Document ID: PHMSA-2023-0009-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Meetings: Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage
Posted Date: 2023-04-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20208-20209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07072]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0009]

Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Public Meeting

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that PHMSA will host a two-day public 
meeting titled: ``Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Public 
Meeting'' in Broomfield, Colorado. PHMSA is hosting this meeting as 
part of its core mission to improve safety through better 
communications between PHMSA and its stakeholders. The purpose of the 
public meeting is to share important safety information with the public 
and industry, as well as gather input to inform future rulemaking 
decisions.

DATES: The public meeting and forum will be held May 16-17, 2023, from 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MT). Persons who wish to attend the meeting are asked 
to register no later than April 21, 2023. Individuals requiring 
accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other aids, are 
asked to notify Kimberly Harrigan at [email protected] no later 
than April 21, 2023. For additional information, please see the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Renaissance Boulder 
Flatiron Hotel, 500 Flatiron Boulevard, Broomfield, Colorado. The 
agenda and instructions on how to attend are available on the meeting 
website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetingsMtgHome.mtg?mtg=164.
    Presentations: Presentations from the public meeting will be 
available on the meeting website no later than five business days 
following the meeting.
    Submitting Comments: Persons who wish to submit written comments 
may submit them to the docket in one of 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. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251--The Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation will not issue confirmation notices for 
faxed comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001
    Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001, 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays
    Instructions: Identify Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0009 at the beginning 
of your comments. Internet users may submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov. If you submit your comments by mail or hand 
delivery, submit two copies. If you would like confirmation that PHMSA 
received your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard that is labeled ``Comments on PHMSA-2023-0009.'' The docket 
clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to returning it to you via the 
U.S. mail.
    Note: All comments received will be posted without edits to https:/
/

[[Page 20209]]

www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
Please see the Privacy Act heading for more information. Anyone can use 
the site to search all comments by the name of the submitting 
individual or, if the comment was submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc., the name of the signing 
individual. Therefore, please review the complete U.S. Department of 
Transportation Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register (65 FR 
19477) or the Privacy Notice at https://www.regulations.gov before 
submitting comments.
    Privacy Act Statement: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT 
solicits 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.
    Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice contain 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate 
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask 
PHMSA to provide confidential treatment to information you give to the 
Agency by taking the following steps: (1) mark each page of the 
original document submission containing CBI as ``Confidential;'' (2) 
send PHMSA a copy of the original document with the CBI deleted along 
with the original, unaltered document; and (3) explain why the 
information you are submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Catherine Washabaugh, DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Also, submissions containing CBI 
can be emailed to Catherine Washabaugh by encrypted email at 
[email protected]. Any CBI PHMSA receives that is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments, go to
    https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets. Alternatively, this information is available by 
visiting DOT at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building: Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Monday 
through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Washabaugh by email at 
[email protected]., or phone (816) 728-7945.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The underground natural gas storage regulations have been in place 
for five years. Operators are now experienced in operating under these 
regulations. The meeting will bring federal and state regulators, 
emergency responders, industry, underground natural gas storage 
operators, and interested members of the public together to participate 
in understanding, enhancing, and shaping the future of underground 
natural gas storage safety. The meeting will provide a forum for 
discussion of multiple topics related to underground natural gas 
storage including: regulatory review, inspection processes, frequently 
asked question, jurisdictional coverage, incorporation by reference of 
American Petroleum Institute's Recommended Practices 1170 and 1171, 
general enforcement processes, common operator challenges, well annulus 
monitoring and exceedances, surface and subsurface safety valves, best 
practices, and lessons learned from incidents.
    PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by 
advancing the safe transportation of energy products and other 
hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. Part of this 
mission includes preventing the release of natural gas, which releases 
methane into the atmosphere. PHMSA is pursuing the DOT Strategic Goals 
of Safety, Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness, Equity, 
Climate & Sustainability, Transformation, and Organizational Excellence 
in effort to profile these goals during the public meeting.

Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who 
wish to attend are requested to register on the meeting website and 
include their names and organization affiliation (see ADDRESSES). PHMSA 
is committed to providing all participants with equal access to these 
meetings.
    PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register quickly enough to provide timely notification regarding last 
minute changes that impact a previously announced meeting. Therefore, 
individuals should check the meeting website listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice regarding any possible changes.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2023, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2023-07072 Filed 4-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P