Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2012 / Notices 2127 

1BHRR is a new, wholly owned subsidiary of 

Watco Holdings, Inc.; BS, a subsidiary of Transtar, 

Inc., is a Class III terminal and switching carrier. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

PHMSA published a final rule in the 

Federal Register on November 26, 2010, 

(75 FR 72878), titled: ‘‘Pipeline Safety: 

Updates to Pipeline and Liquefied 

Natural Gas Reporting Requirements.’’ 

The final rule added two new sections, 

49 CFR 191.22 and 195.64, to the 

pipeline safety regulations for the 

establishment of a national pipeline 

operator registry. The national pipeline 

operator registry is primarily applicable 

to operators that file electronic reports. 

The registry will be used by pipeline 

operators to obtain an Operator 

Identification (OPID) Number and notify 

PHMSA of certain actions. Operators 

will use the OPID number for electronic 

submissions such as incident and 

annual reports. The national pipeline 

operator registry will also be used to 

provide PHMSA with operator 

notifications related to actions such as 

company name changes, certain 

construction activities, and project 

planning. 

The national pipeline operator 

registry became effective on January 1, 

2012. In compliance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act requirements, PHMSA 

issued a 60-day Federal Register notice 

on December 13, 2010, (75 FR 77694) 

and a 30-day Federal Register notice on 

November 10, 2011, (76 FR 70217) to 

gather and respond to comments on the 

actual forms used to collect information 

for the national pipeline operator 

registry. 

PHMSA has issued this advisory 

bulletin to clarify the implementation of 

the national pipeline operator registry. 

Advisory Bulletin (ADB–2012–01) 

To: Owners and Operators of Pipeline 

Facilities. 

Subject: Implementation of the 

Operator Identification Registry. 

Advisory: This notice advises owners 

and operators of pipeline facilities of the 

implementation of the national pipeline 

operator registry. 

Implementation of OPID Registry 

(Program Effective Date: January 1, 

2012) 

This table identifies the expected 

submission dates for the various 

submissions that are related to the 

national pipeline operator registry. 

Action Submission expected 

OPID Assignment Requests: §§ 191.22(a) and 195.64(a) ....................... Begins February 1, 2012 (Operators in need of an OPID prior to February 1, 2012, should contact the operator hotline at (202) 366– 

8075). 

OPID Validation: §§ 191.22(b) and 195.64(b) .......................................... As specified in §§ 191.22(b) and 195.64(b), respectively (June 30, 

2012). 

Notification Submissions: §§ 191.22(c) and 195.64(c) 

—60-day ‘‘before’’ notifications for events occurring between January 1, 2012, and March 30, 2012.January 31, 2012. 

—60-day ‘‘before’’ notifications for events occurring after March 30, 

2012.

As specified in §§ 191.22(c)(1) and 195.64(c)(1), respectively. 

—60-day ‘‘after’’ notifications for events occurring on and after 

January 1, 2012.

As specified in §§ 191.22(c)(2) and 195.64(c)(2), respectively. 

Here are a few clarifying questions 

and responses regarding the national 

pipeline operator registry. 

Question 1: Sections 191.22(c)(1) and 

195.64(c)(1), require the submission of a 

notification 60 days prior to 

‘‘Construction or any planned * * * 

that costs $10 million or more * * *.’’ 

Some operators have multiple projects 

that are consolidated into a program. 

For example, an operator upgrades 10 

meter sites over various systems within 

one OPID and each upgrade is 

documented as an individual project, 

but consolidated into one program to 

minimize costs, contractors, material, 

etc. Further, each meter site upgrade is 

expected to cost $1 million for a grand 

total of $10 million for the program. For 

reporting purposes, should the operator 

consider the 10 individual projects at $1 

million each or as a program of $10 

million? 

Answer 1: The $10 million threshold 

applies to each project. Therefore, the 

consolidated projects specified in the 

example would not hit the $10 million 

threshold since each project is less than 

$10 million. 

Question 2: Section 195.64(c)(1)(iii) 

requires operators to notify PHMSA of 

the construction of a new pipeline 

facility no later than 60 days before the 

construction occurs. PHMSA has 

received questions regarding the use of 

the term ‘‘pipeline facility’’ and whether 

it includes line pipe. 

Answer 2: By definition (§ 195.2) a 

pipeline facility includes ‘‘new and 

existing pipe, right-of-ways, and any 

equipment, facility, or building used in 

the transportation of hazardous liquids 

or carbon dioxide.’’ However, for 

notification purposes of § 195.2(c)(iii), 

pipe is not included. This clarification 

also applies to § 195.2(c)(v), which 

requires notifications for the acquisition 

and divestitures of existing pipeline 

facilities. 

Further details on how to file 

submissions are detailed at the 

following URL: http:// 

opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov. Any questions 

regarding the filing of national pipeline 

operator registry submissions can be 

directed to the Office of Pipeline Safety 

operator helpline at (202) 366–8075. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 6, 

2012. 

Jeffrey D. Wiese, 

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. 

[FR Doc. 2012–618 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Surface Transportation Board 

[Docket No. FD 35578] 

Birmingham Terminal Railway, L.L.C.— 

Acquisition and Operation 

Exemption—Birmingham Southern 

Railroad Company 

Birmingham Terminal Railway, L.L.C. 

(BHRR), a noncarrier, has filed a verified 

notice of exemption under 49 CFR 

1150.31 to acquire from Birmingham 

Southern Railroad Company (BS), and 

to operate approximately 75.59 miles of 

rail line, including all sidings and yard 

tracks as follows: (1) Between milepost 

0.0 at 34th Street in Ensley, Ala., and 

milepost 4.7 at East Thomas, Ala.; (2) 

between milepost 0.0 at 34th Street in 

Ensley and milepost 9.8 at Bessemer, 

Ala.; and (3) between milepost 0.0 at the 

Port Connection Switch at Crawford 

Street in Fairfield, Ala., and milepost 

18.85 at Birmingport, Ala.1

This transaction is related to a 

concurrently filed verified notice of 

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2128 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2012 / Notices 

1 In Fay Penn Industrial Development 

Corporation—Acquisition Exemption—CSXT 

Transportation, Inc., FD 33051 (STB served Oct. 4, 

1996), Fay Penn was authorized to acquire certain 

rail lines extending between specified points in 

Pennsylvania, and in Southwest Pennsylvania 

Railroad Company—Operation Exemption—CSX 

Transportation, Inc., FD 33051 (Sub-No. 1) (STB 

served Oct. 4, 1996), SPRC was authorized to 

operate the lines acquired by Fay Penn and also was 

authorized to acquire 4 miles of incidental trackage 

rights. In CSX Transportation, Inc.—Abandonment 

Exemption—in Fayette and Westmoreland 

Counties, Pa., AB 55 (Sub-No. 420X) (ICC served 

Nov. 28, 1994), Fay Penn, successor in interest to 

Fay-Penn Land Trust, acquired authority as the 

designee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 

along with the Westmoreland County Industrial 

Development Corporation, to acquire a rail line 

between specified points in Fayette and 

Westmoreland Counties, Pa. under the agency’s 

offer of financial assistance procedures. In 

Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad Company—Lease 

and Operation Exemption—Lines of Westmoreland 

County Industrial Development Corporation and 

Fay-Penn Land Trust, FD 32737 (ICC served July 21, 

1995), SPRC was authorized to lease and operate 

that rail line. 

SPRC states that on August 25, 2011, Fay Penn 

changed its name to LHDC. 

exemption in Docket No. FD 35579, 

Watco Holdings, Inc.—Continuance in 

Control Exemption—Birmingham 

Terminal Railway, L.L.C., wherein 

Watco Holdings, Inc., seeks Board 

approval to continue in control of 

BHRR, upon BHRR’s becoming a Class 

III rail carrier. 

The parties intend to consummate the 

transaction after the effective date of the 

verified notice of exemption. 

BHRR certifies that its projected 

annual revenues as a result of this 

transaction will not exceed those that 

would qualify it as a Class III rail 

carrier. Because BHRR’s projected 

annual revenues will exceed $5 million, 

BHRR certified to the Board on 

December 2, 2011, that it had complied 

with the requirements of 49 CFR 

1150.32(e) on December 1, 2011, by 

providing notice to employees and their 

labor unions on the affected line. Under 

49 CFR 1150.32(e), this exemption 

cannot become effective until 60 days 

after the date notice was provided. 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the 

exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

may be filed at any time. The filing of 

a petition to revoke will not 

automatically stay the effectiveness of 

the exemption. Petitions to stay must be 

filed no later than January 23, 2012 (at 

least 7 days before the exemption 

becomes effective). 

An original and 10 copies of all 

pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 

35578, must be filed with the Surface 

Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., 

Washington, DC 20423–0001. In 

addition, a copy of each pleading must 

be served on Karl Morell, 655 Fifteenth 

Street NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC 

20005. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at 

www.stb.dot.gov. 

Decided: January 10, 2012. 

By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Raina S. White, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2012–558 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Surface Transportation Board 

[Docket No. FD 35584] 

Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad 

Company—Acquisition Exemption— 

Laurel Hill Development Corporation 

Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad 

Company (SPRC), a Class III rail carrier, 

has filed a verified notice of exemption 

under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire a 

number of rail lines now owned by 

Laurel Hill Development Corporation 

(LHDC) (formerly Fay Penn Industrial 

Development Corporation (Fay Penn)), a 

non-operating rail carrier.1 The lines 

comprise a total distance of 29.09 miles 

and extend generally between Everson, 

Pa. and Broadford, Pa. and between 

Greene Junction, Pa. and Smithfield, 

Pa., including Bowest Yard and various 

branch lines. 

The lines are described as follows: 

(a) 21.67 miles of rail line extending 

between Rail Valuation Station 4+06.3 

in Greene Junction and Rail Valuation 

Station 1148+43.8 in Smithfield, as 

shown generally on Valuation Maps 

V.69.1/S–43a, V.69.11/1 to 6, and 

V.82.1/1 to 6, in Fayette County, Pa.; 

(b) 3.28 miles of rail line extending 

between Rail Valuation Station 1+30 in 

Broadford and Rail Valuation Station 

174+56 at Everson, in Fayette County, 

Pa.; (c) a portion of the Smithfield & 

Masontown Branch adjacent to the rail 

line described in (a) above, in 

Smithfield, as shown generally as 

Valuation Map 82.1/S 5–6 and 82.4/1; 

(d) a 2.26-mile portion of the South 

West Branch extending between Rail 

Valuation Station 1926+00 and Rail 

Valuation Station 2045+45 in 

Uniontown, as shown on Valuation 

Maps V. 20.01/37 to 39; (e) a 0.27-mile 

portion of the South West Branch 

extending between Rail Valuation 

Station 2271+39 and Rail Valuation 

Station 2285+55, in Fairchance, as 

shown generally on Valuation Map 

V.20.01/44; (f) a 1.61-mile portion of the 

Fairchance Branch extending between 

Rail Valuation Station 2+20 and Rail 

Valuation Station 87+20, in Fairchance, 

as shown on Valuation Maps V.20.025/ 

1 & 2; (g) all of the tract or parcel of land 

and rights-of-way referred to as the 

Bowest Yard lying and being adjacent to 

the rail line described in (a) above in 

Dunbar Township, Fayette County; (h) 

all tracts or parcels of land and rightsof-way comprising or adjacent to the 

former CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) 

Smithfield and Masontown Branch Line 

connecting with the parcels at 

Smithfield & Mason Junction near 

Smithfield extending from the northerly 

property line of the parcel described in 

(c) above to State Route 119; and (i) the 

industrial side track easement located in 

the Fayette Business Park and 

connecting to the former CSXT 

Fairmont, Morgantown & Pittsburgh 

Subdivision in Georges Township, in 

Fayette County. SPRC currently operates 

the rail lines that it seeks to acquire and 

will continue to provide common 

carrier service on the lines after their 

acquisition. SPRC also operates and will 

continue to operate over 4 miles of 

incidental trackage rights previously 

granted by CSXT. 

SPRC certifies that its projected 

annual revenues as a result of the 

transaction will not exceed those that 

would qualify it as a Class III rail 

carrier. 

The transaction is expected to be 

consummated after January 27, 2012, 

the effective date of the exemption. 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the 

exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

may be filed at any time. The filing of 

a petition to revoke will not 

automatically stay the effectiveness of 

the exemption. Petitions for stay must 

be filed no later than January 20, 2012 

(at least 7 days before the exemption 

becomes effective). 

An original and 10 copies of all 

pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 

35584, must be filed with the Surface 

Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., 

Washington, DC 20423–0001. In 

addition, a copy of each pleading must 

be served on Richard R. Wilson, Esq., 

518 N. Center Street, Ste. 1, Ebensburg, 

PA 15931. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at http:// 

www.stb.dot.gov. 

Decided: January 9, 2012. 

By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Raina S. White, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2012–550 Filed 1–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

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