Pursuant to 5
CFR 1320.11(c), OMB files this comment on this information
collection request (ICR). In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is
withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public
comment in response to the NPRM and will include in the supporting
statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule
stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public
comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical
utility of the collection and minimizing the burden.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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PHMSA proposes to revise the Federal
pipeline safety regulations to address human factors and other
components of control room management. The proposed rule would
require operators of hazardous liquid pipelines, gas pipelines, and
liquefied natural gas (LNG)to to assure controllers and control
room management practices and procedures maintain pipeline safety
and integrity. This proposed rule results from a PHMSA study of
controllers and controller performance issues known as the
Controller Certification Project (CCERT), a National Transportation
Safety Board study, safety-related condition reports, operator
visits and inspections, and inquiries. This rule would improve
opportunities to reduce risk through more effective control of
pipelines and require the human factors management plan mandated by
the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of
2006 (PIPES Act). These regulations would enhance pipeline safety
by coupling strengthened control room management, including
automated control systems, with improved controller training and
qualifications and fatigue management. PHMSA expects these
regulations will complement efforts already underway in the
pipeline industry to address human factors and control room
management, such as the development of new national consensus
standards, including an American Petroleum Institute (API)
recommended practices on roles and responsibilities, shift
operations, management of change, fatigue management, alarm
management and SCADA display standard, as well as comparable
business practices at some pipeline companies.
US Code:
49
USC 60102 Name of Law: Federal Pipeline Safety Laws
PHMSA is proposing to require
pipeline operators to keep records and logs related to control room
operations for inspection purposes and to have a senior executive
officer of each operator validate that the operator has complied
with the regulatory requirements, reviewed its qualification and
training, permitted only qualified controllers to operate the
pipeline, addressed fatigue factors, and involved controllers in
finding improvements. The record keeping requirements in the
proposed rule are consistent with good business practices and are
designed to enhance current control room management practices.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Control Room Management / Human Factors