Start Preamble

AGENCY:

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice seeks public comment on the need for PHMSA to collect paperwork information from state agencies that maintain programs to regulate pipelines. The purpose of the paperwork is to ensure that these states are properly monitoring the operations of pipeline operators in their states, and to determine Federal grant amounts for these states. This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for the paperwork collection from these state agencies, to find ways to minimize the burden on states that must respond, to find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to verify the accuracy of the PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on the states. This notice also seeks approval from the Office of Management and Budget to renew the existing approval of this paperwork collection.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by August 1, 2005 to assure consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit written comments to the docket by any of the following methods:

• Mail: Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL–401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 20590–0001. Anyone wanting confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard.
• Hand delivery or courier: Room PL–401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. The Dockets Facility is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

• Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov, click on “Comments/Submissions” and follow instructions at the site.

All written comments should identify the docket number and notice number stated in the heading of this notice.

Docket access. For copies of this notice or other material in the docket, you may contact the Dockets Facility by phone (202–366–9329) or visit the facility at the above street address. For Web access to the dockets to read and download filed material, go to http://dms.dot.gov/​search. Then type in the last four digits of the docket number shown in the heading of this notice, and click on “Search.”

Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments filed in any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted for an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the April 11, 2000 issue of the Federal Register (65 FR 19477) or go to http://dms.dot.gov.

Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimated or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Start Further Info

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Florence Hamn, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA, DOT, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 Start Printed Page 38247 (202) 366–3105 or by e-mail at Florence.Hamn@dot.gov.

End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Chapter 601, Title 49, United States Code (49 U.S.C. 60101 et. seq.) authorizes DOT to regulate pipeline transportation. While DOT is primarily responsible for developing, issuing, and enforcing minimum pipeline safety regulations, 49 U.S.C. 60101 et. seq., provides for state assumption of all or part of the regulatory and enforcement responsibility for intrastate pipelines.

Section 60105 of 49 U.S.C. sets forth specific requirements a state must meet to qualify for certification status to assume regulatory and enforcement responsibility for intrastate pipelines, ( i.e., state adoption of minimum federal safety standards, state inspection of pipeline operators to determine compliance with the standards, and state provision for enforcement sanctions substantially the same as those authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) A participating state must annually submit a section 60105(a) Gas Pipeline Safety Program Certification and/or a Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program Certification to the Office of Pipeline Safety signifying compliance with the terms of the certification.

As used in this notice, “information collection” and “paperwork collection” are synonymous, and include all work related to preparing and disseminating information related to this recordkeeping requirement including completing paperwork, gathering information and conducting telephone calls.

Type of Information Collection Request: Renewal of existing collection.

Title of Information Collection: Certification and Agreement Forms for the Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program.

OMB Approval Number: 2137–0584.

Frequency: Annually.

Use: This collection is used by PHMSA to ensure that State agencies attesting they have regulatory jurisdiction over pipeline safety have adopted and are complying with minimum Federal safety standards. This information is used to calculate grants to States.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 67.

Respondents: State Agencies.

Total Annual Hours Requested: 3,820.

Start SignatureEnd Signature End Supplemental Information