
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78684-78685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0128]


Pipeline Safety: Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working 
Group Nominations

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

ACTION: Request for member nominations; voluntary information-sharing 
system working group.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is seeking nominations for individuals to serve as 
members for three-year terms on the Voluntary Information-Sharing 
System (VIS) Working Group. This is a newly created working group 
established in accordance with section 10 of the Protecting our 
Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016 
(Pub. L. 114-183), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 
U.S.C., App. 2, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a). The Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) must convene a working group by December 19, 
2016 to consider the development of a voluntary information-sharing 
system to encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection 
information feedback and information sharing with the purpose of 
improving gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline facility 
integrity risk analysis. PHMSA intends to comply with section 10 of the 
PIPES Act of 2016 by convening a working group by December 19, 2016.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before November 28, 2016.

[[Page 78685]]


ADDRESSES: All nomination material should be emailed to the Advisory 
Committee Program Manager Cheryl Whetsel at Cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov or 
mailed to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., PHP-30, E24-445, Washington, DC 20590, to 
the attention of Cheryl Whetsel, Advisory Committee Program Manager, 
PHP-30.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Whetsel at 202-366-4431 or 
Cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Duties

    The VIS Working Group will consider and provide recommendations to 
the Secretary as specifically outlined in section 10 of the PIPES Act 
of 2016:
    (a) The need for, and the identification of, a system to ensure 
that dig verification data are shared with in-line inspection operators 
to the extent consistent with the need to maintain proprietary and 
security-sensitive data in a confidential manner to improve pipeline 
safety and inspection technology;
    (b) Ways to encourage the exchange of pipeline inspection 
information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection 
technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
    (c) Opportunities to share data, including dig verification data 
between operators of pipeline facilities and in-line inspector vendors 
to expand knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the 
different types of in-line inspection technology and methodologies;
    (d) Options to create a secure system that protects proprietary 
data while encouraging the exchange of pipeline inspection information 
and the development of advanced pipeline inspection technologies and 
enhanced risk analysis;
    (e) Means and best practices for the protection of safety- and 
security-sensitive information and proprietary information; and
    (f) Regulatory, funding, and legal barriers to sharing the 
information described in paragraphs (a) through (d).

The Secretary must publish the VIS Working Group's recommendations on a 
publicly available Department of Transportation Web site. The VIS 
Working Group will fulfill its purpose once its recommendations are 
published online.

II. Membership

    The VIS Working Group will consist of no more than 30 members 
appointed by the Secretary, including representatives from:
    (a) PHMSA;
    (b) Industry stakeholders, including:
     Operators of pipeline facilities,
     Inspection technology, coating, and cathodic protection 
vendors, and
     Pipeline inspection organizations;
    (c) Safety advocacy groups;
    (d) Research institutions;
    (e) State public utility commissions or State officials responsible 
for pipeline safety oversight;
    (f) State pipeline safety inspectors;
    (g) Labor representatives; and
    (h) Other entities, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

III. Terms of Service

     Each member serves a three-year term unless the member 
becomes unable to serve, resigns, ceases to be qualified to serve, is 
removed by the Secretary, or if the VIS Working Group fulfills its 
purpose before the term ends. The Secretary may reappoint a member to 
serve additional terms.
     All Group members must be able to attend approximately 
four meetings each year in Washington, DC, other designated locations, 
or by teleconference.
     Members serve without compensation although travel 
expenses, including per diem, may be reimbursed for those performing 
committee duties away from their homes and regular places of business.
     A member appointed for his or her individual views or 
advice must be appointed as a Special Government Employee (SGE). Other 
members will serve as Representatives or Regular Government Employees. 
SGEs are subject to certain Federal conflict of interest laws.

IV. Nomination Procedures

    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals for membership on the VIS Working Group. Self-nominations 
are also accepted. The PHMSA Administrator, on behalf of the Secretary, 
is seeking individuals with diverse experiences and expertise in 
research and development, academia, human factors, large scale data 
management, standards for data exchanges, secure information sharing, 
risk management and risk analysis, natural gas or hazardous liquid 
pipeline safety, in-line inspection, pipeline anomaly assessment and 
remediation, pipeline inspection technology, software system 
development, integrity management, or other related experience.
     Nominations must include a current, complete 
r[eacute]sum[eacute] including business address and home address, 
telephone number, email address, education, professional or business 
experience, present occupation, and membership on other working groups 
or advisory committees, past or present.
     Nominations must include a short biography identifying 
each nominee's qualifications and expertise.
     Nominations for non-industry positions on the VIS Working 
Group should highlight relevant experience on panels that dealt with 
transportation safety, information-sharing systems, technology 
development, data management, software development, or detail their 
interest in the subject matter that will be considered by the 
committee.
     Nominations must acknowledge that the nominee is aware of 
the nomination unless self-nominated.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2016, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2016-26905 Filed 11-7-16; 8:45 am]
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