2137-0596 Supporting[1].Statement2

Pipeline Safety: National Pipeline Mapping Project

Justification: 2137-0596

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary:

The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–355), 49 U.S.C. 60132, ‘‘National Pipeline Mapping System,’’ enacted on December 17, 2002, requires, the operator of a pipeline facility (except distribution lines and gathering lines) to provide information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHMSA). The existing authorization to collect mapping information is expiring on May 31, 2007. An emergency extension was requested and approved by OMB until August 31, 2007. This is a request for renewal with change.

2. How, by whom, and for what purpose is the information used:

The information will be used by State agencies and the Federal government to locate gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States. Accurate knowledge on pipeline location improves the Federal government and States ability to enforce pipeline safety regulations; and respond to pipeline incidents.

3. Extent of automated information collection:

As of September 30, 2007 pipeline operators may no longer submit paper maps. The data must be submitted electronically and may be a map or numerical coordinates. PHMSA is in the process of discussing options with the operators who have continued to submit paper maps in order to ensure they are able to transition to the new requirements..

4. Efforts to identify duplication:

There is no duplication, as the information requested is not required by any other source. Each response is unique and information derived from one may not be inferred to another.

5. Methods used to minimize burden on small businesses or other small entities:

PHMSA expects impacted operators to be large and small businesses and therefore the requirement may impact small businesses.¹ However, due to the nominal fees necessary to update pipeline maps, the burden should be an insignificant cost to small businesses. Also, the cost is automatically scaled so that operators will pay proportionally to how much pipeline they manage (cost is per mile). There are currently 894 pipeline operators; however, each operator manages a different number of pipeline miles.

6. Consequences to Federal program or policy activities if collection were conducted less frequently.

PHMSA would not be able to appropriately and properly assess the status and related location considerations without the proposed information collection. Less frequent information collection could compromise the safety and economic viability of the U.S. pipeline system.

7. Special circumstances affecting conduct of information collection activity:

Not applicable.

8. Efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views:

A notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2007 under Docket No. PHMSA-98-4957 (72 FR 13858) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. The comment period closed on May 22, 2007. No comments were received for this information collection.

A notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2007 under Docket No. PHMSA-98-4957 (72 FR 30430) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. The comment period closed on June 30, 2007. No comments were received for this information collection.

9. Explanation of decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents:

Not applicable.

10. Assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents:

Not applicable.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information:

Not applicable.

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested:

Number of Respondents:

894, which is the number of pipeline operators currently submitting mapping information.1

Number of Responses:

894. Each operator submits one update annually.

Number of Annual Burden Hours:

16,312. The number of annual burden hours was calculated as follows:

The national Pipeline mapping system indicates that there are 420,117 pipeline miles in the US.

We estimate that operators take slightly more than 2 minutes to update PHMSA regarding each mile of pipeline. The average time per update is estimated at 2.329 minutes per update.

The total hours for the update would be 420,117 miles x approximately 2.329 minutes = 840,234 minutes / 60 minutes per hour = ). 16,312 hours.

The original regulation required operators to complete mapping for 157,112 miles of pipeline. This current information collection represents a decrease of 140,800 annual burden hours from the previously approved burden hours of 157,112.

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents:

An engineering manager is estimated to perform the update at an average pay rate of $64.75 per hour.²

The total cost for the update is estimated to be $1,056,202 (= 16,312 hours x $64.75).

Any costs beyond those cited above will be nominal.

The reduction in burden hours from the original regulation is 157,112 hours; and the cost is reduced by $7,619,398.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government:

PHMSA will be reviewing the map updates submitted as a result of this regulation. The additional hours necessary to review the updated maps will be minimal because only minimal changes are expected on an annual basis.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments:

Operators incurred significant time in collecting initial mapping information. This renewal requires operators to update annually the nation's pipeline transportation systems. Operators were required in the initial information collection to provide detailed maps of their pipeline systems. This required extensive efforts on their part. The Operators are now required to update the information on the maps annually. Because the national pipeline transportation system is generally static and does not experience substantial changes from year to year, information updates represent considerable reduction in annual burden.

16. Plans for tabulation, statistical analysis and publication:

PHMSA is in the process of opening the online pipeline map data to the public. The public is expected to have working access to the maps by October, 2007. As a security precaution there will be access restrictions to the website including limiting user ability to “zoom-in” and restricting viewers to a single county per log-in session.

17. Display of expiration date of OMB Approval:

Approved OMB number is displayed on the National Pipeline Mapping System instructional text

18. Exceptions to certification statement:

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

1 Small businesses as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (P.L. 96-354)

2 Based on the 2004 U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. The median hourly wage of an engineering manager (for NAICS 486000 – pipeline transportation) is estimated to be $47.96. With an estimated fringe benefit of 35%, the fully loaded cost of an engineering manager in the pipeline industry is $64.75 per hour.