55594 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 187 / Thursday, September 25, 2008 / Notices 

1 IANW’s notice was filed on September 5, 2008. 

On September 18, 2008, IANW supplemented its 

filing by clarifying its certification requirement 

under 49 CFR 1152.50(b). 

sufficient strength to contain these high 

pressures and to provide an additional 

safety margin. Pipeline in-service can 

become degraded due to time 

independent and time dependent 

threats. Time dependent threats include 

corrosion and other defects which can 

grow over time and, if allowed to 

continue unchecked, may reduce the 

pipe wall thickness to the point of 

failure. Time independent threats 

include excavation damage, which are 

one-time events that may damage the 

pipeline’s protective coating, or the pipe 

itself (e.g., dent, gouge, crack, or 

puncture). The defects caused by time 

dependent or independent threats can 

reduce the safety margin for retaining 

the pipeline operating pressure. 

Pipeline operators predominantly use 

one of three accepted methods to 

calculate the remaining strength of 

pipelines containing metal loss 

anomalies: (1) B31G, (2) Modified B31G, 

and (3) RSTRENG. These methods 

consider the length and depth of 

anomalies (i.e., areas of metal loss) and 

produce estimates of the pressure at 

which the pipe will fail. Pipeline 

operators are required to use these 

estimates to (1) determine whether 

pipeline pressure must be reduced to 

provide an additional safety margin, and 

(2) determine the urgency with which 

anomalies must be investigated, 

evaluated, and repaired. 

In practice, many anomalies are often 

identified by inspection of the pipeline 

using in-line inspection (ILI) tools. 

These tools provide estimates of the 

length and depth of anomalies that are 

used in calculating remaining pipeline 

strength. The dimensions estimated 

using ILI tools are subject to uncertainty 

because of variables that affect the 

accuracy in determining wall thickness 

and length. 

Recent research sponsored by PHMSA 

and industry, evaluated the accuracy of 

the methods currently used to calculate 

the remaining strength of corroded 

pipelines. The evaluation used data 

from historical and recent bench tests in 

which pipe with known defects (some 

with real corrosion defects and some 

with intentionally machined defects) 

were pressurized to failure. The defect 

size and pipe characteristics were used 

to calculate a predicted failure pressure 

using each of the analytical methods 

being evaluated. The failure pressure 

predicted by each method was 

compared to the empirical failure 

pressure determined during the test to 

identify if the predicted failure pressure 

was conservative or non-conservative. 

This work involved using the analytical 

methods to calculate the remaining 

strength of pipe containing defects 

whose dimensions could be measured 

with a high degree of precision. In some 

cases, the pipe failed at pressures lower 

than those predicted (i.e., the predicted 

failure pressure was non-conservative). 

This occurred most often for deep 

anomalies (e.g., >60% wall loss) in highstrength pipe (e.g., grade API 5L X–52 

and above). All of the accepted methods 

for calculating remaining pipe strength 

were found to produce non-conservative 

estimates of failure pressure in some 

instances. 

The workshop will allow the review 

and discussion of appropriate repair 

criteria for evaluating anomalies to meet 

regulatory code requirements for the 

permanent field repair of imperfections 

and damages. The workshop is also 

intended to allow representatives of the 

pipeline industry, regulatory agencies, 

the public, and other stakeholders to 

discuss the implications of research 

results and the potential need for 

regulatory changes or modification of 

industry standards. 

Preliminary Workshop Agenda 

The workshop will include: 

(1) Overview of recent research 

results, 

(2) Perspective of industry and 

regulators on the implications of the 

research results, and 

(3) Discussion of issues related to 

reliable application of methods for 

predicting failure pressure of pipe with 

metal loss defects, including: 

a. Treatment of ILI tool accuracy, 

b. Consideration of anomaly growth 

rates. 

c. Appropriate repair criteria. 

Refer to the meeting Web site for a 

more detailed agenda: http:// 

primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/ 

Mtg55.mtg. 

