82 FR 48655 - Pipeline Safety: Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)

Page Range		48655-48655
FR Document		2017-22553

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is announcing an additional opportunity for the public to comment on an interim final rule (IFR) titled: ``Pipeline Safety: Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities.'' PHMSA is reopening the comment period in response to a petition for reconsideration filed jointly by the American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, and the American Public Gas Association. By reopening the comment period, PHMSA is providing all interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the IFR and the merits and claims of the petition. PHMSA will consider all public comments and address the petition for reconsideration in the final rule.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48655]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22553]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 191 and 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0016; Amdt. Nos. 191-24; 192-122]
RIN 2137-AF22


Pipeline Safety: Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage 
Facilities

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

ACTION: Interim final rule; reopening comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA) is announcing an additional opportunity for the public to 
comment on an interim final rule (IFR) titled: ``Pipeline Safety: 
Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities.'' PHMSA is reopening the 
comment period in response to a petition for reconsideration filed 
jointly by the American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, 
and the American Public Gas Association. By reopening the comment 
period, PHMSA is providing all interested parties with the opportunity 
to comment on the IFR and the merits and claims of the petition. PHMSA 
will consider all public comments and address the petition for 
reconsideration in the final rule.

DATES: The comment period for the interim final rule published on 
December 19, 2016 (81 FR 91860), is reopened. Comments must be received 
by November 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number 
PHMSA-2016-0016 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Hand Delivery: U.S. DOT Docket Management System, 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: If you submit your comments by mail, submit two 
copies. To receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard.

    Note: Comments are posted without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
There is a privacy statement published on http://www.regulations.gov.

Privacy Act Statement

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL- 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor, 
Pipeline Safety Policy and Programs, by telephone at 609-771-7810 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 2016, PHMSA issued an interim 
final rule (IFR) titled: ``Pipeline Safety: Underground Natural Gas 
Storage Facilities'' (81 FR 91860). In the IFR, PHMSA established 
minimum federal safety standards for intrastate and interstate 
underground natural gas storage facilities under its regulatory 
authority at 49 U.S.C. 60101 and 60102 and as directed by section 12 of 
the ``Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety 
Act of 2016.'' On January 18, 2017, the American Gas Association, the 
American Petroleum Institute, the American Public Gas Association, and 
the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) jointly 
submitted a petition seeking reconsideration of certain provisions of 
the IFR. (INGAA has since withdrawn from the petition.)
    Recognizing that the IFR set certain deadlines by which the 
operators of underground natural gas storage facilities must act but 
that would occur before PHMSA could adopt a final rule, PHMSA published 
a notice on June 20, 2017, in the Federal Register (82 FR 28224), 
announcing that (1) the agency would not issue enforcement citations to 
operators for non-compliance with certain provisions of the IFR for a 
period of one year after publication of the final rule, and (2) it 
intended to address the issues raised by the petitioners in the final 
rule. For these reasons, PHMSA is now providing the public with an 
additional opportunity to comment on the IFR and an opportunity to 
comment on the issues raised in the petition. PHMSA is therefore 
reopening the comment period for this IFR until November 20, 2017. All 
documents and comments related to this matter are available for review 
at http://www.regulations.gov in docket number PHMSA-2016-0016.

    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. 2017-22553 Filed 10-18-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 48655

