Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 3935 

the final rule on MC in consumer paint 

and coating removal, for the reasons 

discussed earlier in this section. The 

withdrawal of this rulemaking effort 

may have an immediate effect on other 

TSCA requirements for NMP. 

Withdrawal of the proposal would 

terminate export notification 

requirements for NMP. However, the 

Agency believes withdrawing the 

proposal will clarify which action the 

Agency is currently pursuing, and 

reduce the need for additional, 

piecemeal or supplemental risk 

management actions as a result of the 

final determinations in the risk 

evaluation conducted under TSCA 

section 6(b). As noted in Unit V., the 

Agency is initiating risk management 

action on this chemical. For more 

information about NMP and details 

about the risk evaluation for NMP, see 

the TSCA website at https://

www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managingchemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluation-nmethylpyrrolidone-nmp-0. 

On March 27, 2019, in the final rule 

for MC in consumer paint and coating 

removal (RIN 2070–AK07), EPA 

explained that the Agency was not 

finalizing the proposed risk 

determination or proposed regulation 

for MC commercial paint and coating 

removal as part of that action. Similar to 

NMP, EPA evaluated commercial use of 

MC in paint and coating removal as a 

COU in the scope of the TSCA section 

6(b) risk evaluation for MC, along with 

other COUs. EPA issued the final risk 

evaluation for MC on June 24, 2020 (85 

FR 37942; FRL–10011–16). For more 

information about MC and details about 

the risk evaluation for MC, see the 

TSCA website at https://www.epa.gov/ 

assessing-and-managing-chemicalsunder-tsca/final-risk-evaluationmethylene-chloride. 

V. How does EPA intend to proceed? 

Given the subsequent issuance of final 

risk evaluations under TSCA for TCE, 

MC and NMP that incorporated the 

COUs which the three proposed rules 

would have addressed, and the 

initiation of new rulemakings for TCE, 

MC and NMP following issuance of the 

final risk evaluations in which EPA 

made findings of unreasonable risk, EPA 

has determined that the previous 

proposed rules should be withdrawn. 

The next step in the process required by 

TSCA section 6 is addressing the 

unreasonable risks determined in the 

risk evaluations through rulemaking. 

EPA has initiated new rulemaking 

efforts to address the unreasonable risks 

determined in the final risk evaluations 

and has one year to propose and take 

public comments on any risk 

management actions. Although these 

new rulemaking efforts did not 

commence in time to be included in the 

Fall 2020 edition of the EPA’s Unified 

Regulatory Plan and Agenda, these 

rulemaking efforts will appear in the 

Spring 2021 edition of EPA’s 

semiannual Regulatory Agenda. As part 

of this effort, EPA will consider 

comments received on the previouslyreferenced ANPRM issued in 2019 

soliciting input on training, certification 

and limited access requirements that 

could address the unreasonable risks 

associated with methylene chloride in 

commercial paint and coating removal. 

For these reasons, EPA is 

withdrawing the proposed rule that 

published on December 16, 2016 (81 FR 

91592; FRL–9949–86); the proposed rule 

that published on January 19, 2017 (82 

FR 7432; FRL–9950–08); and the 

provisions related to NMP and to MC in 

commercial paint and coating removal 

in the proposed rule that published on 

January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7464; FRL– 

9958–57). 

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. 

Andrew Wheeler, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00115 Filed 1–14–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Defense Acquisition Regulations 

System 

48 CFR Part 212, 225, and 252 

[Docket DARS–2020–0039] 

RIN 0750–AL15 

Defense Federal Acquisition 

Regulation Supplement: Improved 

Energy Security for Main Operating 

Bases in Europe (DFARS Case 2020– 

D030) 

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition 

Regulations System, Department of 

Defense (DoD). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend 

the Defense Federal Acquisition 

Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to 

implement a section of the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2020 that prohibits contracts for 

the acquisition of furnished energy for 

a covered military installation in Europe 

that is sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation. 

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule 

should be submitted in writing to the 

address shown below on or before 

March 16, 2021, to be considered in the 

formation of a final rule. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

identified by DFARS Case 2020–D030, 

using any of the following methods: 

Æ Regulations.gov: https://

www.regulations.gov. Search for 

‘‘DFARS Case 2020–D030’’. Select 

‘‘Comment Now’’ and follow the 

instructions provided to submit a 

comment. Please include ‘‘DFARS Case 

2020–D030’’ on any attached 

documents. 

Æ Email: osd.dfars@mail.mil. Include 

DFARS Case 2020–D030 in the subject 

line of the message. 

