Notice2024-23435
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities
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
October 10, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites public comments about PHMSA's intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew eight information collections that are scheduled to expire in 2025. PHMSA has reviewed each information collection and considers them vital to maintaining pipeline safety. As such, PHMSA will request renewal from OMB, without change, for each information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82294-82296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23435]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2024-0137]
Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA
invites public comments about PHMSA's intention to request Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew eight information
collections that are scheduled to expire in 2025. PHMSA has reviewed
each information collection and considers them vital to maintaining
pipeline safety. As such, PHMSA will request renewal from OMB, without
change, for each information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 9, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
E-Gov Website: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. This site allows the
public to submit 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 DOT, West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2024-0137, at the
beginning of your comments. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 visit <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>
before submitting any such comments.
Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or
comments, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> at any time or to Room W12-
140 on the ground level of DOT, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, 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-
2024-0137.'' 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: 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>.
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 (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from
public disclosure. If your comments responsive 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 give 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, along with the original document, a second copy of the
original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the
information you are submitting is CBI. Unless you are notified
otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential
under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of
this notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Angela Hill,
DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this matter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by telephone at 202-366-
1246 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9cddf2fbf9f0fdb2d4f5f0f0dcf8f3e8b2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1a353c3e373a75133237371b3f342f753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
section 1320.8(d), requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the
public and affected agencies the opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping requests before they are submitted to OMB
for approval. This notice identifies eight information collection
requests that PHMSA will submit to OMB for renewal and requests comment
from interested parties. The information collections (including their
expiration dates) are as follows: (1) OMB control number 2137-0627,
OPID Assignment Request and Registry Notifications (03/31/2025); (2)
OMB control number 2137-0600, Qualification of Pipeline Safety Training
(04/30/2025); (3) OMB control number 2137-0605, Hazardous Liquid
Integrity Management (04/30/2025); (4) OMB control number 2137-0622,
Public Awareness Program (04/30/2025); (5) OMB control number 2137-
0584, Gas and Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certification (05/31/
2025); (6) OMB control number 2137-0589, Response Plans for Onshore Oil
Pipelines (9/30/2025); (7) OMB control number 2137-0610, Gas
Transmission Integrity Management in HCAs (09/30/2025); and (8) OMB
2137-0624, Control Room Management/Human Factors (09/30/2025).
The following information is provided for these information
collections: (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 each of the
following information collection activities. PHMSA requests comments on
the following information:
1. Title: OPID Assignment Request and Registry Notifications.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0627.
Current Expiration Date: 3/31/2025.
[[Page 82295]]
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
collection.
Abstract: The National Registry of Pipeline and LNG Operators
serves as the storehouse for the reporting requirements for an operator
regulated or subject to reporting requirements under 49 CFR parts 192,
193, or 195. This mandatory information collection would require
jurisdictional pipeline operators to submit the required data to
register with the National Registry of Pipeline and LNG Operators and
notify PHMSA when they experience significant asset changes, including
new construction, that affect PHMSA's ability to accurately monitor and
assess pipeline safety performance. Certain types of changes to, or
within, an operator's facilities or pipeline network represent
potential safety-altering activities for which PHMSA may need to
inspect, investigate, or otherwise oversee to ensure that any public
safety concerns are adequately and proactively addressed. The forms for
assigning and maintaining Operator Identification (OPID) information
are the Operator Assignment Request Form (PHMSA F 1000.1) and Operator
Registry Notification Form (PHMSA F 1000.2). The purpose of this
information collection is to maintain an accurate assessment of the
nation's pipeline infrastructure and to be kept abreast of conditions
that could potentially compromise the safety and economic viability of
the U.S. pipeline system. Due to the provisions contained within the
Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting Requirements,
Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments
final rule, gas gathering pipeline operators must now request OPIDs due
to the repeal of the reporting exception for gathering pipelines other
than regulated gathering lines as determined in Sec. 192.8. PHMSA
plans to adjust the burden for this information collection to account
for this addition to the reporting community.
Affected Public: Operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid
pipeline systems and operators of liquefied natural gas facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 744.
Estimated annual burden hours: 744.
Frequency of collection: On occasion.
2. Title: Qualification of Pipeline Safety Training.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0600.
Current Expiration Date: 04/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: 49 CFR part 192 subpart N and part 195 subpart G require
all individuals who operate and maintain pipeline facilities to be
qualified and keep records of qualification. The purpose of this
mandatory information collection request is to ensure compliance with
the record keeping requirements prescribed in the federal pipeline
safety regulations. Pipeline operators must make and maintain the
records as described and have those records available for compliance
inspection by PHMSA staff upon request. Examples of such records
include the identification of qualified individuals; identification of
covered tasks; dates of current qualification; and qualification
methods. Records supporting an individual's current qualification shall
be maintained while the individual is performing the covered task.
Records of prior qualification and records of individuals no longer
performing covered tasks shall be retained for a period of five years.
Affected Public: Operators of PHMSA-regulated pipelines.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Total Annual Responses: 29,172.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,293.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
3. Title: Hazardous Liquid Integrity Management.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0605.
Current Expiration Date: 04/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Operators of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines are required to
document the continual assessment and evaluation of their pipelines'
integrity through inspection or testing, as well as remedial
preventive, and mitigative actions. In cases where a determination
about pipeline threats has not been obtained within 180 days following
the date of inspection, pipeline operators must notify PHMSA in writing
and provide an expected date when adequate information will become
available. Operators must also notify PHMSA if they are unable to
assess their pipeline via an in-line inspection. Operators who choose
to use an alternate assessment method must demonstrate that their
pipeline is not capable of accommodating an in-line inspection tool and
that the use of an alternative assessment method will provide a
substantially equivalent understanding of the condition of the
pipeline. This mandatory record keeping requirement supports the U.S.
