2137-0047 Supporting Statement

Department of Transportation

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Supporting Statement

Pipeline Safety: Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline: Recordkeeping and Accident Reporting

OMB Control No. 2137-0047

INTRODUCTION

This is to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) three-year approved clearance for renewal of the information collection entitled “Pipeline Safety: Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline: Recordkeeping and Accident Reporting,” which is currently due to expire on September 30, 2008. Hazardous liquid pipeline operators must keep records to ensure that their pipelines are operated safely. Operators must also report accidents.

This information collection is being submitted at this time because of the upcoming expiration date. It should be noted that Pipeline will be re-submitting this IC in the near future due to revisions to the associated form that will, among other things, establish consistent categories of causes for incidents and leaks on all gas pipeline reports, specify the consequences of failure to display a valid control number on the form, and provide the estimated time the form.

Part A. Justification

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary.

This is a request for a renewal without change of an existing approval under OMB No. 2137-0047 pertaining to requirements for any operator of a rural low-stress pipeline to file annual reports as well as reports of accidents or safety-related conditions. The information collection promotes the U.S. DOT’s Safety and Environmental Strategic Goals by identifying areas which would benefit from targeted regulatory actions to decrease incidents involving hazardous liquid low-stress lines.

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

The information collection provides PHMSA with the information necessary to evaluate the risk posed by these lines. PHMSA will use the information provided in the reports to more accurately assess the risks to pipeline infrastructure, understand emerging safety related trends, and identify opportunities for improving the regulatory system for rural low-stress pipeline.

3. Extent of automated information collection.

PHMSA Forms 7000.1 Hazardous Liquid Accident Report may be submitted electronically on-line on the PHSMA website. PHMSA encourages the use of electronic technology. Safety-related condition information is submitted either by telephone or e-mail. PHMSA expects at least 50 percent of data collection and reporting to be completed electronically.

4. Efforts to identify duplication.

There is no duplication, as the information is unique to specific situations.

5. Efforts to minimize the burden on small businesses.

The burden has been made as simple as possible. PHMSA expects impacted operators to be large and small businesses. Previous information collection analysis estimated that there are approximately 10-20 “small entity” industry operators for this type of pipeline. Analysis suggests that the additional burden hours should not cause harm to their competitiveness. Additionally, small operators generally remain competitive by developing niche markets and exclusive supplies to a small number of customers.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information.

It is not possible to conduct the collection less frequently and still ensure the necessary level of safety to life and property inherent in transporting hazardous materials. PHMSA would not be able to adequately assess potential risks associated with these pipelines, which could potentially be detrimental to the pipeline safety and the protection of the environment. Therefore, less frequent information collection could compromise the safety of the U.S. pipeline system and the environment.

7. Special circumstances.

This collection of information is generally conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2). There are three anticipated potential special circumstance regarding information collection: (1) A special circumstance could occur if an operator has more than one low-stress pipeline incident or accident within an officially recognized business quarter; (2) An operator may have an accident or incident in the same quarter as their annual report is submitted; and (3) More than a single safety-related condition within a single business quarter is also possible. Operators’ safety measures and vigilance can avoid such circumstances. As such, PHMSA does not mandate information collection occur twice within a single quarter.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8.

A 60-Day Notice requesting comments was published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2008 [73 FR 10508]. No comments pertaining to this information collection were received.

A 30-Day Notice requesting comments was published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2008 [73 FR 26468]. No comments pertaining to this information collection were received.

9. Payments or gifts to respondents.

There is no payment or gift provided to respondents associated with this collection of information.

10. Assurance of confidentiality.

The recordkeeping requirements of this information collection do not include anything of a sensitive nature or of any matters considered private. Therefore, we do not foresee any need to assure confidentiality of the information to be collected.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information.

The recordkeeping requirements of this information collection do not involve questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested.

Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline: Recordkeeping and Accident Reporting (PHMSA Form 7000-1)

Reporting of Safety-Related Conditions on Gas, Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities (No Associated Form)

All operators of rural on-shore low-stress pipelines must comply with the reporting requirements of 49 CFR 195 Subpart B to: (1) report all incidents occurring on their low-stress pipeline; (2) submit safety-related condition reports on their low-stress pipeline, and; (3) submit annual reports on their low-stress pipeline. The only exception is for an inter-facility low-stress pipeline that is less than one mile in length.

The operators will be required to submit to PHMSA a written report on any accident or safety-related condition that causes or has caused a significant change or restriction in the operation of the facility or a condition that is a hazard to life, property, or the environment. PHMSA uses the information collected to identify safety related trends and take action to reduce pipeline accidents and incidents.

Annual Burden Hours:

PHMSA estimates that approximately 200 respondents are affected by this information collection and submit an average of one incident or accident report per year. PHMSA also estimates that it will require each respondent approximately 255.06 hours each to comply with the required reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Therefore, the annual burden for this information is estimated to be 200 respondents x 255.06 burden hours = 51,012 annual burden hours.

Annual Burden Costs:

The expected costs associated with the burden hours are assumed to be filled out by a senior engineer whose fully-loaded hourly cost (i.e., salary plus overhead) is estimated to $64.75 x 51,012 hours = $3,303,027.00.

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents.

There is no cost burden to respondents except those identified in item 12 above.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government.

No federal costs above and beyond salaries are anticipated.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments.

There is no change in burden due to the renewal of this information collection.

16. Publication of results of data collection.

The results of the accident, incident, and annual reports will be summarized and posted on PHMSA’s website.

17. Approval for not displaying the expiration date for OMB approval.

OPS is not seeking approval to not display the expiration date.

18. Exceptions to certification statement.

There is no exception to PHMSA’s certification of this request for information collection approval.

ATTACHMENTS:

There are no attachments.

Part B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

1. Describe potential respondent universe and any sampling selection method to be used.

There is no potential respondent universe or any sampling selection method being used.

2. Describe procedures for collecting information, including statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection, estimation procedures, degree of accuracy needed, and less than annual periodic data cycles.

There are no procedures for collecting information, including statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection, estimation procedures, degree of accuracy needed, and less than annual periodic data cycles.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rate.

There are no methods to maximize the response rate.

4. Describe tests of procedures or methods.

There are no tests of procedures or methods.

5. Provide name and telephone number of individuals who were consulted on statistical aspects of the information collection and who will actually collect and/or analyze the information.

There were no individuals consulted on statistical aspects of this information collection.

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