Æ Mail: Defense Acquisition 

Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Kimberly 

Bass, OUSD(A&S)DPC/DARS, Room 

3B938, 3060 Defense Pentagon, 

Washington, DC 20301–3060. 

Comments received generally will be 

posted without change to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. To 

confirm receipt of your comment(s), 

please check https://

www.regulations.gov, approximately 

two to three days after submission to 

verify posting (except allow 30 days for 

posting of comments submitted by 

mail). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Kimberly Bass, telephone 571–372– 

6174. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

DoD is proposing to amend the 

DFARS to implement section 2821 of 

the National Defense Authorization Act 

(NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (Pub. 

L. 116–92). Section 2821 prohibits use 

of energy sourced from inside the 

Russian Federation in an effort to 

promote energy security in Europe. The 

prohibition applies to all forms of 

energy ‘‘furnished to a covered military 

installation’’, as that term is defined in 

the statute, and only to main operating 

bases as defined and identified by DoD. 

This means the energy itself must be 

furnished to the military installation, 

not to a third party that uses it to create 

some other form of energy (e.g., heating, 

cooling, or electricity). The prohibition 

applies only to Europe, not to Asia; for 

example, those parts of Turkey located 

in Asia are not affected by the rule. 

DoD will promote the energy security 

of its European installations by 

encouraging energy security and energy 

resilience and will not purchase energy 

sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation unless a waiver of the 

prohibition in section 2821 is approved 

by the head of the contracting activity. 

3936 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

The approval authority for the waiver 

may not be further delegated. 

II. Discussion and Analysis 

This rule proposes to add DFARS 

section 225.70XX, Prohibition on use of 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation. A new provision and a new 

clause are provided for use in 

solicitations and contracts for the 

acquisition of furnished energy for a 

covered military installation in Europe, 

including acquisitions at or below the 

simplified acquisition threshold, and 

acquisitions using FAR part 12 

procedures for the acquisition of 

commercial items, unless a waiver is 

approved by the head of the contracting 

activity. Per the new solicitation 

provision, 252.225–70XX, 

Representation Regarding Prohibition 

on Use of Certain Energy Sourced from 

Inside the Russian Federation, an offeror 

represents, by submission of its offer, 

that the offeror will not use or supply 

energy sourced in the Russian 

Federation in the performance of a 

contract resulting from the solicitation. 

The proposed clause, 252.225–70YY, 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation, prohibits a contractor from 

using, in the performance of the 

contract, any energy sourced from 

inside the Russian Federation as a 

means of generating the furnished 

energy for the covered military 

installation, unless a waiver is 

approved. 

Definitions for the following terms are 

included at DFARS 225.70XX–1: 

‘‘covered military installation’’, 

‘‘furnished energy’’, and ‘‘main 

operating base’’. 

Waiver procedures at DFARS 

225.70XX–3 provide that the head of the 

contracting activity, without power of 

redelegation, may waive application of 

section 2821 to a specific contract for 

the acquisition of furnished energy for 

a covered military installation, if the 

head of the contracting activity certifies 

to the congressional defense committees 

that the— 

• Waiver of the prohibition is 

necessary to ensure an adequate supply 

of furnished energy for the covered 

military installation; and 

• The head of the contracting activity 

has balanced these national security 

requirements against the potential risk 

associated with reliance upon the 

Russian Federation for furnished 

energy. 

Not later than 14 days before the 

execution of any energy contract for 

which a waiver is granted, the head of 

the contracting activity must submit to 

the congressional defense committees a 

notice of the waiver. The waiver notice 

shall include the following: 

• The rationale for the waiver, 

including the basis for the certification 

required by section 2821 of the NDAA 

for FY 2020; 

• An assessment of how the waiver 

may impact DoD’s European energy 

resilience strategy; and 

• An explanation of the measures 

DoD is taking to mitigate the risk of 

using Russian Federation-furnished 

energy. 

A cross-reference is provided to 

DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and 

Information 225.70XX–3 that lists 

factors to take into consideration for 

granting a waiver. 

III. Applicability to Contracts at or 

Below the Simplified Acquisition 

Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial 

Items, Including Commercially 

Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items 

This DFARS rule implements section 

2821 of the NDAA for FY 2020 (Pub. L. 

116–92). Section 2821 prohibits use of 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation in an effort to promote 

energy security in Europe unless a 

waiver is approved by the head of the 

contracting activity. 

To implement section 2821, this rule 

proposes to create a new provision and 

clause: (1) DFARS 252.225–70XX, 

Representation Regarding Prohibition 

on Use of Certain Energy Sourced from 

Inside the Russian Federation, and (2) 

DFARS 252.225–70YY, Prohibition on 

Use of Certain Energy Sourced from 

Inside the Russian Federation. 

