and
recordkeeping burden; and (8) Frequency of collection.
PHMSA will request a three-year term of approval for this
information collection. PHMSA requests comments on the following
information:
Title: Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and
Modernization Grant Program.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0641.
Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2022.
Type of Request: Extension of an approved information collection.
Abstract: This information collection covers the collection of
applicant data from municipality- and community-owned utilities that
are interested in applying to receive funds from the NGDISM Grant
Program. Solicitation for grants under the NGDISM Grant Program is
voluntary. No eligible entity is required to apply. To be eligible,
however, municipality- and community-owned utilities must meet all the
requirements set forth in the law. Therefore, PHMSA must collect
certain information from applicants to determine eligibility and
evaluate applications. PHMSA must also verify the accuracy of grant
requests from approved applicants, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, and other laws and regulations governing Federal financial
assistance programs, including (but not limited to) the Anti-Deficiency
Act, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA),
the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, and 2 CFR part 200,
among others. This information collection also covers the collection of
data from grant recipients. PHMSA expects to receive approximately 200
applications from potential grantees annually over the next four years.
PHMSA estimates that it will take the 200 applicants approximately 160
hours per applicant to compile and submit the forms required to
complete the application process for an annual burden of 32,000 hours.
PHMSA estimates that 100 grant recipients will, on eight occasions over
the course of one year, spend 2.5 hours, or 20 hours annually,
submitting post-award reports for an annual burden of 2,000 hours.
Therefore, PHMSA estimates that there will be a total of 1,000
responses (200 applications plus 800 post-award reports) for an
aggregate total annual burden for the information collection of 34,000
hours (32,000 hours for applications plus 2,000 hours for post-award
reports).
Affected Public: Municipality- and Community-owned Utilities.
Annual Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 1,000.
Estimated annual burden hours: 34,000.
Frequency of Collection: One-time application, grant reports no
more than quarterly, to be followed by disbursement requests and
closeout.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for this information collection for the proper
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected;
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques;
and,
(e) Additional information that would be appropriate to collect to
inform the reduction in risk to people, property, and the environment
due to excavation damages.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2022, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-24068 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 4, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.