[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14097-14099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05193]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0085]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA 
invites public comments on its intent to request Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval to revise and renew an information collection 
currently under OMB Control Number 2137-0596 titled: ``National 
Pipeline Mapping System Program.'' The information collection currently 
requires operators to submit geospatial data, attributes, metadata, 
public contact information, and a transmittal letter appropriate for 
use in the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). Acceptable formats 
and additional information are specified in the NPMS Attribute 
Standards document available at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. The proposed 
revisions would modify one attribute approved in January 2020 that 
pipeline operators must submit to PHMSA, extend the expiration date of 
the information collection established by OMB, and require gas 
transmission operators to submit additional attributes to the NPMS.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 10, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
    E-Gov Website: 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., ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
    Instructions: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-2021-0085 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 19477) or visit 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., ET, 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-
2021-0085.'' 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.
    Privacy Act Statement: DOT may solicit comments from the public 
regarding certain general notices. 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.
    Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from 
public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this notice contain 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate 
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 CFR 190.343, you may ask 
PHMSA to give confidential treatment to information you give to the 
Agency by taking the following steps: (1) Mark each page of the 
original document submission containing CBI as ``Confidential''; (2) 
send PHMSA, along with the original document, a second copy of the 
original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the 
information you are submitting is CBI. Any commentary PHMSA receives 
that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public 
docket for this matter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Hill by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, requires 
PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected entities 
an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping 
requests. This notice identifies the proposed changes to the 
information collection under OMB Control Number 2137-0596 that PHMSA 
will submit to OMB for approval.

[[Page 14098]]

    The NPMS includes a geospatial information system (GIS) dataset 
that contains information about PHMSA-regulated gas transmission and 
hazardous liquid pipelines. The NPMS also contains data layers for 
liquefied natural gas plants and hazardous liquid breakout tanks. PHMSA 
has a contract for services to perform all NPMS data submission 
processing and support for pipeline operators submitting NPMS data. 
This contract also includes all information technology (IT) systems and 
applications designed to collect, process, and disseminate NPMS data to 
stakeholders and the public.
    On January 22, 2020, OMB approved significant changes to the NPMS 
information collection and established January 31, 2023, as the 
expiration date of the information collection. Since OMB approval, 
PHMSA has determined that implementing the significant changes approved 
by OMB are not feasible within the terms and scope of the current data 
submission and IT contract.
    The acquisition planning for a re-competition of the NPMS contract 
has started. However, the complexities introduced by the combined 
requirements of supporting the NPMS system in its current state while 
at the same time implementing the significant changes to the system has 
impacted the contract procurement timeline. The changes to the NPMS 
system would require architecture, data, and application design 
modifications. PHMSA has initiated the process of establishing a new 
NPMS contract to complete this work, but will not be able to complete 
that process and set up the new system in order to start collecting the 
new information approved by OMB before the January 31, 2023, expiration 
date.
    PHMSA also proposes that two additional data elements be added to 
the information collection for gas transmission pipelines. On October 
1, 2019, (84 FR 52180) PHMSA published in the Federal Register a final 
rule titled: ``Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: 
MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other 
Related Amendments'' (Docket no, PHMSA-2011-0023). In the final rule, 
the term ``moderate consequence area'' was added to 49 CFR part 192. 
Also, the final rule added Sec.  192.710, which requires assessments of 
certain gas transmission pipelines outside of high consequence areas 
(HCAs). Data elements regarding the location of moderate consequence 
areas (MCAs) and assessments outside of HCAs would provide local, 
state, and federal government stakeholders with important information 
regarding gas pipeline segments with elevated risk.

II. Implementation Timeline

    PHMSA intends to maintain a phased implementation plan, as outlined 
below, for the information collection changes approved in January 2020. 
The dates shown below are the earliest possible dates PHMSA could start 
collecting data for each phase. PHMSA will inform operators if we need 
to revise any of the dates. Details about the contents of each phase 
are included in the next sections.

Phase 0 2024 collection of CY 2023 data
Phase 1 2027 collection of CY 2026 data
Phase 2 2028 collection of CY 2027 data
Phase 3 2027 collection of CY 2026 data

    These proposed implementation dates would allow PHMSA and pipeline 
operators to design and build the necessary systems to support the data 
submittal process. Additional time is also necessary for developing new 
submission methods and tools, explanatory and procedural materials, and 
training opportunities, which will provide certainty for both PHMSA and 
pipeline operators through the implementation of the changes outlined 
in the NPMS information collection.

A. Phase 0 Data Elements

    In the April 11, 2019, (84 FR 14717) Federal Register notice 
requesting revision to the previously approved information collection 
regarding the National Pipeline Mapping System Program which led to the 
January 2020 OMB approval, the data elements below became mandatory, 
rather than optional, in Phase 1. PHMSA proposes making the data 
elements below mandatory in a new Phase 0 since PHMSA and many 
operators already have experience using these attributes. When 
operators submit calendar year 2023 data in 2024, PHMSA may reject 
submissions missing the following four data elements:
    (1) Pipe diameter; (2) Commodity detail; (3) Breakout tanks; and 
(4) Abandoned pipeline segments.

B. Phase 1 Data Elements

    In the April 11, 2019, Federal Register notice that led to the 
January 2020 OMB approval, the data elements below were included in 
Phase 1. PHMSA proposes keeping these data elements in Phase 1:
     Pipe material.
     Pipe join method.
     Onshore/offshore.
     In-line inspection (yes/no).
     Class location.
     Gas HCA segment (yes/no).
     Coated (yes/no).
     Liquified Natural Gas plants (type of plant, year 
constructed, and capacity, in addition to separate layers and 
attributes for impoundments and exclusion zones).
    PHMSA proposes two new data elements to be submitted by gas 
transmission pipeline operators in Phase 1. After PHMSA requested OMB 
approval of the information collection on April 11, 2019, PHMSA 
regulations were revised to include two new types of gas pipeline 
segments reflecting elevated risk. PHMSA proposes adding data elements 
to identify gas pipeline segments within MCAs, as defined in Sec.  
192.3, and for the applicability of Sec.  192.710 to gas pipeline 
segments. Access to these two data elements would be restricted to 
government officials. Similar to collecting and sharing ``gas high 
consequence area (HCA) segment (yes/no),'' collecting and sharing the 
MCA and Sec.  192.710 data would provide government stakeholders with 
location information for pipeline segments with elevated risk.
     Gas MCA (yes/no)--if the gas transmission segment is in an 
MCA as defined in part 192.3, report ``Y.'' Otherwise, report ``N.'' 
For a segment where Gas HCA is ``Y,'' MCA must be ``N.''
     Gas 192.710 (yes/no)--if the gas transmission segment is 
required to be assessed under 49 CFR 192.710, report ``Y.'' Otherwise, 
report ``N.'' For a segment where Gas HCA is ``Y,'' 192.710 must be 
``N.''

C. Phase 2 Data Elements

    In the April 11, 2019, Federal Register notice that led to the 
January 2020 OMB approval, Phase 2 consisted of changing the Facility 
Response Plan (FRP) sequence number from optional to mandatory and 
adding the following new data elements:
     Facility Response Plan (FRP) sequence number becomes 
mandatory.
     Seam type.
     Pipe grade.
     Wall thickness.
     Decade of installation.
     Hazardous liquid segment could affect an HCA--High 
Populated, Other Populated, Commercially Navigable Waterway, and 
Ecological USA.
     Assessment method and year.
    PHMSA proposes no changes to the number of elements being collected 
in Phase 2 but does propose minor improvements for how one of the data 
elements will be collected. The OMB-approved collection includes 
collecting ``pipe grade'' in Phase 2. Stakeholders would have used this 
text to infer the numeric value for specified minimum yield strength 
(SMYS) of steel pipe.