Section 2821 is silent on applicability 

to contracts and subcontracts in 

amounts at or below the SAT or for the 

acquisition of commercial items. Also, 

the statute does not provide for civil or 

criminal penalties. Therefore, it does 

not apply to the acquisition of contracts 

or subcontracts in amounts not greater 

than the SAT or to the acquisition of 

commercial items, including COTS 

items, unless a written determination is 

made as provided for in 41 U.S.C. 1905 

and 10 U.S.C. 2375, respectively. The 

Principal Director, Defense Pricing and 

Contracting, is the appropriate authority 

to make a determination for regulations 

to be published in the DFARS, which is 

part of the FAR system of regulations. 

In consonance with the written 

determination made by the Principal 

Director, Defense Pricing and 

Contracting, on May 29, 2020, DoD 

plans to apply section 2821 to 

solicitations and contracts below the 

SAT and to the acquisition of 

commercial items, including COTS 

items, as defined at FAR 2.101. Not 

applying this prohibition guidance to 

contracts below the SAT and for the 

acquisition of commercial items, 

including COTS items, would exclude 

contracts intended to be covered by this 

rule and undermine the overarching 

purpose of the rule to prohibit use of 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation. Consequently, DoD plans to 

apply the rule to contracts below the 

SAT and for the acquisition of 

commercial items, including COTS 

items, to promote energy security in 

Europe and reduce the risk of supply 

shortages and reliance on energy 

sourced inside the Russian Federation. 

IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 

13563 direct agencies to assess all costs 

and benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives and, if regulation is 

necessary, to select regulatory 

approaches that maximize net benefits 

(including potential economic, 

environmental, public health and safety 

effects, distributive impacts, and 

equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the 

importance of quantifying both costs 

and benefits, of reducing costs, of 

harmonizing rules, and of promoting 

flexibility. This is a significant 

regulatory action and, therefore, was 

subject to review under section 6(b) of 

E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and 

Review, dated September 30, 1993. This 

rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 

804. 

V. Executive Order 13771 

This rule is not subject to the 

requirements of E.O. 13771, because the 

rule is issued with respect to a national 

security function of the United States. 

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

DoD does not expect this proposed 

rule to have a significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities within the meaning of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, 

et seq. Nevertheless, an initial 

regulatory flexibility analysis has been 

performed and is summarized as 

follows: 

The rule proposes to amend the 

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 

Supplement (DFARS) to implement a 

statute that prohibits contracts for the 

use of energy sourced inside the Russian 

Federation for military installations in 

Europe. 

The legal basis for the rule is section 

2821 of the National Defense 

Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal 

Year (FY) 2020, which prohibits use of 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation in an effort to promote 

energy security in Europe. The 

prohibition applies to all forms of 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 3937 

energy ‘‘furnished to a covered military 

installation’’, as that term is defined in 

the statute and only to main operating 

bases as defined and identified by DoD. 

Based on data obtained from the 

Federal Procurement Data System 

(FPDS) for fiscal years 2017 through 

2019 for awards coded for product 

service code S111 (Utilities-Gas) with 

locations in Europe, 108 awards per 

year were made on average over the 

three fiscal years, with an average of 3 

awards to unique entities that were 

other than small businesses. The 

awardees were listed as foreign 

contractor consolidated reporting, 

which is used to report procurement 

actions awarded to contractors located 

outside the United States providing 

utilities goods or services when a 

unique entity identifier is not available. 

When a generic entity identifier is used 

to report these actions, FPDS only 

allows contracting officers to select 

‘‘other than small business’’ as the 

contracting officer’s determination of 

business size. FPDS allows contracting 

officers to aggregate awards and report 

one record that includes multiple 

awards, which masks the identity of the 

entity. Consequently, reporting awards 

in this manner is likely to result in an 

undercount of the number of unique 

entities, as there is no data available to 

determine the number of entities or 

whether the entities are small or other 

than small. Based on this analysis, DoD 

estimates it is unlikely that an American 

small entity would be providing these 

utility services in Europe. 

This rule does not include any new 

reporting, recordkeeping, or other 

compliance requirements for small 

businesses. The rule does not duplicate, 

overlap, or conflict with any other 

Federal rules. 

There are no known significant 

alternative approaches to the rule that 

would meet the requirements of the 

statute. 

DoD invites comments from small 

entities concerning the existing 

regulations in subparts affected by this 

rule in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. 

Interested parties must submit such 

comments separately and should cite 5 

U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2020–D030), in 

correspondence. 