PHMSA publishes requirements for 

the assessment and repair of anomalies 

discovered by ILI tools or direct 

measurement in 49 CFR Part 192 for gas 

pipelines and Part 195 for hazardous 

liquids pipelines. PHMSA also 

publishes other anomaly assessment 

and repair requirements for pipelines 

under special permit for class location 

and alternative MAOP which vary from 

and are more stringent than the 

requirements contained in regulations. 

PHMSA plans to discuss assessment 

and repair requirements including the 

application of factors of safety, ILI tool 

tolerance, and corrosion growth rates. 

PHMSA will consider the discussion at 

the workshop and comments submitted 

to the docket in determining whether 

changes to regulatory requirements for 

anomaly assessment and repair are 

needed in light of the new research 

results and, if so, what those changes 

should be. 

Issued in Washington, DC on September 

19, 2008. 

William H. Gute, 

Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline 

Safety. 

[FR Doc. E8–22602 Filed 9–24–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–1067 (Sub-No. 2X)] 

General Railway Corporation d/b/a 

Iowa Northwestern Railroad— 

Abandonment Exemption—in Osceola 

and Dickinson Counties, IA 

General Railway Corporation d/b/a 

Iowa Northwestern Railroad (IANW) has 

filed a notice of exemption under 49 

CFR 1152 Subpart F—Exempt 

Abandonments to abandon an 

approximately 36.9-mile line of railroad 

extending between milepost 215.4, west 

of Mackenzie Junction, and milepost 

252.3, west of Braaksma, in Dickinson 

and Osceola Counties, IA.1 The line 

traverses United States Postal Service 

Zip Codes 51249, 51345, 51347, 51354, 

51360 and 51363. 

IANW has certified that: (1) No local 

traffic has moved over the line for at 

least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead 

traffic on the line; (3) no formal 

complaint filed by a user of rail service 

on the line (or by a state or local 

government entity acting on behalf of 

such user) regarding cessation of service 

over the line either is pending with the 

Board or with any U.S. District Court or 

has been decided in favor of 

complainant within the 2-year period; 

and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 

1105.7 (environmental report), 49 CFR 

1105.8 (historic report), 49 CFR 1105.11 

(transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 

(newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 

1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental 

agencies) have been met. 

As a condition to this exemption, any 

employee adversely affected by the 

abandonment shall be protected under 

Oregon Short Line R. Co.— 

Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 

(1979). To address whether this 

condition adequately protects affected 

employees, a petition for partial 

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

must be filed. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 187 / Thursday, September 25, 2008 / Notices 55595 

2The Board will grant a stay if an informed 

decision on environmental issues (whether raised 

by a party or by the Board’s Section of 

Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent 

investigation) cannot be made before the 

exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any 

request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible 

so that the Board may take appropriate action before 

the exemption’s effective date. 

3Effective July 18, 2008, the filing fee for an OFA 

increased to $1,500. See Regulations Governing 

Fees for Services Performed in Connection with 

Licensing and Related Services—2008 update, STB 

Ex Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 15) (STB served June 18, 

2008). 

Provided no formal expression of 

intent to file an offer of financial 

assistance (OFA) has been received, this 

exemption will be effective on October 

25, 2008, unless stayed pending 

reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do 

not involve environmental issues,2

formal expressions of intent to file an 

OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),3 and 

trail use/rail banking requests under 49 

CFR 1152.29 must be filed by October 

6, 2008. Petitions to reopen or requests 

for public use conditions under 49 CFR 

1152.28 must be filed by October 15, 

2008, with: Surface Transportation 

Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, 

DC 20423–0001. 

A copy of any petition filed with the 

Board should be sent to IANW’s 

representative: John F. Larkin, 

President, Iowa Northwestern Railroad, 

4814 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE 68132. 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio. 

IANW has filed a combined 

environmental and historic report 

addressing the effects, if any, of the 

abandonment on the environment and 

historic resources. SEA will issue an 

environmental assessment (EA) by 

September 30, 2008. Interested persons 

may obtain a copy of the EA by writing 

to SEA (Room 1100, Surface 

Transportation Board, Washington, DC 

20423–0001) or by calling SEA, at (202) 

245–0305. [Assistance for the hearing 

impaired is available through the 

Federal Information Relay Service 

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339.] Comments 

on environmental and historic 

preservation matters must be filed 

within 15 days after the EA becomes 

available to the public. 

