
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38266-38267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16265]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2015-0139]


Pipeline Safety: Risk Modeling Methodologies Public Workshop

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Call for abstracts; preliminary notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: This preliminary notice is to announce a public workshop to 
advance risk modeling methodologies of gas transmission and hazardous 
liquid pipelines and non-pipeline systems. This workshop will bring 
industry, Federal and state regulators, interested members of the 
public, and other stakeholders together to share knowledge and 
experience on risk modelling within the pipeline industry and other 
fields, ways to advance pipeline risk models, and practical ways that 
operators can adopt and/or adapt them to the analyses of their systems.
    Additionally, through this notice, and in preparation for this 
public meeting, we are inviting abstracts on relevant engineering and 
technical modeling considerations related to advancing pipeline risk 
models, and risk modeling methodologies used in other non-pipeline 
applications. PHMSA recognizes that other industries may offer 
potential ideas and solutions to risk modelling that are applicable to 
pipelines and therefore encourages participation in the solicitation 
from outside of the pipeline industry and outside of industrial 
applications. Each author of an accepted abstract will be invited to 
make a short presentation at the workshop.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 
2015, and Thursday, September 10, 2015, times TBD. To be considered for 
presentation at the upcoming workshop, authors must submit abstracts to 
the docket PHMSA-2015-0139 and email Kenneth Lee at Kenneth.lee@dot.gov 
by July 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Washington, DC Metro area--venue TBD.
    Comments: To be considered for presentation at the upcoming 
workshop, authors must submit abstracts to the docket PHMSA-2015-0139 
and email Kenneth Lee at Kenneth.lee@dot.gov by July 15, 2015. PHMSA 
will notify authors by email by July 31, 2015, whether their abstracts 
were accepted for presentation. Each author of an accepted abstract 
will be invited to

[[Page 38267]]

make a short presentation at the workshop.
    Members of the public may also submit written comments either 
before or after the workshop. Comments should reference Docket No. 
PHMSA-2015-0139. 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 (DOT), 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 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 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 heading 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).

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 Mr. Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and Research Division, 
at (202) 366-2694 or Kenneth.lee@dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and 
Research Division, at 202-366-2694 or Kenneth.lee@dot.gov about the 
subject matter in this notice and for abstract submittal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    An integral part of requirements to manage the integrity of 
pipeline systems (49 CFR part 192, subpart O; 49 CFR 195.452) is the 
continual examination of ways to reduce the threats to pipelines in 
order to minimize the likelihood of a release, and ways to reduce the 
consequences of potential releases. A primary tool to implement this 
process is generally referred to as a ``risk analysis'' or ``risk 
assessment.''
    To support integrity management requirements, a risk analysis 
modeling approach must be able to adequately characterize all pipeline 
integrity threats and consequences concurrently, and the impact of 
measures to reduce risk must be evaluated.
    This workshop will focus on advancing risk modeling approaches by 
looking at risk modelling methodologies for pipeline and non-pipeline 
systems, and practical ways that operators can adopt and/or adapt them 
to the analyses of their systems.

Background

    Subsequent to implementation of the integrity management rules, 
industry has adopted a variety of approaches to risk analysis. Many of 
these approaches are variations of the ``risk index'' models.
    While index models and other basic approaches to risk modeling have 
been implemented by industry for purposes such as risk-ranking pipeline 
segments to prioritize initial integrity management-required baseline 
assessments, the ability of many of these approaches to do more 
investigative oriented analyses in order to identify specific ways to 
reduce risk is limited.
    As summarized and discussed in past public forums and workshops on 
pipeline safety (e.g., 2014 Government/Industry Pipeline R&D Forum), 
industry and PHMSA are in general agreement that risk models need to 
evolve in such a way as to be more investigative in nature.
    PHMSA believes that improving risk models is important for further 
reducing the risk of pipelines to the public health and safety. In 
particular, PHMSA is interested in specific ways to advance pipeline 
risk models, and in practical ways that operators can adopt and/or 
adapt risk models to the analyses of their systems.

Call for Abstracts

    We invite abstracts which present ways to advance pipeline risk 
models, risk modeling methodologies used in other non-pipeline 
applications, and practical ways that operators can adopt and/or adapt 
them to the analyses of their systems.
    Specific examples of applications are encouraged. PHMSA is 
interested in engineering and technical modeling considerations 
including, but not limited to:
     Quantitative and semi-quantitative risk approaches.
     Interacting integrity threats.
     Applicability to evaluating preventive measures and 
mitigative measures.
     Availability of data to support identified risk modeling 
approach.
     Risk models.
     Approaches to pipeline facility risk.
     Investigative performance of the example potential 
approach.
     Adaptation of model approaches from non-pipeline systems.
     Cost.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 and 49 CFR 1.97.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2015.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2015-16265 Filed 7-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P