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act 

The rule does not contain any 

information collection requirements that 

require the approval of the Office of 

Management and Budget under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

chapter 35). 

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 212, 

225, and 252 

Government procurement. 

Jennifer D. Johnson, 

Regulatory Control Officer, Defense 

Acquisition Regulations System. 

Therefore, 48 CFR parts 212, 225, and 

252 are proposed to be amended as 

follows: 

■ 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR 

parts 212, 225, and 252 continues to 

read as follows: 

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR 

chapter 1. 

PART 212—ACQUISITION OF 

COMMERCIAL ITEMS 

■ 2. Amend section 212.301 by adding 

paragraphs (f)(ix)(GG) and (HH) to read 

as follows: 

212.301 Solicitation provisions and 

contract clauses for the acquisition of 

commercial items. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(ix) * * * 

(GG) Use the provision at 252.225– 

70XX, Representation Regarding 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation, as prescribed in 225.70XX– 

4(a), to comply with section 2821 the 

National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116–92). 

(HH) Use the clause at 252.225–70YY, 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation, as prescribed in 225.70XX– 

4(b), to comply with section 2821 of the 

National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116–92). 

* * * * * 

PART 225—FOREIGN ACQUISITION 

■ 3. Add sections 225.70XX, 225.70XX– 

1, 225.70XX–2, 225.70XX–3, and 

225.70XX–4 to subpart 225.70 to read as 

follows: 

* * * * * 

Sec. 

225.70XX Prohibition on use of certain 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation. 

225.70XX–1 Definitions. 

225.70XX–2 Prohibition. 

225.70XX–3 Waiver. 

225.70XX–4 Solicitation provision and 

contract clause. 

* * * * * 

225.70XX Prohibition on use of certain 

energy sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation. 

225.70XX–1 Definitions. 

As used in this section— 

Covered military installation means a 

military installation in Europe 

identified by DoD as a main operating 

base. 

Furnished energy means energy 

furnished to a covered military 

installation in any form and for any 

purpose, including heating, cooling, and 

electricity. 

Main operating base means a facility 

outside the United States and its 

territories with permanently stationed 

operating forces and robust 

infrastructure. 

225.70XX–2 Prohibition. 

In accordance with section 2821 of 

the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116–92), 

contracts for the acquisition of 

furnished energy for a covered military 

installation shall not use any energy 

sourced from inside the Russian 

Federation as a means of generating the 

furnished energy for the covered 

military installation. The prohibition— 

(a) Applies to all forms of energy that 

are furnished to a covered military 

installation; and 

(b) Does not apply to a third party that 

uses it to create some other form of 

energy (e.g., heating, cooling, or 

electricity). 

225.70XX–3 Waiver. 

(a) The requiring activity may submit 

to the contracting activity a request for 

waiver of the prohibition in section 

225.70XX–2 for a specific contract for 

the acquisition of furnished energy for 

a covered military installation. The head 

of the contracting activity, without 

power of redelegation, may approve the 

waiver, upon certification to the 

congressional defense committees that— 

(1) The waiver of section 2821 is 

necessary to ensure an adequate supply 

of furnished energy for the covered 

military installation; and 

(2) National security requirements 

have been balanced against the potential 

risk associated with reliance upon the 

Russian Federation for furnished 

energy. 

(b) Submission of waiver notice. 

(1) Not later than 14 days before the 

execution of any energy contract for 

which a waiver is granted under 

paragraph (a) of this section, the head of 

the contracting activity shall submit to 

the congressional defense committees a 

notice of the waiver. See PGI 225.70XX– 

3 for waiver procedures. 

(2) The waiver notice shall include 

the following: 

(i) The rationale for the waiver, 

including the basis for the certifications 

required by paragraph (a) of this section. 

3938 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

(ii) An assessment of how the waiver 

may impact DoD’s European energy 

resilience strategy. 

(ii) An explanation of the measures 

DoD is taking to mitigate the risk of 

using Russian Federation furnished 

energy. 

225.70XX–4 Solicitation provision and 

contract clause. 

Unless a waiver has been granted in 

accordance with 225.70XX–3— 

(a) Use the provision at 252.225– 

70XX, Representation Regarding 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation, in solicitations, including 

solicitations using FAR part 12 

procedures for the acquisition of 

commercial items and solicitations at or 

below the simplified acquisition 

threshold, that are for the acquisition of 

furnished energy for a covered military 

installation; and 

(b) Use the clause at 252.225–70YY, 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation, in solicitations and 

contracts, including solicitations and 

contracts using FAR part 12 procedures 

for the acquisition of commercial items 

and solicitations and contracts at or 

below the simplified acquisition 

threshold, that are for the acquisition of 

furnished energy for a covered military 

installation. 