(C) NIOSH-certified continuous flow (PHMSA) is announcing an additional interim final rule (IFR) titled: ‘‘Pipeline
supplied-air respirator equipped with a opportunity for the public to comment Safety: Underground Natural Gas
loose fitting facepiece, hood, or helmet. on an interim final rule (IFR) titled: Storage Facilities’’ (81 FR 91860). In the
(ii) Hazard communication. ‘‘Pipeline Safety: Underground Natural IFR, PHMSA established minimum
Requirements as specified in § 721.72(a) Gas Storage Facilities.’’ PHMSA is federal safety standards for intrastate
through (e) (concentration set at 0.1 reopening the comment period in and interstate underground natural gas
percent), (f), (g)(1) (dermal response to a petition for storage facilities under its regulatory
sensitization), (g)(1) (endocrine reconsideration filed jointly by the authority at 49 U.S.C. 60101 and 60102
disruption), (g)(1) (reproductive effects), American Gas Association, American and as directed by section 12 of the
(g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (ix), (g)(2)(i), (ii), Petroleum Institute, and the American ‘‘Protecting our Infrastructure of
(iii), (iv), and (v), (g)(3)(i) and (ii), Public Gas Association. By reopening
(g)(4)(iii), and (g)(5). Alternative hazard Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of
the comment period, PHMSA is 2016.’’ On January 18, 2017, the
and warning statements that meet the providing all interested parties with the
criteria of the Globally Harmonized American Gas Association, the
opportunity to comment on the IFR and
System (GHS) and OSHA Hazard American Petroleum Institute, the
the merits and claims of the petition.
Communication Standard may be used. PHMSA will consider all public American Public Gas Association, and
(iii) Industrial, commercial, and comments and address the petition for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of
consumer activities. Requirements as reconsideration in the final rule. America (INGAA) jointly submitted a
specified in § 721.80(q). It is a DATES: The comment period for the
petition seeking reconsideration of
significant new use to use the PMN certain provisions of the IFR. (INGAA
interim final rule published on
substance in thermal paper printing has since withdrawn from the petition.)
December 19, 2016 (81 FR 91860), is
(iv) Releases to water. Requirements
reopened. Comments must be received Recognizing that the IFR set certain
as specified in § 721.90(a)(1), (b)(1), and
(c)(1). by November 20, 2017. deadlines by which the operators of
(b) Specific requirements. The ADDRESSES: You may submit comments underground natural gas storage
provisions of subpart A of this part identified by the docket number facilities must act but that would occur
apply to this section except as modified PHMSA–2016–0016 by any of the before PHMSA could adopt a final rule,
by this paragraph (b). following methods: PHMSA published a notice on June 20,
(1) Recordkeeping. Recordkeeping • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 2017, in the Federal Register (82 FR
requirements as specified in www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 28224), announcing that (1) the agency
§ 721.125(a) through (i) and (k) are instructions for submitting comments. would not issue enforcement citations
applicable to manufacturers and • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. to operators for non-compliance with
processors of this substance. • Mail: Hand Delivery: U.S. DOT
certain provisions of the IFR for a period
(2) Limitations or revocation of Docket Management System, West
of one year after publication of the final
certain notification requirements. The Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., rule, and (2) it intended to address the
provisions of § 721.185 apply to this issues raised by the petitioners in the
section. Washington, DC 20590–0001 between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday final rule. For these reasons, PHMSA is
(3) Determining whether a specific use
through Friday, except Federal holidays. now providing the public with an
is subject to this section. The provisions
Instructions: If you submit your additional opportunity to comment on
of § 721.1725(b)(1) apply to paragraph
comments by mail, submit two copies. the IFR and an opportunity to comment
(a)(2)(ii) of this section.
To receive confirmation that PHMSA on the issues raised in the petition.
Editorial note: This document was received your comments, include a self- PHMSA is therefore reopening the
received for publication by the Office of the
Federal Register on October 10, 2017. addressed stamped postcard. comment period for this IFR until
Note: Comments are posted without November 20, 2017. All documents and
[FR Doc. 2017–22239 Filed 10–18–17; 8:45 am]
changes or edits to http:// comments related to this matter are
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
www.regulations.gov, including any personal available for review at http://
information provided. There is a privacy www.regulations.gov in docket number
statement published on http:// PHMSA–2016–0016.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION www.regulations.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 11,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Privacy Act Statement 2017, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
Safety Administration 1.97.
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c),
DOT solicits comments from the public Alan K. Mayberry,
49 CFR Parts 191 and 192 Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
to better inform its rulemaking process.
[Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0016; Amdt. Nos. DOT posts these comments, without [FR Doc. 2017–22553 Filed 10–18–17; 8:45 am]
191–24; 192–122] edit, including any personal information BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
RIN 2137–AF22 the commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in
Pipeline Safety: Safety of Underground the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–
Natural Gas Storage Facilities 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous
rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA); DOT. Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor,
Pipeline Safety Policy and Programs, by
ACTION: Interim final rule; reopening
telephone at 609–771–7810 or by email
comment period.
at byron.coy@dot.gov.
SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
Materials Safety Administration December 2016, PHMSA issued an

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Document Created: 2017-10-19 02:56:34
Document Modified: 2017-10-19 02:56:34

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Interim final rule; reopening comment period.
Dates		The comment period for the interim final rule published on December 19, 2016 (81 FR 91860), is reopened. Comments must be received by November 20, 2017.
Contact		Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor, Pipeline Safety Policy and Programs, by telephone at 609-771-7810 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 48655
RIN Number		2137-AF22
CFR Citation		49 CFR 191 49 CFR 192

82 FR 48655 - Pipeline Safety: Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration