80 FR 46930 - Pipeline Safety: Miscellaneous Changes to Pipeline Safety Regulations; Administrative Significance: Petitions for Reconsideration

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 151 (August 6, 2015)

On March 11, 2015, PHMSA published a final rule amending the pipeline safety regulations to make miscellaneous changes that updated and clarified certain regulatory requirements. These amendments address several subject matter areas including the performance of post- construction inspections, leak surveys of Type B onshore gas gathering lines, qualifying plastic pipe joiners, regulation of ethanol, transportation of pipe, filing of offshore pipeline condition reports, and calculation of pressure reductions for hazardous liquid pipeline anomalies. PHMSA has since received three petitions for reconsideration submitted by persons affected by the final rule.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 46930]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19227]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 191, 192, and 195

[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0026]
RIN 2137-AE59


Pipeline Safety: Miscellaneous Changes to Pipeline Safety 
Regulations; Administrative Significance: Petitions for Reconsideration

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

ACTION: Petitions for reconsideration.

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SUMMARY: On March 11, 2015, PHMSA published a final rule amending the 
pipeline safety regulations to make miscellaneous changes that updated 
and clarified certain regulatory requirements. These amendments address 
several subject matter areas including the performance of post-
construction inspections, leak surveys of Type B onshore gas gathering 
lines, qualifying plastic pipe joiners, regulation of ethanol, 
transportation of pipe, filing of offshore pipeline condition reports, 
and calculation of pressure reductions for hazardous liquid pipeline 
anomalies. PHMSA has since received three petitions for reconsideration 
submitted by persons affected by the final rule.

DATES: PHMSA received these petitions on April 10, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kay McIver, Transportation Specialist, 
by telephone at 202-366-0113, or by electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On March 11, 2015, PHMSA published a final rule amending the 
pipeline safety regulations to make miscellaneous changes that updated 
and clarified certain regulatory requirements (80 FR 12762). These 
amendments addressed several subject matter areas including the 
performance of post-construction inspections, leak surveys of Type B 
onshore gas gathering lines, qualifying plastic pipe joiners, 
regulation of ethanol, transportation of pipe, filing of offshore 
pipeline condition reports, and calculation of pressure reductions for 
hazardous liquid pipeline anomalies. PHMSA has since received three 
petitions for reconsideration submitted by persons affected by the 
final rule.
    Dates: On April 10, 2015, the American Gas Association (AGA), the 
American Public Gas Association, (APGA) and the Interstate Natural Gas 
Association of America (INGAA) petitioned PHMSA for re-consideration to 
certain parts of the Miscellaneous Rule.

II. Petitions for Reconsideration

    In accordance with 49 CFR 190.335, PHMSA received three petitions 
from the APGA, the AGA and the INGAA asking for reconsideration to some 
portions of the Final Rule. APGA and AGA expressed concerns about the 
provisions of the Final Rule applicable to construction inspections. 
INGAA and AGA expressed concerns regarding provisions in the Final Rule 
applicable to components fabricated by welding.
    Section 190.337(b) states that it is the policy of the Associate 
Administrator for Pipeline Safety to issue notice of the action on a 
petition for reconsideration within 90 days after the date on which the 
regulation in question is published in the Federal Register, unless it 
is found impracticable to take action within that time. Section 
190.337(b) goes on to state that when it is impractical to take action 
within that time, that PHMSA will give notice of that fact and the date 
by which action is expected to be taken. Due to the complexities of the 
petitions, PHMSA is unable to complete the analyses and render a 
decision within the 90-day time frame. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  190.337(b), PHMSA anticipates acting on these three petitions by 
October 1, 2015.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2015, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2015-19227 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
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