PART 252—SOLICITATION 

PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT 

CLAUSES 

■ 4. Add section 252.225–70XX to read 

as follows: 

252.225–70XX Representation Regarding 

Prohibition on Use of Certain Energy 

Sourced from Inside the Russian 

Federation. 

As prescribed in 225.70XX–4(a), use 

the following provision: 

REPRESENTATION REGARDING 

PROHIBITION ON USE OF CERTAIN 

ENERGY SOURCED FROM INSIDE 

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (DATE) 

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— 

Covered military installation means a 

military installation in Europe identified by 

DoD as a main operating base. 

Furnished energy means energy furnished 

to a covered military installation in any form 

and for any purpose, including heating, 

cooling, and electricity. 

Main operating base means a facility 

outside the United States and its territories 

with permanently stationed operating forces 

and robust infrastructure. 

(b) Prohibition. In accordance with section 

2821 of the National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116–92), 

contracts for the acquisition of furnished 

energy for a covered military installation 

shall not use any energy sourced from inside 

the Russian Federation as a means of 

generating the furnished energy for the 

covered military installation, unless a waiver 

is approved. The prohibition— 

(1) Applies to all forms of energy that are 

furnished to a covered military installation; 

and 

(2) Does not apply to a third party that uses 

it to create some other form of energy (e.g., 

heating, cooling, or electricity). 

(c) Representation. By submission of its 

offer, the Offeror represents that the Offeror 

will not use or provide any energy sourced 

from inside the Russian Federation as a 

means of generating the furnished energy for 

the covered military installation in the 

performance of any contract, subcontract, or 

other contractual instrument resulting from 

this solicitation. 

(End of provision) 

■ 5. Add section 252.225–70YY to read 

as follows: 

252.225–70YY Prohibition on Use of 

Certain Energy Sourced from Inside the 

Russian Federation. 

As prescribed in 225.70XX–4(b), use 

the following clause: 

PROHIBITION ON USE OF CERTAIN 

ENERGY SOURCED FROM INSIDE 

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (DATE) 

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— 

Covered military installation means a 

military installation in Europe identified by 

DoD as a main operating base. 

Furnished energy means energy furnished 

to a covered military installation in any form 

and for any purpose, including heating, 

cooling, and electricity. 

Main operating base means a facility 

outside the United States and its territories 

with permanently stationed operating forces 

and robust infrastructure. 

(b) Prohibition. In accordance with section 

2821 of the National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub. L. 116–92), the 

Contractor shall not use in the performance 

of this contract any energy sourced from 

inside the Russian Federation as a means of 

generating the furnished energy for the 

covered military installation unless a waiver 

is approved. The prohibition— 

(1) Applies to all forms of energy that are 

furnished to a covered military installation; 

and 

(2) Does not apply to a third party that uses 

it to create some other form of energy (e.g., 

heating, cooling, or electricity). 

(c) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall 

insert the substance of this clause, including 

this paragraph (c), in subcontracts and other 

commercial instruments that are for 

furnished energy at a covered military 

installation, including subcontracts and 

commercial instruments for commercial 

items. 

(End of clause) 

[FR Doc. 2021–00615 Filed 1–14–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

49 CFR Parts 191, 192, and 195 

[Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0002] 

RIN 2137–AF13 

Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of 

Regulatory References to Technical 

Standards and Miscellaneous 

Amendments 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: PHMSA is proposing to 

incorporate by reference more than 20 

consensus standards into the Federal 

pipeline safety regulations. This notice 

of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) would 

incorporate by reference a new, 

updated, or reaffirmed edition of each 

consensus standard. This NPRM would 

also make non-substantive corrections 

to clarify regulatory language in certain 

provisions. These editorial changes are 

minor and would not require pipeline 

operators to undertake new pipeline 

safety initiatives. 

DATES: Persons interested in submitting 

comments on this NPRM must do so by 

March 16, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by Docket No. PHMSA–2016– 

0002, by any of the following methods: 

• E-Gov Web: http://

www.regulations.gov. This site allows 

the public to enter comments on any 

Federal Register notice issued by any 

agency. Follow the online instructions 

for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Docket Management System: 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: DOT Docket 

Management System: West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9:00 

a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Instructions: Identify the Docket 

No. PHMSA–2016–0002, at the 

beginning of your comments. If you 

submit your comments by mail, submit 

two copies. If you wish to receive 

confirmation that PHMSA received your 

comments, include a self-addressed 

stamped postcard. Internet users may 

submit comments at http://

www.regulations.gov. 

• Note: All comments received are 

posted without edits to http://