Document ID: PHMSA-2015-0173-0026
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety: Expanding the Use of Excess Flow Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other than Single-Family Residences; Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted Date: 2015-11-30T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74743-74744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30208]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 195

[Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0173]

Pipeline Safety: Notice of Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee 
Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of gas pipeline advisory committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: This document announces a public meeting of the Gas Pipeline 
Advisory Committee (GPAC). The committee will meet to consider and vote 
on the proposed rule, ``Pipeline Safety: Expanding the Use of Excess 
Flow Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than 
Single-Family Residences'' published in the Federal Register on July 
15, 2015.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, December 17, 2015, from 
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The public may attend the meeting at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Please register for the meeting or contact the individual listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by December 1, 2015.
    The GPAC will take part in the meeting by telephone conference 
call. Attendees should register in advance at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=108 and indicate whether 
you will attend in person or by telephone. PHMSA will post the call-in 
information and room number on the meeting page and on the PHMSA, 
Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee Web page: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs/technical-advisory-commmeeting about 15 days before the 
meeting takes place.
    Comments on the meeting may be submitted to the docket in the 
following ways:
    E-Gov Web site: http://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 20590-001.
    Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: Identify the docket numbers, PHMSA-2011-0009 and 
PHMSA-2015-0173 at the beginning of your comments. Note that all 
comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
should know that anyone is able to 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, you may 
want to review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or view the Privacy 
Notice at http://www.regulations.gov before submitting any such 
comments.
    Docket: For access to the docket or to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://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 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-2011-0009 and PHMSA 2015-
0173.'' The Docket Clerk will date-stamp the postcard prior to 
returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that due to delays 
in the delivery of U.S. mail to Federal offices in Washington, DC, we 
recommend that persons consider an alternative method (Internet, fax, 
or professional delivery service) of submitting comments to the docket 
and ensuring their timely receipt at DOT.

Privacy Act Statement

    Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received for 
any of our dockets. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement 
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000, (70 FR 19477) or 
visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to seek special assistance at the meeting, please 
contact Cheryl Whetsel at 202-366-4431 by December 1, 2015.

[[Page 74744]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the meetings, 
contact Cheryl Whetsel by phone at 202-366-4431 or by email at 
cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov or for technical contents about the proposed 
rule contact Mike Israni by phone at 202-366-4595 or by email at 
mike.israni@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Meeting Details

    Members of the public may attend and make a statement during the 
advisory committee meetings. For a better chance to speak at the 
meetings, please contact the individual listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT by December 1, 2015.

II. Committee Background

    The GPAC is a statutorily mandated committee that advises PHMSA on 
proposed safety standards, risks assessments, and safety policies for 
natural gas pipelines. The committee falls under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 1) and is mandated by the 
pipeline safety law (49 U.S.C. Chap. 601). The committee consists of 15 
members--with membership evenly divided among the federal and state 
government, the regulated industry, and the public. The committee 
advises PHMSA on technical feasibility, practicability, and cost-
effectiveness of each proposed pipeline safety standard. PHMSA staff 
may also provide an update on several regulatory and policy initiatives 
if time allows.

III. Preliminary Agenda

    The agenda will include the committee's discussion and vote on the 
proposed rule, ``Pipeline Safety: Expanding the Use of Excess Flow 
Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than Single-
Family Residences'' published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2015 
(80 FR 41460) and on the associated regulatory analysis and 
environmental assessment.
    The NPRM proposes to expand requirements for the use of excess flow 
valves beyond certain single-family homes to include additional homes 
and small commercial natural gas customers. Further, the NPRM proposes 
that manual service line shut-off valves (e.g., curb valves) be 
installed on new or replaced service lines servicing customers that use 
large quantities of natural gas, such as industrial facilities. Excess 
flow valves or curb valves are used in natural gas distribution 
pipelines to restrict the flow of gas if a line is broken or damaged, 
limiting the impact of a leak or explosion.'' An informational 
presentation on EFVs was given to the advisory committee at a meeting 
held on August 26, 2015. The presentation (day 2, agenda item 8b) may 
be found on the Web site: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs/technical-advisory-comm/meeting/august-25-and-26-2015-joint-meeting-gas-and-liquid.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 23, 2015, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-30208 Filed 11-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P