
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76270-76272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24445]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0076]


Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13, PHMSA invites public comments about PHMSA's intention to 
request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew six 
information collections that are scheduled to expire in 2024. PHMSA has 
reviewed each information collection and considers them vital to 
maintaining pipeline safety. As such, PHMSA will request renewal from 
OMB, without change, for each information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 5, 2024.

[[Page 76271]]


ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
    E-Gov Website: http://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the 
public to submit 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-2023-0076, 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-
2023-0076.'' 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. Unless you are notified 
otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential 
under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of 
this notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Angela Hill, 
DOT, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, PHP-30, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. 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 telephone at 202-366-
1246 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
section 1320.8(d), requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the 
public and affected agencies the opportunity to comment on information 
collection and recordkeeping requests before they are submitted to OMB 
for approval. This notice identifies six information collection 
requests that PHMSA will submit to OMB for renewal and requests comment 
from interested parties. The information collections (including their 
expiration dates) are as follows: (1) OMB control number 2137-0625, 
Pipeline Safety: Integrity Management Program for Gas Distribution 
Pipelines (5/31/2024); (2) OMB control number 2137-0632, Post-Accident 
Drug Testing for Pipeline Operators (8/31/2024); (3) OMB control number 
2137-0048, Recordkeeping Requirements for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
Facilities (11/30/2024); (4) OMB control number 2137-0594, Customer-
Owned Service Lines (11/30/2024); (5) OMB control number 2137-0618, 
Periodic Underwater Inspection and Notification of Abandoned Underwater 
Pipelines (11/30/2024); and (6) OMB control number 2137-0634, 
Recordkeeping for Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities (11/30/
2024).
    The following information is provided for these information 
collections: (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 each of the 
following information collection activities. PHMSA requests comments on 
the following information:
    1. Title: Pipeline Safety: Integrity Management Program for Gas 
Distribution Pipelines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0625.
    Current Expiration Date: 5/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations require operators 
of gas distribution pipelines to develop and implement integrity 
management (IM) programs. The purpose of these programs is to enhance 
safety by identifying and reducing pipeline integrity risks. PHMSA 
requires that operators maintain records demonstrating compliance with 
these requirements for 10 years and that these records must include 
superseded IM plans.
    Affected Public: Operators of gas distribution pipeline systems.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 3,882.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 723,192.
    Frequency of collection: On occasion.
    2. Title: Post-Accident Drug Testing for Pipeline Operators.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0632.
    Current Expiration Date: 8/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to 49 CFR 199.227, operators are required to 
maintain records of its alcohol misuse prevention program. The post-
accident drug testing for pipeline operators information

[[Page 76272]]

collection pertains specifically to 49 CFR 199.227(b)(4), that requires 
operators to maintain records of decisions not to administer post-
accident employee alcohol tests for a minimum of three years. Operators 
must make those records available to PHMSA upon request.
    Affected Public: Operators of PHMSA-regulated pipelines.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Total Annual Responses: 609.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,218.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    3. Title: Recordkeeping Requirements for Liquefied Natural Gas 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0048.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations, 
liquefied natural gas facility operators are required to maintain 
records, make reports, and provide information regarding their 
liquefied natural gas facilities to PHMSA upon request.
    Affected Public: Operators of liquefied natural gas facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 40,400.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 12,120.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    4. Title: Customer-Owned Service Lines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0594.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Pursuant to 49 CFR 192.16, operators of gas service lines 
who do not maintain their customers' buried piping between service 
lines and building walls or gas utilization equipment are required to 
send written notices to their customers prescribing the proper 
maintenance of these gas lines and of the potential hazards of not 
properly maintaining these gas lines. Operators also must maintain 
records that include a copy of the notice currently in use and evidence 
that notices were sent to customers within the previous three years. 
The purpose of the collection is to provide PHMSA with adequate 
information about how customer-owned service lines are being maintained 
to prevent the potential hazards associated with not maintaining the 
lines. Examples of sufficient notification include a prepared 
notification with the customer's bill.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 550,000.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 9,167.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    5. Title: Periodic Underwater Inspection and Notification of 
Abandoned Underwater Pipelines.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0618.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations at 49 CFR 192.612 
and 49 CFR 195.413 require operators of pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico 
and its inlets in waters less than 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep to conduct 
periodic underwater inspections to determine whether the pipelines are 
exposed underwater pipelines or pose a hazard to navigation. If an 
operator discovers that its underwater pipeline is exposed or poses a 
hazard to navigation, among other remedial actions, the operator must 
contact the National Response Center by telephone within 24 hours of 
discovery and report the location of the exposed pipeline or hazardous 
pipeline.
    PHMSA's regulations for reporting the abandonment of underwater 
pipelines can be found at 49 CFR 192.727 and 49 CFR 195.59. These 
provisions contain certain requirements for disconnecting and purging 
abandoned pipelines and require operators to notify PHMSA of each 
abandoned offshore pipeline facility and each abandoned onshore 
pipeline facility that crosses over, under, or through a commercially 
navigable waterway.
    Affected Public: Operators of pipeline facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 92.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 1,372.
    Frequency of collection: On occasion
    6. Title: Recordkeeping for Underground Natural Gas Storage 
Facilities.
    OMB Control Number: 2137-0634.
    Current Expiration Date: 11/30/2024.
    Type of Request: Renewal with no change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations at 49 CFR 192.12 
require operators of underground natural gas storage facilities to 
maintain documentation and provide information to PHMSA upon request. 
Examples of the required records include operations and maintenance 
procedures, results of required tests, records of inspections and 
repairs, and notifications to the public.
    Affected Public: Operators of underground natural gas storage 
facilities.
    Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden:
    Estimated number of responses: 136.
    Estimated annual burden hours: 220.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) The need for the renewal and revision of these collections 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, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (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 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, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 
1.97.
John A. Gale,
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-24445 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P


