Pipeline Safety: Enhanced Safety and Environmental Protection for Gas Transmission and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines in High-Consequence Areas

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Parts 192 and 195

[Docket No. RSPA-99-6355; Notice 2]

Pipeline Safety: Enhanced Safety and Environmental Protection for

Gas Transmission and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines in High-Consequence

Areas

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice extending comment period and establishing Electronic

Public Discussion Forum.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)

will extend to January 17, 2000, the comment period following the

public meeting on pipeline system integrity programs in high-

consequence areas. This notice also announces that OPS is establishing

an electronic public discussion forum on pipeline system integrity

management. OPS requests comments that address how to provide

additional safety and environmental protection for gas transmission

pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines in high-consequence areas

through regulated integrity management programs.

DATES: No later than January 17, 2000, comments can be submitted over

the Internet to the OPS integrity management site at http://

ops.dot.gov/imp.htm. You may also submit written comments by mail or

delivery directly to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of

Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC

20590-0001. Comments may be submitted directly to the docket at the

following Internet Web address: http://dms.dot gov. Click on ``Help &

Information'' for instructions on how to file a document

electronically. All comments should identify the docket and notice

numbers stated in the heading of this notice. Anyone desiring

confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped

postcard.

ADDRESSES: The Dockets Facility is located on the plaza level, Room PL-

401, of the U.S. Department of Transportation building, 400 7th St.,

SW, Washington, DC. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday

through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni (tel: 202-366-4571; E-

mail: [email protected]). You can access additional information

and participate in a discussion forum at the OPS pipeline system

integrity management Internet site at http://ops.dot.gov/imp.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On November 18-19, 1999, the Office of Pipeline Safety held a

public meeting to discuss the need for additional safety and

environmental regulations for pipelines in high-consequence areas

(i.e., areas where a pipeline failure could have serious consequences

for the public or the environment). The notice announcing the meeting

was published on October 21, 1999, at 64 FR 56725. OPS wanted

information on pipeline operators' system integrity management programs

so that it could incorporate a process into the regulations for

validating pipeline system integrity in high-consequences areas. OPS is

committed to enhancing protection in these areas for several reasons.

OPS and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations and

analyses of major pipeline incidents have underscored the importance of

protecting areas of high population density and environmentally

sensitive areas. Congressional mandates have directed OPS to undertake

various activities in these areas, including requiring periodic

pipeline inspections in areas of high population density and in areas

unusually sensitive to environmental damage.

Recent OPS initiatives have validated the importance of focusing

pipeline resources and establishing higher levels of protection in

areas where a pipeline accident could have serious consequences. OPS

has seen a wide array of existing operator safety programs that

identify, assess, and address all significant risks to the pipeline in

an integrated manner. These operator-developed programs closely examine

in-line inspection survey data, together with other surveillance and

operating data, (e.g., expected population growth, land use,

construction activity along the pipeline) and other information

relevant to ensuring the integrity of the pipeline in high population

areas and in environmentally sensitive areas.

Need for Extending Comment Period and Opening Electronic Discussion

Forum

The November public meeting gathered information from government,

industry, and public participants on integrity management programs and

how to deal with integrity issues in high-consequence areas. The

meeting provided a wealth of information on identifying high-

consequence areas, testing and inspection technologies, and using risk

data to manage pipeline system integrity. The meeting revealed the

complexity inherent in requiring integrity management inspections and

programs in high-consequence areas. Breakout sessions addressed the

following issues:

What are the key elements and characteristics of integrity

management within companies?

--What are the characteristics of high-consequence areas?

--What are the minimum standards for integrity management programs?

--What elements should OPS review, evaluate, and inspect?

What means are used to assemble and integrate information?

--What types of information need to be integrated to ensure pipeline

system integrity?

--What are the key questions for OPS to ask during an inspection?

At the meeting, OPS announced that written comments on pipeline

system integrity management issues would be accepted through December

20, 1999. The questions raised at the public meeting and subsequent

discussions with the pipeline industry and regulators have shown that

more time is needed to prepare and file comments. Therefore, we are

extending the comment period to January 17, 2000. We are also setting

up an electronic discussion forum so that we can get a free exchange of

ideas on how to implement a pipeline system integrity management

process into the pipeline safety regulations. This forum will be open

until at least January 17, 2000. The transcript of the November 18-19,

1999, public meeting and public comments concerning issues raised at

the meeting are available in the docket, which is accessible at the

Dockets Facility or through the OPS pipeline system integrity

management Internet site.

[[Page 71714]]

After the public meeting, OPS began discussing a conceptual model

for ensuring extra protection in high-consequence areas. This model,

along with additional information on the public meeting and on pipeline

system integrity management issues for high-consequence areas, is

posted on OPS's pipeline system integrity management Internet site at

http://ops.dot.gov/imp.htm. Information on this site includes:

General Summary of the November 18, 1999 public meeting

Discussion page for facilitating communication

Federal Register Notice on the November 18, 1999 public

meeting

Meeting Agenda and selected presentations/summaries by

various speakers.

Meeting transcripts for November 18, 1999 public meeting

Summary of the Breakout sessions

Conceptual pipeline system integrity management model for

high-consequence areas

Link to the DMS page for submissions to the electronic

docket

Contact (e-mail) information for Mike Israni and Beth

Callsen

RSPA encourages all interested persons to access the pipeline

system integrity management conceptual model and other background

information at http://ops.dot.gov/imp.htm.

In particular, OPS wants comment on how to improve protection for

the public and the environment for pipelines located in high-

consequence areas through a more integrated approach to identifying and

addressing risks. Interested persons are urged to present their views

on whether and what additional inspection requirements or other

preventive and mitigative actions are needed to ensure adequate

protection of high-consequence areas. Comments are sought from pipeline

companies on the extent of their inspection and testing programs, the

types of inspection tools employed, and experience with intervals

between inspections and testing. OPS is also interested in comments on

the expected cumulative costs and benefits associated with implementing

a pipeline system integrity management process, on whether any of these

measures would have a disproportionate impact on small operators, and

any concerns on the information collection, recordkeeping, or reporting

requirements of this initiative under the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995 (44 USC 3057(d)).

Authority: 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 and 49 CFR 1.53.

Issued in Washington, DC on December 17, 1999.

Richard B. Felder,

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 99-33207 Filed 12-21-99; 8:45 am]

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