Environmental, historic preservation, 

public use, or trail use/rail banking 

conditions will be imposed, where 

appropriate, in a subsequent decision. 

Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 

1152.29(e)(2), IANW shall file a notice 

of consummation with the Board to 

signify that it has exercised the 

authority granted and fully abandoned 

the line. If consummation has not been 

effected by IANW’s filing of a notice of 

consummation by September 25, 2009, 

and there are no legal or regulatory 

barriers to consummation, the authority 

to abandon will automatically expire. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at http:// 

www.stb.dot.gov. 

Decided: September 19, 2008. 

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Anne K. Quinlan, 

Acting Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E8–22513 Filed 9–24–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

September 18, 2008. 

The Department of the Treasury will 

submit the following public information 

collection requirement(s) to OMB for 

review and clearance under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13 on or after the date 

of publication of this notice. Copies of 

the submission(s) may be obtained by 

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance 

Officer listed. Comments regarding this 

information collection should be 

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed 

and to the Treasury Department 

Clearance Officer, Department of the 

Treasury, Room 11000, 1750 

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20220. 

Dates: Written comments should be 

received on or before October 27, 2008 

to be assured of consideration. 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

OMB Number: 1545–1779. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: Notice 2002–27—IRA Required 

Minimum Distribution Reporting. 

Forms: n/a. 

Description: This notice provides 

guidance with respect to the reporting 

requirements, that is, data that 

custodians and trustees of IRAs must 

furnish IRA owners in those instances 

where there must be a minimum 

distribution from an individual 

retirement arrangement. 

Respondents: Businesses or other forprofit institutions. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 

1,170,000 hours. 

OMB Number: 1545–1772. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: User Fee for Employee Plan 

Determination Letter Request. 

Form: 8717. 

Description: The Omnibus 

Reconciliation Act of 1990 requires 

payment of a ‘‘user fee’’ with each 

application for a determination letter. 

Because of this requirement, the Form 

8717 was created to provide filers the 

means to make payment and indicate 

the type of request. 

Respondents: Businesses and other 

for-profit institutions, farms. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 

438,000 hours. 

OMB Number: 1545–0177. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: Casualties and Thefts. 

Form: 4684. 

Description: Form 4684 is used by 

taxpayers to compute their gain or loss 

from casualties or thefts, and to 

summarize such gains and losses. The 

data is used to verify that the correct 

gain or loss has been computed. 

Respondents: Businesses or other forprofit institutions. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 

466,932 hours. 

OMB Number: 1545–1385. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: GL–238–88 (Final) Preparer 

Penalties—Manual Signature 

Requirement. 

Description: The reporting 

requirements affect returns preparers of 

fiduciary returns. They will be required 

to submit a list of the names and 

identifying numbers of all fiduciary 

returns which are being filed with a 

facsimile signature of the returns 

preparer. 

Respondents: Businesses or other forprofit institutions. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 25,825 

hours. 

OMB Number: 1545–1930. 

Type of Review: Extension. 

Title: REG–159243–03 (Final) 

Residence and Source Rules Involving 

U.S. Possessions and Other Conforming 

Changes. 

Description: The regulations provide 

rules for determining whether an 

individual is a bona fide resident of a 

U.S. possession and whether income is 

derived from sources in a possession or 

effectively connected with the conduct 

of a trade or business in a possession. 

Respondents: Businesses and other 

for-profit institutions. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 

300,000 hours. 

OMB Number: 1545–1031. 

Type of Review: Revision. 

Title: Internet Computation Under the 

Look-Back Method for Completed LongTerm Contracts. 

Form: 8697. 

Description: Taxpayers required to 

account for all or part of any long-term 

contract entered into after February 28, 

1986, under the percentage of 

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