
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34123-34124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13991]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0100]


Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on Integrity Management of Gas 
Distribution Pipelines

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA) and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives 
(NAPSR) are jointly sponsoring a public meeting on Implementing 
Integrity Management of Gas Distribution Pipelines. The meeting will be 
held on June 27, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas. At the meeting, PHMSA/
NAPSR will discuss observations from initial inspections of operators' 
implementation of integrity management requirements for gas 
distribution pipelines and current regulatory topics affecting 
distribution pipeline operators. The meeting will also include panel 
and breakout session discussions involving gas distribution pipeline 
industry representatives on topics relating to their experiences 
implementing the distribution integrity management regulation.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT. Name badge pickup and onsite registration 
will be available starting at 7:30 a.m. Refer to the meeting Web site 
for a more detailed agenda and times at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Home.mtg. Please note that the public meeting will be webcast 
and presentations will be available on the meeting Web site within 30 
days following the public meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting is open to all. There is no cost to attend. The 
meeting will be held at the OMNI Hotel, 1300 Houston Street, Fort 
Worth, TX 76102-6556. Hotel reservations under the ``U.S. DOT DIMP'' 
room block for the nights of June 26-27, 2012, can be made at 1-800-
843-6664. A daily rate of $139.00 is available. Information about the 
meeting room will be posted at the hotel on the day of the public 
meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Mclaren, Office of Pipeline 
Safety at 281-216-4455 or email at chris.mclaren@dot.gov, regarding the 
subject matter of this notice.

[[Page 34124]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final rule establishing requirements for 
assuring the continued integrity of gas distribution pipelines (DIMP) 
was published on December 4, 2009, (74 FR 63906). The rule required 
that operators of gas distribution pipelines develop and implement 
integrity management plans for their pipeline systems by August 2, 
2011. PHMSA and states have conducted a number of inspections of gas 
distribution pipeline operator integrity management programs. Many more 
inspections will follow. This public meeting is intended to allow 
PHMSA, NAPSR, and industry representatives to share observations 
resulting from these initial inspections.
    The public meeting is designed to enhance pipeline safety through 
improved integrity management of natural gas distribution pipeline 
systems and will consist of presentations and panel discussions 
provided by a variety of stakeholders. Panel participants will 
represent industry, PHMSA, and NAPSR. Panels will present information 
on PHMSA and NAPSR's expectations of implemented distribution integrity 
management programs (DIMP) and observations from DIMP Inspections 
conducted by PHMSA and NAPSR. PHMSA and NAPSR will promote compliance 
with regulations by providing an overview of the rule, including 
expectations of regulatory definitions (such as identification of 
threats, methodologies for segmentation of assets for evaluation of 
risk, risk ranking, measures designed to reduce risk, and measuring and 
monitoring performance) and discussing methodologies that industry is 
employing to meet the requirements of the rule. Inspection findings 
from DIMP inspections conducted by PHMSA and state programs and issue 
areas and areas of concern will be discussed.
    Participants of the public meeting will benefit from (1) hearing 
their peers explain methods of implementation for certain provisions of 
the rule and associated questions experienced during program 
development and implementation; (2) listening to PHMSA, NAPSR, and 
industry experience on implementing the specific elements of the rule; 
(3) discussing rule compliance concerns; developing a clearer 
understanding of the DIMP rule provisions, and (4) participating in the 
development of additional guidance if deemed necessary through 
stakeholder feedback.
    Interested persons may obtain more information on DIMP by accessing 
the DIMP Web site through the PHMSA Pipeline Safety Community page at 
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline by selecting ``Integrity Management 
Program (IMP)'' and then ``Integrity Management--Distribution.''

Preliminary Agenda

     Discuss Implementation of the DIMP Regulation and 
Regulatory Developments affecting Distribution Operators.
     Regulators' (NAPSR and PHMSA) Perspective on 
Implementation of the DIMP Regulation.
     Breakout Sessions to discuss various topics regarding the 
implementation of distribution IM Programs and meeting the requirements 
of the DIMP rule.
     Presentations from representatives of the breakout 
sessions, NAPSR, and industry.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 5, 2012.
Jeffrey D Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-13991 Filed 6-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P


