Document ID: PHMSA-2018-0026-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on Unusually Sensitive Area Definitions and Pipeline Awareness and Engagement
Posted Date: 2019-05-28T04:00Z

[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]

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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.

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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 
christie.murray@dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the meeting, 
contact Dr. Christie Murray by phone at 202-366-4996 or by email at 
christie.murray@dot.gov.

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