82 FR 48574 - Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities, Revision to Gas Distribution Annual Report

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 200 (October 18, 2017)

PHMSA is preparing to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the revision of the gas distribution annual report currently approved under OMB control number 2137-0629. PHMSA proposes revising Part A and certain parts of the instructions. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on the proposed revisions to the form and instructions.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48574-48575]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22552]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2017-0110]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities, Revision to 
Gas Distribution Annual Report

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is preparing to request Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval for the revision of the gas distribution annual report 
currently approved under OMB control number 2137-0629. PHMSA proposes 
revising Part A and certain parts of the instructions. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on the 
proposed revisions to the form and instructions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 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.
    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 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery: Room W12-140 on the ground level of 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.
    Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2017-0110, 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 19476) or visit

[[Page 48575]]

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 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-2017-
0110.'' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Dow by telephone at 202-366-
1246, by fax at 202-366-4566, or by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, requires 
PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies 
an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
requests. This notice identifies an information collection request for 
the gas distribution annual report that PHMSA will be submitting to OMB 
for approval.

B. Gas Distribution Annual Report

    PHMSA intends to revise the gas distribution annual report (PHMSA F 
7100.1-1) and its instructions. PHMSA specifically proposes removing 
``Other'' as a selection for Operator Type in Part A7 and adding 
guidance for the proper selection to the instructions. By eliminating 
``Other'' as a selection, PHMSA would obtain more accurate data about 
the types of gas distribution operators.
    PHMSA proposes changing the instructions for PHMSA Form 7100.1-1, 
Gas Distribution System Annual Report, related to calculating the 
percent of lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) gas and negative percent 
values. PHMSA proposes calculating percent LAUF gas by dividing the 
LAUF volume by the gas consumption volume. PHMSA also proposes allowing 
a negative value to be reported for percent LAUF gas. These changes 
would harmonize the PHMSA and Energy Information Administration 
methodologies for calculating percent LAUF gas.

C. Summary of Impacted Collections

    The following information is provided below for the impacted 
information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) 
OMB control number; (3) Current expiration date; (4) Type of request; 
(5) Abstract of the information collection activity; (6) Description of 
affected public; (7) Estimate of total annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden; and (8) Frequency of collection.
    PHMSA requests comments on the following information collection:
    1. Title: Annual Report for Gas Distribution Pipeline Operators.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0629.
    Current Expiration Date: 1/31/2018.
    Type of Request: Revision.
    Abstract: PHMSA intends to revise the form and instructions for the 
gas distribution annual report (PHMSA F 7100.1-1).
    Affected Public: Gas distribution pipeline operators.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Total Annual Responses: 1,446.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,582.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) The need for the proposed collection of information, including 
whether the information will have practical utility in helping the 
agency to achieve its pipeline safety goals;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 11, 2017, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2017-22552 Filed 10-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P