Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on Unusually Sensitive Area Definitions and Pipeline Awareness and Engagement

Published date28 May 2019
Citation84 FR 24593
Record Number2019-11042
SectionNotices
CourtPipeline And Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 24593-24594]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-11042]
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
                [Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0026]
                Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on Unusually Sensitive Area
                Definitions and Pipeline Awareness and Engagement
                AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
                DOT.
                ACTION: Notice.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: This notice announces a two-part public meeting to discuss (1)
                amending the applicable Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA) definition for
                the Great Lakes, coastal beaches, and marine coastal waters and (2)
                public awareness and engagement. During this meeting, PHMSA will
                provide updates on amending the applicable USA and/or high consequences
                area (HCA) definitions to include the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and
                marine coastal waters and seek input on applicable definition options
                and available geospatial information system (GIS) data. In addition,
                PHMSA will seek input to determine the most effective methods to inform
                all stakeholders on their shared responsibilities in relation to
                pipeline safety.
                DATES: The public meeting will be held on June 12-13, 2019, from 8:30
                a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Both parts of the meeting will be webcast. The
                discussion on amending the USA and HCA definition will take place on
                June 12, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The discussion on
                public awareness and engagement will take place on June 12, 2019, from
                1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and on June 13, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00
                p.m. ET. Members of the public who wish to attend in person should
                register no later than May 28, 2019. Individuals requiring
                accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary
                aids, may notify PHMSA by May 28, 2019. For additional information, see
                the ADDRESSES section.
                ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
                Transportation, West Building Atrium, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE,
                Washington, DC 20590. The agenda and any additional information for the
                meeting will be published on the following registration page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142.
                 Members of the public who wish to attend in person should register
                at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142.
                 The meeting will be webcast and presentations will be available on
                the meeting registration website and posted on the E-Gov website at
                https://www.regulations.gov, under docket number PHMSA-2017-0094 for
                the USA Definition meeting and docket number PHMSA-2018-0026 for the
                Public Awareness and Engagement meeting, within 30 days following the
                meeting.
                 Public Participation: The meeting will be open to the public.
                Members of the public who attend in person will also be provided an
                opportunity to make a statement during the meetings.
                 Written comments: Persons who wish to submit written comments on
                the meetings may submit them to the docket in the following ways:
                 E-Gov website: https://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 9:00 a.m.
                and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
                 Instructions: Identify the docket number PHMSA-2017-0094 for the
                USA definition meeting and docket number PHMSA-2018-0026 for the Public
                Awareness and Engagement meeting at the beginning of your comments.
                Note that all comments received will be posted without change at
                https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
                provided.
                 Anyone can 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, consider reviewing DOT's
                complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
                April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477), or view the Privacy Notice at https://www.regulations.gov, before submitting comments.
                 Docket: For docket access or to read background documents or
                comments, go to https://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 9:00 a.m. and
                [[Page 24594]]
                5:00 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-2017-0094'' for the USA
                definitions and/or ``Comments on PHMSA-2018-0026'' for public awareness
                and engagement. The docket clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to
                returning it to you via the U.S. mail.
                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 https://www.regulations.gov, as
                described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can
                be reviewed at https://www.dot.gov/privacy.
                 Services for Individuals with Disabilities: The public meeting will
                be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals
                requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other
                ancillary aids, are asked to notify Dr. Christie Murray at
                [email protected].
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the meeting,
                contact Dr. Christie Murray by phone at 202-366-4996 or by email at
                [email protected].
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                I. Background
                 Section 19 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and
                Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-183) required PHMSA to amend
                the USA definition to include the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and
                marine coastal waters. Proximity to a USA is one method to determine
                whether a pipeline could affect an HCA. GIS data of USAs are available
                by request for liquid pipeline operators. The definition of a USA is
                established in 49 CFR 195.6. Hazardous liquid pipelines that could
                affect HCA areas are subject to certain integrity management and
                reporting regulations. To address this mandate, PHMSA must define,
                identify data sources, and maintain a map of these areas in the
                National Pipeline Mapping System. In November 2017, PHMSA held a public
                meeting where stakeholders provided feedback on definition and data
                source options. Since then, PHMSA conducted research to determine the
                availability and quality of source data recommended at the November
                2017 public meeting, and the level of effort to create and maintain the
                proposed GIS data. Additionally, PHMSA analyzed HCA data, including a
                July 2018 update to the Ecological USA data, to identify existing gaps
                and overlaps of coverage in the coastal areas of interest.
                 PHMSA advances pipeline safety by providing oversight of public
                awareness safety regulations and sets the national safety outreach and
                engagement agenda by engaging with pipeline stakeholders to proactively
                determine the most effective methods to inform the public, emergency
                responders, excavators, land use planners and others regarding the
                shared responsibility of pipeline safety. Sections 192.616 and 195.440
                require pipeline operators to develop and implement public awareness
                programs that follow the guidance provided by the American Petroleum
                Institute (API) Recommended Practice 1162, ``Public Awareness Programs
                for Pipeline Operators.'' Stakeholders will have an opportunity to
                participate in pipeline safety discussions, including federal and state
                regulators, trade associations, pipeline operators, the public,
                emergency response officials, land planners, and excavators.
                II. Meeting Details and Agenda
                 The meeting agenda will include briefings on topics such as
                amending applicable USA definitions, pipeline safety, public awareness
                and engagement, risk communications, API RP 1162, voluntary information
                sharing, risk communications, national pipeline mapping system, and
                more.
                 PHMSA will publish the agenda on the PHMSA meeting page at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=142, once it is
                finalized.
                 Issued in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2019, under authority
                delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
                Alan K. Mayberry,
                Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
                [FR Doc. 2019-11042 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
                

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT