Document ID: PHMSA-2021-0069-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Pipeline Safety: Joint Meeting of the Gas and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committees
Posted Date: 2021-10-04T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 189 (Monday, October 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54786-54787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21477]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0069]

Pipeline Safety: Joint Meeting of the Gas and Liquid Pipeline 
Advisory Committees

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

ACTION: Notice of advisory committees meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a virtual public meeting of the 
Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee also known as the Gas 
Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), and the Technical Hazardous Liquid 
Pipeline Safety Standards Committee also known as the Liquid Pipeline 
Advisory Committee (LPAC), to discuss a variety of policy issues and 
topics relevant to both gas and liquid pipeline safety. In addition, 
the committees will discuss the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
titled: ``Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical 
Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments.''

DATES: PHMSA will hold a virtual public meeting on October 20-21, 2021. 
The GPAC and LPAC will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET on October 
20, 2021, to discuss policy issues and topics, and on October 21, 2021, 
from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss the NPRM. Members of the 
public who wish to attend are asked to register no later than [October 
15, 2021. PHMSA requests that individuals who require accommodations 
because of a disability notify Tewabe Asebe prior to the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually. The agenda and any 
additional information, including information on how to participate in 
the virtual meeting on policy issues (October 20, 2021) will be 
published on the meeting website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=154. The agenda and any additional 
information, including information on how to participate in the virtual 
meeting on the NPRM (October 21, 2021) will be published on the meeting 
website at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=155. 
Presentations will be available on each meeting website and on https://www.regulations.gov/, in docket number PHMSA-2021-0069 no later than 30 
days following the meeting. You may submit comments, identified by 
Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0069, by any of the following methods:
     Web: 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.
     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. ET Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays.
     Instructions: Identify Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0069 at the 
beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit 
two copies. Internet users may submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov. If you would like confirmation that PHMSA received 
your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard that is 
labeled ``Comments on PHMSA-2021-0069.'' 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://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: 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 www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records 
notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 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

[[Page 54787]]

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 Tewabe Asebe, DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Also, submission containing CBI can 
be emailed to Tewabe Asebe by encrypted email at tewabe.asebe@dot.gov. 
Any commentary 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: Tewabe Asebe, Office of Pipeline 
Safety, by phone at 202-366-5523 or by email at tewabe.asebe@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Meeting Agenda

    On October 20, 2021, the GPAC and LPAC will meet to discuss a 
variety of policy issues and topics relevant to both gas and liquid 
pipeline safety. On October 21, 2021, the GPAC and LPAC will meet to 
discuss the NPRM titled: ``Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to 
Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments'' that PHMSA published 
in the Federal Register on January 15, 2021, (86 FR 3938). Comments 
that have been submitted on the NPRM can be found on https://regulations.gov in Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0002. The GPAC and LPAC will 
review the NPRM and its associated regulatory analysis. PHMSA will post 
additional details on the meeting website in advance of the meeting.
    In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to revise the Federal Pipeline Safety 
Regulations by updating over 25 consensus standards that are currently 
incorporated by reference. PHMSA also proposed to make non-substantive 
corrections to clarify regulatory language in certain provisions. The 
proposed editorial changes are minor and would not require pipeline 
operators to undertake new pipeline safety initiatives.

II. Background

    The GPAC and LPAC are statutorily mandated advisory committees that 
provide PHMSA and the Secretary of Transportation with recommendations 
on proposed standards for the transportation of natural gas or 
hazardous liquids by pipeline. These committees were established in 
accordance with 49 U.S.C. 60115 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), to review PHMSA's regulatory initiatives 
and determine their technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-
effectiveness, and practicability. Each committee consists of 15 
members, with membership evenly divided among federal and state 
governments, regulated industry, and the general public.

III. Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public. Members of the public who 
wish to virtually attend must register on the meeting website and 
include their names and affiliations. PHMSA will provide members of the 
public with opportunities to make a statement during the course of this 
meeting. Additionally, PHMSA will record the meeting and post a record 
to the public docket. PHMSA is committed to providing all participants 
with equal access to this meeting. If you need an accommodation because 
of a disability, please contact Tewabe Asebe by phone at 202-366-5523 
or by email at tewabe.asebe@dot.gov.
    PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register quickly enough to provide timely notice regarding last-minute 
issues that impact a previously announced advisory committee meeting. 
Therefore, individuals should check the meeting website or contact 
Tewabe Asebe regarding any possible changes.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2021, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2021-21477 Filed 10-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P