81 FR 24689 - Pipeline Safety: Public Workshop on Liquefied Natural Gas Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 80 (April 26, 2016)

This notice is announcing a public meeting to solicit input and obtain background information for the formulation of a future regulatory change to 49 CFR part 193, Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards. PHMSA is co-sponsoring a two-day Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Workshop with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives. PHMSA will also describe requirements for transporting LNG in commerce by rail, highway, and waterway, as authorized in the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR parts 100-185. This workshop will bring federal and state regulators, emergency responders, NFPA 59A technical committee members, industry, and interested members of the public together to participate in shaping a future LNG rule.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24689-24690]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0005]


Pipeline Safety: Public Workshop on Liquefied Natural Gas 
Regulations

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice is announcing a public meeting to solicit input 
and obtain background information for the formulation of a future 
regulatory change to 49 CFR part 193, Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: 
Federal Safety Standards. PHMSA is co-sponsoring a two-day Liquefied 
Natural Gas (LNG) Workshop with the National Association of Pipeline 
Safety Representatives. PHMSA will also describe requirements for 
transporting LNG in commerce by rail, highway, and waterway, as 
authorized in the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations in 49 CFR 
parts 100-185. This workshop will bring federal and state regulators, 
emergency responders, NFPA 59A technical committee members, industry, 
and interested members of the public together to participate in shaping 
a future LNG rule.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on May 18-19, 2016. Name badge 
pick up and on-site registration will be available starting at 7:00 
a.m., with the workshop taking place from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 
4:30 p.m. eastern time.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590 
in the atrium of the west building (New Jersey Avenue entrance, across 
the street from the Navy Yard Metro station). Attendees should arrive 
early to allow for time to go through security. Directions to DOT are 
located at https://www.transportation.gov/directions.
    Online preregistration for the workshop is available until May 11, 
2016. Refer to the meeting Web site for the latest information about 
the meeting including agenda and the webcast at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=111 Presentations and a 
recording of proceedings will be available within 30 days after the 
event.
    Registration: Members of the public may attend this free workshop. 
To help assure that adequate space is provided, attendees, both in 
person and by webcast, should register in advance at the PHMSA public 
meeting Web site at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=111 Onsite registration will also be available for 
those attending in person.
    Important: Please be sure all representatives who plan to attend 
are registered. If you do not register for this meeting in advance, 
your entrance into the building may be delayed due to security 
processing. To enter the facility, all U.S. citizen visitors must have 
a valid U.S. or state government issued photo identification (driver's 
license, passport, etc.). If you do not have valid photo 
identification, you will not be permitted to enter the facility.
    DOT is a secure U.S. Government building. All visitors and any 
items brought into the facility will be required to go through security 
screening each time they enter the building. NOTE: Screening luggage 
takes additional time at the entry checkpoint. If possible, please 
avoid bringing luggage.
    If you are a non-U.S. citizen/foreign national and will be 
attending the meeting in person, please contact 
[email protected] or 202-366-2392 to provide the following 
information: full name, official title or position, date of birth, 
country of citizenship, passport number or diplomatic identification 
number, and passport expiration date. Guest information is required at 
least five business days in advance of the meeting.
    Comments: Members of the public may submit written comments either 
before or after the workshop. Comments should reference Docket No. 
PHMSA-2016-0005. Comments may be submitted 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. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of 
Transportation,1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
    Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System, Room W12-140, on the 
ground floor of the 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.
    Instructions: Identify the docket number (PHMSA-2016-0005) at the 
beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit 
two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA has received

[[Page 24690]]

your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet 
users may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Note: Comments will be posted without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. 
Please see the Privacy Act Statement below for additional 
information.

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 April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19476) 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 request special assistance at the meeting, please 
contact Mrs. Julie Halliday, Engineering and Research Division, at 202-
366-0287 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Halliday, Engineering and 
Research Division, at 202-366-0287 or [email protected] about the 
subject matter in this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The Pipeline Safety Act codified in 49 U.S.C. 60101, et seq., 
directs DOT to establish and enforce safety standards for LNG 
facilities. While there are exceptions, generally an onshore LNG plant 
is regulated in CFR part 193 if the plant either receives from or 
delivers natural gas to a pipeline regulated in 49 CFR part 192.
    The regulations in Part 193 were first promulgated in the 1970's, 
when the majority of LNG plants were built by natural gas pipeline 
operators for ``peak shaving'' or storage for injection back into 
natural gas pipelines to meet peak winter demand. Since that time, the 
LNG industry has made technological, fabrication, material, and 
material testing advancements. The field of process safety has also 
evolved.
    The abundant natural gas supply in the U.S. and national and 
international demand for LNG is spurring development of new LNG plants. 
Large marine export plants are being constructed to export LNG due to 
the abundance of domestic natural gas. These plants store and transfer 
much greater quantities of LNG and other heavy hydrocarbons. Smaller 
LNG plants are being constructed to produce LNG as an alternative fuel 
to gasoline and diesel. Because LNG is a cleaner, efficient, and 
lightweight fuel compared to other fossil fuels, it can substitute for 
traditional oil-based fuels for trucking, vessels, rail, drilling 
equipment, decentralized power generation, and process industry. Some 
new smaller scale LNG applications, such as marine bunkering, seek to 
locate at or near sites where diesel or other fueling occurs today. 
These locations may be in close proximity to other existing 
infrastructure and to an area that is used for outdoor assembly of 
groups of 50 or more persons--which is currently not allowed within a 
thermal exclusion zone.
    As a new LNG industry is emerging, the existing LNG infrastructure 
is aging. Failures at new plants can occur due to unforeseen 
complications of new technology and design and construction issues, 
while older systems are vulnerable to risks from obsolescence, and 
aging, equipment and systems. PHMSA is considering updates to Part 193 
to reflect advances in technologies, design, construction, materials, 
material testing, and to address risks associated with new and aging 
facilities.
    The workshop is an opportunity to review and consider incorporating 
newer editions of the NFPA 59A and other technical standards that allow 
or require the use of new technologies, materials, and practices to 
enhance safety, and also to work with stakeholders to resolve issues 
that may prevent the incorporation of the latest edition of those 
standards. Part 193 significantly incorporates by reference the 2001 
edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 59A 
technical standard. In 2010, PHMSA incorporated by reference a few 
sections of the 2006 edition of NFPA 59A.
    The LNG market is evolving due to the abundance of natural gas, 
stricter emissions regulations, new technologies, and new applications 
for the use of LNG. Also, the majority of LNG plants in service today 
were constructed in the 1970's and that existing regulations may not 
adequately incorporate risk-based assessments, process safety 
practices, and technologies that have developed over this time period. 
Additionally, newer editions of technical standards incorporated by 
reference in Part 193 have been issued since the last time the 
regulation was updated.
    This workshop is also a forum for PHMSA to collect input regarding 
challenges operators face locating, designing, fabricating, 
constructing, replacing, or upgrading facilities due to regulations 
that may not address these changes or due to the incorporation of older 
versions of technical standards in Part 193. PHMSA seeks to gain 
information on best practices for process safety. PHMSA also seeks 
input from the public and emergency responders regarding education, 
awareness, and training about LNG safety. Finally, PHMSA will also 
describe requirements for transporting LNG in commerce by rail, 
highway, and waterway, as authorized in Federal Hazardous Materials 
Regulations Title 49 CFR parts 100-185.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2016, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2016-09653 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P