Notice2023-20159
Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee
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
September 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
This notice announces a public meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) to discuss the notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) titled "Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair" and "Class Location Change Requirements."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64518-64520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20159]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0061]
Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Gas Pipeline
Advisory Committee (GPAC) to discuss the notices of proposed rulemaking
(NPRMs) titled ``Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair'' and ``Class
Location Change Requirements.''
DATES: PHMSA will hold a public meeting from November 27, 2023, to
December 1, 2023. The GPAC will meet each day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ET to discuss the NPRMs. However, the meeting may end early if the GPAC
completes its review of the NPRMs. Members of the public who wish to
attend are asked to register no later than November 20, 2023. PHMSA
requests that individuals who require accommodations because of a
disability notify Tewabe Asebe by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f88c9d8f999a9dd6998b9d9a9db89c978cd69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9aeeffedfbf8ffb4fbe9fff8ffdafef5eeb4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a> at
least five days prior to the meeting. Public comments on the
proceedings of the GPAC meeting must be submitted by January 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in person at the Westin Crystal
City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. The agenda and any
additional information, including information on how to participate in
the meeting, will be published on the meeting website at <a href="https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=167">https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=167</a>. Presentations will
be available on the meeting website and at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>
in docket number PHMSA-2023-0061 no later than 30 days following the
meeting. You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2023-
0061, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Web: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. This site allows the
public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any
agency. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
<bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday,
except federal holidays.
<bullet> Instructions: Identify Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0061 at the
beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit
two copies. Internet users may submit comments at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. If you would like confirmation that PHMSA received
your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard labeled
``Comments on PHMSA-2023-0061.'' The docket clerk will date stamp the
postcard prior to returning it to you via U.S. mail.
<bullet> Note: All comments received will be posted without edits
to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for more information.
Anyone can use the site to search all comments by the name of the
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submitting individual or, if the comment was submitted on behalf of an
association, business, labor union, etc., the name of the signing
individual. Therefore, please review the complete DOT Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register at 65 FR 19477 or the Privacy Notice
at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> before submitting comments.
<bullet> Privacy Act Statement: DOT may solicit comments from the
public regarding certain general notices. DOT posts these comments
without edit, including any personal information the commenter
provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL- 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at <a href="http://www.dot.gov/privacy">www.dot.gov/privacy</a>.
<bullet> Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice contain
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask
PHMSA to provide confidential treatment to information you give to the
Agency by taking the following steps: (1) mark each page of the
original document submission containing CBI as ``Confidential;'' (2)
send PHMSA a copy of the original document with the CBI deleted along
with the original, unaltered document; and (3) explain why the
information you are submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI
should be sent to Tewabe Asebe, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Submission containing
CBI can also be emailed to Tewabe Asebe by encrypted email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#730716041211165d120016111633171c075d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="92e6f7e5f3f0f7bcf3e1f7f0f7d2f6fde6bcf5fde4">[email protected]</span></a>. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
<bullet> Docket: For access to the docket or to read background
documents or comments, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the
online instructions for accessing the dockets. Alternatively, this
information is available by visiting DOT at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
West Building: Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tewabe Asebe, Office of Pipeline
Safety, by phone at 202-366-5523 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#176372607675723976647275725773786339707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4b0a1b3a5a6a1eaa5b7a1a6a184a0abb0eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Meeting Agenda
The GPAC will meet from November 27, 2023, to December 1, 2023, to
discuss the ``Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair'' NPRM that PHMSA
published in the Federal Register on May 18, 2023, (88 FR 31890),\1\
and the ``Class Location Change Requirements'' NPRM that PHMSA
published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2020, (85 FR
65142).\2\ The GPAC will review the NPRMs and their associated
regulatory analyses, including, but not limited to, the cost-benefit
and risk assessment analyses; regulatory impact analyses; environmental
assessments; and other materials pertaining to the NPRMs provided in
the respective public dockets. While the meeting is scheduled for five
days, the GPAC may complete its review of the proposed rules in less
time. PHMSA will post additional details on the meeting website in
advance of the meeting as they become available.
