Document ID: PHMSA-2011-0121-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety; National Pipeline Mapping System Data Submissions and Submission Dates for Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems, etc.
Posted Date: 2011-05-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28326-28328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11954]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR 191, 192, 193, and 195

[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0121]

Pipeline Safety: National Pipeline Mapping System Data 
Submissions and Submission Dates for Gas Transmission and Gathering 
Systems and Liquefied Natural Gas Annual Reports

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

ACTION: Issuance of advisory bulletin.

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[[Page 28327]]

SUMMARY: This document advises owners and operators of gas transmission 
and gathering systems and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities that 
they have until August 15, 2011, to submit their Calendar Year 2010 
Annual Reports. This document also provides guidance for Calendar Year 
2010 National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) submissions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Little, 202-366-4569 or by e-
mail at Roger.Little@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) 
published a final rule on November 26, 2010, under Docket No. PHMSA 
2008-0291 [75 FR 72878], titled: ``Pipeline Safety: Updates to Pipeline 
and Liquefied Natural Gas Reporting Requirements'' (One Rule). This 
rulemaking revised the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR part 190-
199) to improve the reliability and utility of data collections from 
operators of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG 
facilities. As a result of the rulemaking, several annual and incident 
report forms were created while other forms were revised. Included 
among these forms, PHMSA created a new Annual Report for LNG facilities 
(LNG Annual Report; PHMSA F-7100.3-1) and revised the Annual Report for 
Natural or Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems (Gas 
Transmission and Gathering Annual Report; PHMSA F-7100.2-1). The One 
Rule revised Sec.  191.17 to specify that these reports should be 
submitted no later than March 15 for the preceding year, except for 
Calendar Year 2010, where reports should be submitted by June 15, 2011. 
This delayed reporting date for Calendar Year 2010 was added to allow 
companies time to update their information for submission according to 
the revised form.
    After the One Rule was published, PHMSA received a petition from 
the American Gas Association (AGA) on December 22, 2010, asking for 
reconsideration of the information collected on the LNG Annual Report 
form. PHMSA reviewed the petition and has revised the form based on 
AGA's recommendation. PHMSA is using this document to announce that we 
are extending the reporting date for the LNG Annual Report form to 
August 15, 2011, to allow further time to prepare the electronic system 
PHMSA will use to collect the information. Next year, the filing date 
will go back to the March 15 date specified in the regulation.
    In addition, PHMSA determined that further clarifications were 
needed to Parts K and L on the revised Gas Transmission and Gathering 
Systems annual report, specifically to correct boundaries for Specified 
Minimum Yield Strength, and to clarify certain sections of Part L that 
were not applicable to the regulated community at present. Accordingly, 
PHMSA has blacked out those sections of the form to clarify the intent 
of the information collection. In addition, PHMSA is extending the Gas 
Transmission and Gathering Systems report filing deadline from the 
stated June 15, 2011, to August 15, 2011, for PHMSA to prepare the 
electronic system it will be using to collect the information. This 
will also align the filing date with the new LNG Annual Report. Next 
year, the filing date of the Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems 
report will go back to the March 15 date specified in the regulation. 
The forms are available at the following URL: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/library/forms.
    PHMSA has also received a number of questions regarding NPMS 
submissions. The NPMS consists of geospatial data, attribute data, 
public contact information, and metadata pertaining to the interstate 
and intrastate hazardous liquid trunklines and hazardous liquid low-
stress lines as well as gas transmission pipelines, LNG plants, and 
hazardous liquid breakout tanks regulated by PHMSA. Most operators 
submit their NPMS data to PHMSA at the same time they file their annual 
report. For example, gas transmission operators who file their annual 
report on the regular filing date of March 15 for the previous calendar 
year would also submit their NPMS data on March 15 for the previous 
calendar year, reflecting assets as of December 31, 2010. Although 
PHMSA is extending the filing date for annual report submissions, 
operators are encouraged to file their NPMS data at their regularly 
scheduled times.
    For clarification purposes, PHMSA is providing the following table 
which explains the reporting dates for annual reporting:

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                                                               Calendar year 2010
                                     Normal submission date    submission (49 CFR    Calendar year 2010 extended
                                          (49 CFR cite)               cite)                submission date
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Gas Transmission and Gathering       March 15 (Sec.          June 15, 2011 (Sec.     Aug. 15, 2011.
 Systems Annual Report (PHMSA-F       191.15(a)).             191.15(a)).
 7100.2-1).
LNG Annual Report (PHMSA-F 7100.3-   March 15 (Sec.          June 15, 2011 (Sec.     Aug. 15, 2011.
 1).                                  191.15(b)).             191.15(b)).
Hazardous Liquid Annual Report       June 15 (Sec.           Aug. 15, 2011 (Sec.     ...........................
 (PHMSA-F 7000-1.1).                  195.49).                195.49).
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Advisory Bulletin (ADB-11-03)

    To: Owners and Operators of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline 
Facilities, LNG Facilities, and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Facilities.
    Subject: Submission Dates and Minor Form Changes for Calendar Year 
2010 Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems Annual Reports, LNG Annual 
Reports; and NPMS Data submissions.
    Advisory: This document advises owners and operators of gas and LNG 
pipeline facilities that PHMSA is extending the reporting date for 
Calendar Year 2010 Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems Annual 
Reports (PHMSA F-7100.2-1) and LNG Annual Reports (PHMSA F-7100.3-1) to 
August 15, 2011. These forms were previously scheduled for submission 
on June 15, 2011. Any questions regarding these submissions may be 
directed to the Office of Pipeline Safety operator helpline at 202-366-
8075.
    In addition, operators subject to the NPMS statutory mandate are 
encouraged to file their annual data submissions based on their 
regularly scheduled dates. For example, hazardous liquid operators who 
normally submit their NPMS data on June 15 when they file their annual 
report are encouraged to file their 2010 NPMS data submission on June 
15, reflecting assets as of December 31, 2010, even though the 
Hazardous Liquid Annual report is not required for submission until 
August 15, 2011. Any questions regarding NPMS submissions

[[Page 28328]]

can be directed to Amy Nelson at 202-493-0591.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2011.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-11954 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
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