[[Page 14099]]

PHMSA proposes replacing the collection of ``pipe grade'' with the 
collection of the SMYS in pounds per square inch gauge (psig) when the 
``pipe material'' is steel. Collecting ``SMYS'' allows stakeholders to 
see the actual numeric value instead of inferring the value from the 
``pipe grade'' text field. When ``SMYS'' is unknown, PHMSA proposes 
operators report 9.999 psig which is well below any actual value for 
pipeline steel.

D. Phase 3

    In the April 11, 2019, Federal Register notice that led to the 
January 2020 OMB approval, Phase 3 consisted of implementing new 
positional accuracy standards of +/- 50 or 100 feet seven years after 
OMB approval. PHMSA will require NPMS data submittals to meet these 
standards in 2027.

E. NPMS Attribute Standards Adjustments

    Under the current approval of this information collection, wall 
thickness is collected as a number when known and text is entered when 
unknown. This paradigm creates unnecessary work for both PHMSA and 
pipeline operator GIS staff since sometimes the attribute would be text 
and sometimes numeric. PHMSA proposes that when the wall thickness is 
unknown, operators report the wall thickness as 9.999.
    The current approval of this information collection states that the 
FRP sequence number is required for applicable liquid segments per 49 
CFR part 194. In the NPMS Attribute Standards document, PHMSA did not 
list the commodity values for which the FRP sequence number is 
required. PHMSA proposes modifying the NPMS Attribute Standards 
document by listing onshore crude oil and onshore refined products as 
the pipeline segments requiring the FRP sequence number. In some cases, 
the operator may be required to report a hazardous liquid pipeline to 
the NPMS before obtaining an FRP sequence number from PHMSA. PHMSA also 
proposes that operators enter 9.999 for onshore crude oil and onshore 
refined products segments without an FRP sequence number. An updated 
NPMS Attribute Standards document reflecting the changes proposed by 
PHMSA is included in Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0085.

III. Summary of Impacted Collection

    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 that 
PHMSA will submit to OMB for revision.
    The following information is provided for this 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 will request a three-year term of approval for this 
information collection. PHMSA requests comments on the following 
information:
    1. Title: National Pipeline Mapping System Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0596.
    Expiration Date: 1/31/2023.
    Type of Request: Revision of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-
355), 49 U.S.C. 60132, ``National Pipeline Mapping System,'' requires 
the operator of a pipeline facility (except distribution lines and 
gathering lines) to provide information to PHMSA. Each operator is 
required to submit geospatial data appropriate for use in the National 
Pipeline Mapping System or data in a format that can be readily 
converted to geospatial data; the name and address of the person with 
primary operational control (to be known as its operator); and a means 
for a member of the public to contact the operator for additional 
information about the pipeline facilities it operates. Operators would 
submit the requested data elements once and make annual updates to the 
data if necessary. These data elements strengthen the effectiveness of 
PHMSA's risk rankings and evaluations, which are used as a factor in 
determining pipeline inspection priority and frequency; allow for more 
effective assistance to emergency responders by providing them with a 
more reliable, complete data set of pipelines and facilities; and 
provide better support to PHMSA's inspectors by providing more accurate 
pipeline locations and additional pipeline-related geospatial data that 
can be linked to tabular data in PHMSA's inspection database.
    This proposed revision would require operators to submit geospatial 
data for MCAs, as defined in 49 CFR part 192, and data based on the 
applicability of Sec.  192.710 assessments outside of HCAs. This 
revision would also require operators to submit the data element 
``SMYS'' in psig in place of submitting data on pipe grade. PHMSA does 
not expect operators to incur additional burden due to the inclusion of 
these new and revised elements. PHMSA believes that the annual burden 
allotted for this information collection is sufficient for operators to 
include the newly requested data elements. A detailed breakdown of the 
estimated burden for this information collection can be found at 
www.regulations.gov.
    Respondents: Operators of gas transmission, hazardous liquid, or 
liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,346 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 162,208 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) The need for the renewal and revision of this collection of 
information for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (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 required to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2022, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-05193 Filed 3-10-22; 8:45 am]
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