2137-0601 Supporting Statement2008

Department of Transportation

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Supporting Statement

Pipeline Safety Reports of Abandoned Underwater Pipelines

OMB Control No. 2137-0601

INTRODUCTION

This is to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) renewed three-year approved clearance for the information collection entitled, “Pipeline Safety Reports of Abandoned Underwater Pipelines” (OMB Control No. 2137-0601), which is currently due to expire on December 31, 2008.

Part A. Justification.

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary.

Underwater pipelines are being abandoned at an increasing rate as older facilities reach the end of their useful life. This trend is expected to continue. In 1992, Congress responded to this issue by amending the Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. 60108(c)(6)(B)) to direct the Secretary of Transportation to require operators of an offshore pipeline facility or a pipeline crossing navigable waters to report the abandonment to the Secretary of Transportation in a way that specifies whether the facility has been abandoned properly according to applicable Federal and State requirements. PHMSA’s regulations for abandonment reporting can be found at Title 49 CFR 192.727 and 195.402.

This information collection request supports DOT’s safety performance goal of reducing total incidents for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines which directly supports the DOT’s safety strategic objective of enhancing public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths and injuries.

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

This report provides a consolidated information source for Federal agencies and State governments to assist in determining if current abandonment requirements are meeting public safety goals.

This information collection supports the DOT strategic goal of safety by reducing the number of fatalities, injuries, and amount of property damage.

3. Extent of automated information collection.

Operators are encouraged to provide the reports electronically. Operators are free to use any means at their disposal to send OPS written reports. They may use the latest information technology to reduce the additional burden. There are no legal obstacles to reducing the burden if the operators choose to send report electronically. However, so far all reports were mailed or faxed to PHMSA.

4. Efforts to identify duplication.

While the U.S. Minerals Management Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may have some abandonment reports, only DOT maintains a central repository.

5. Efforts to minimize the burden on small businesses.

The economic impacts of this regulation on small entities are minimal.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information.

It is a one-time requirement that has minimal burden on pipeline operators.

7. Special circumstances.

No special circumstances exist in this collection.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8.

A 60-day Federal Register notice was published on May 22, 2008 (73 FR 29846). No comments were received regarding this information collection. A 30-day Federal Register Notice was published on September 10, 2008 (73 FR 52722).

9. Payments or gifts to respondents.

There is no remuneration provided.

10. Assurance of confidentiality.

The information collection requirements do not include any matters considered private or sensitive.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information.

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

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested.

There are approximately 263 hazardous liquid operators (based on 2004 Hazardous Liquid Annual Reports as of 9/2005 information), 903 natural gas transmission operators (based on 2004 Annual Reports submitted by the operators), and 1,540 natural gas distribution operators under PHMSA jurisdiction. In accordance with PHMSA’s regulations for abandonment reporting (49 CFR 192.727 and 195.402) all 2,706 operators are potential respondents of this information collection request.

In addition, 49 CFR 195.59 requires all operators to file reports for pipelines they abandoned prior to October 10, 2000 before April 10, 2001, 65 reports were submitted in 2001 and 3 reports were submitted in 2002. Between 2003 and present (June 2005), 19 reports were filed by 6 operators. Note that one report can contain multiple line abandonment notifications.

Based on past experience, it assumed that an average of 10 notifications will submitted annually. Again, note that one report can contain multiple line abandonment notifications. The time to complete a report is estimated by the American Gas Association as approximately 6 hours for a total annual burden hour estimate of hours 60 hours per year.

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents.

There are no additional costs beyond the paperwork expenses stated under item 12.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government.

The cost to the Federal government is minimal, if any. No other costs 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.

This information will not be published for statistical purposes.

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

OPS is not seeking such approval.

18. Exceptions to certification statement:

There is no exception.

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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