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\1\ The public docket for the Leak Detection and Repair NPMR can
be found at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> in Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039.
\2\ The public docket for the Class Location Change Requirements
Notice can be found at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> in Docket No. PHMSA-
2017-00151.
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In the ``Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair'' NPRM, PHMSA
proposes to make regulatory amendments that implement congressional
mandates in the ``Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and
Enhancing Safety Act of 2020'' to reduce methane emissions from new and
existing gas transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines, regulated
(Types A, B, C, and offshore) gas gathering pipelines, underground
natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities.
Among the proposed amendments for Part 192-regulated gas pipelines are
strengthened leakage survey and patrolling requirements; performance
standards for advanced leak detection programs; leak grading and repair
criteria with mandatory repair timelines; requirements for mitigation
of emissions from blowdowns; pressure relief device design,
configuration, and maintenance requirements; and clarified requirements
for investigating failures. Finally, this NPRM proposes to expand
reporting requirements for operators of all gas pipeline facilities
within DOT's jurisdiction, including underground natural gas storage
facilities and liquefied natural gas facilities. PHMSA requested public
comments with a submission deadline of August 16, 2023.\3\ PHMSA
received approximately 35,000 comments on the NPRM.
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\3\ 88 FR 42284.
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In the ``Class Location Change Requirements'' NPRM, PHMSA proposes
to revise the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations to amend the
requirements for gas transmission pipeline segments that experience a
change in class location. Under the existing regulations, pipeline
segments located in areas where the population density has
significantly increased must perform one of the following actions:
reduce the pressure of the pipeline segment; pressure test the pipeline
segment to higher standards; or replace the pipeline segment. This
proposed rule would add an alternative set of requirements operators
could use--based on implementation of integrity management principles
and pipe eligibility criteria--to manage certain pipeline segments
where the class location has changed from a Class 1 location to a Class
3 location. Through required periodic assessments, repair criteria, and
other extra preventive and mitigative measures, PHMSA expects this
alternative approach will provide long-term safety benefits consistent
with the current natural gas pipeline safety rules while also providing
cost savings for pipeline operators. PHMSA requested public comments
with a submission deadline of December 14, 2020.\4\ PHMSA received 14
comments on the NPRM.
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\4\ 85 FR 65142
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Following the GPAC meeting, PHMSA will evaluate the GPAC's
recommendations and publish final rules that address the comments
received and relevant information from the GPAC meeting report.
II. Background
The GPAC is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that provides
PHMSA and the Secretary of Transportation with recommendations on
proposed standards for the transportation of gas by pipeline. The
committee was established in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 60115 and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463) to review
PHMSA's regulatory initiatives and determine their technical
feasibility, reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability.
The committee consists of 15 members, with membership evenly divided
among federal and state governments, regulated industry, and the
general public.
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III. Public Participation
The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who
wish to attend must register on the meeting website and include their
names and affiliations. PHMSA will provide members of the public
reasonable opportunity to make a statement during this meeting.
Additionally, PHMSA will record the meeting and post a record to the
public docket. PHMSA is committed to providing all participants with
equal access to this meeting. Public comments on the proceedings of the
GPAC meeting must be submitted by January 5, 2024. If you need an
accommodation due to a disability, please contact Tewabe Asebe by phone
at 202-366-5523 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8bffeefceae9eea5eaf8eee9eecbefe4ffa5ece4fd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="750110021417105b140610171035111a015b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal
Register quickly enough to provide timely notice regarding last-minute
issues that impact a previously announced advisory committee meeting.
Therefore, individuals should check the meeting website or contact
Tewabe Asebe regarding any possible changes.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2023, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Massoud Tahamtani,
Deputy Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-20159 Filed 9-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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