Department of Transportation's ``SAFETY STRATEGIC GOAL'' which targets
three main strategic initiatives: managing risk and integrity, sharing
responsibility, and providing effective stewardship. This goal enhances
public health and safety by working toward the elimination of
transportation-related deaths and injuries. This information is used by
PHMSA to determine compliance with federal pipeline safety regulations
and is also used by Agency and State Officials to assist federal and
state pipeline safety inspectors who audit this information when they
conduct compliance inspections and to provide background for failure
investigations.
Affected Public: Operators of hazardous liquid pipeline systems.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 10,515.
Estimated annual burden hours: 344,807.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
4. Title: Public Awareness Program.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0622.
Current Expiration Date: 04/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: This information collection request would require
pipeline operators to develop and implement public awareness programs.
The public awareness programs should establish communications and
provide information necessary to enhance public understanding of how
pipelines function and the public's role in promoting pipeline safety.
This mandatory information collection requires operators to submit
their completed programs to PHMSA or, in the case of an intrastate
pipeline facility operator, the appropriate State agency. The
operator's program documentation and evaluation results must also be
available for periodic review by appropriate regulatory agencies. This
information will be used by PHMSA to evaluate compliance with pipeline
safety regulations. The purpose of the collection is to prevent the
risks caused by unintentional pipeline releases and their impact on the
public and the environment.
Affected Public: Operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid
pipelines.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 45,004.
Estimated annual burden hours: 517,546.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
5. Title: Gas and Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certification.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0584.
Current Expiration Date: 05/31/2025.
[[Page 82296]]
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Section 60105 of 49 U.S.C. sets forth specific
requirements a state must meet to qualify for certification status to
assume regulatory and enforcement responsibility for intrastate
pipelines, i.e., state adoption of minimum federal safety standards,
state inspection of pipeline operators to determine compliance with the
standards, and state provision for enforcement sanctions substantially
the same as those authorized by chapter 601, 49 U.S.C. A state must
submit an annual certification to assume responsibility for regulating
intrastate pipelines, and states who receive Federal grant funding must
have adequate damage prevention plans and associated records in place.
PHMSA uses this information to evaluate a state's eligibility for
Federal grants and to enforce regulatory compliance. This information
collection request requires a participating state to annually submit a
Gas Pipeline Safety Program Certification and/or a Hazardous Liquid
Pipeline Safety Program Certification to PHMSA's Office of Pipeline
Safety (OPS) signifying compliance with the terms of the certification
and to maintain records detailing a damage prevention plan for PHMSA
inspectors whenever requested. The purpose of the collection is to
exercise oversight of the grant program and to ensure that states are
compliant with federal pipeline safety regulations.
Affected Public: Operators of pipeline facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 117.
Estimated annual burden hours: 4,473.
Frequency of collection: On occasion.
6. Title: Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0589.
Current Expiration Date: 09/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Title 49 CFR part 194 requires an operator of an onshore
oil pipeline facility to prepare and submit an oil spill response plan
to PHMSA for review and approval. This mandatory recordkeeping
requirement details operators' plans to prepare for emergency
situations involving oil spills. This mandatory information collection
is used by PHMSA to determine if an operator is compliant with the
requirements in part 194. Plans are submitted and/or updated annually.
This information collection covers operators' submission of facility
response plans for onshore hazardous liquid pipeline facilities.
Affected Public: Operators of onshore oil pipeline facilities.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated number of responses: 540.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 73,980.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
7. Title: Gas Transmission Integrity Management in High Consequence
Areas.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0610.
Current Expiration Date: 09/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: This mandatory information collection request pertains to
gas transmission operators jurisdictional to 49 CFR part 192 subpart O
Gas Transmission Integrity Management Program. The information
collection requires gas transmission operators in high consequence
areas to maintain a written integrity management program and keep
records that demonstrate compliance with 49 CFR part 192 subpart O.
Operators must maintain their integrity management records for the life
of the pipeline, and PHMSA or State regulators may review it as a part
of inspections. Gas transmission operators are also required to report
to PHMSA certain actions related to their integrity management program.
This information collection supports the DOT strategic goal of safety
by reducing the number of incidents in natural gas transmission
pipelines.
Affected Public: Operators of gas transmission pipeline systems.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 733.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,018,807.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
8. Title: Control Room Management/Human Factors.
OMB Control Number: 2137-0624.
Current Expiration Date: 09/30/2025.
Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines must
develop, implement, and submit a human factors management plans
designed to reduce risk associated with human factors in each control
room. This mandatory record keeping requirement supports the U.S.
Department of Transportation's ``SAFETY STRATEGIC GOAL'' which targets
three main strategic initiatives: managing risk and integrity, sharing
responsibility, and providing effective stewardship. This goal enhances
public health and safety by working toward the elimination of
transportation-related deaths and injuries. The information is used by
PHMSA to determine compliance with federal pipeline safety regulations
and is also used by Agency and State Officials to assist federal and
state pipeline safety inspectors who audit this information when they
conduct compliance inspections and to provide background for failure
investigations.
Affected Public: Operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid
pipeline systems.
Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
Estimated Number of Responses: 11,656.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 127,328.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Comments are invited on:
(a) The need for the renewal and revision of these collections of
information 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; and
(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.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 3, 2024, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
John A. Gale,
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-23435 Filed 10-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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