2137-0598_Supporting.Statement2010

Department of Transportation

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Supporting Statement

Pipeline Safety: Incorporation by Reference of Industry Standard on Leak Detection

OMB Control No. 2137-0598

INTRODUCTION

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requests approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal without change for a currently approved collection entitled “Incorporation by Reference of Industry Standard on Leak Detection”. The current expiration date for this information collection is October 31, 2010.

Part A. Justification

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary:

Sections 195.134 and 195.444 of the Federal pipeline safety regulations require operators of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities installing new computational pipeline monitoring (CPM) leak detection systems or replacing components of existing CPM systems to comply with the American Petroleum Institute's recommended practice API 1130 "Computational Pipeline Monitoring for Liquid Pipelines" (API 1130). API 1130 provides information collection and maintenance guidance on many factors such as measurement capabilities, communications reliability, pipeline operating condition, and product type. PHMSA reviews this information during pipeline inspections. The information supports the pipeline inspection and improves pipeline safety by providing early detection of a pipeline leak.

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

The information will be used by operators, PHMSA and State agencies to ensure the integrity of computational pipeline monitoring systems. Computational Pipeline Monitoring (CPM) systems use an algorithmic approach to detect hydraulic anomalies in pipeline operating parameters. PHMSA does not require these systems. However, if theses systems are used, the operators must maintain system records in accordance with the specified requirements.

3. Extent of automated information collection:

By nature these systems are fully automated.

4. Efforts to identify duplication:

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

5. Efforts to minimize the burden on small businesses.

The use of these systems is at the discretion of the operator.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information.

Less frequent collection of this information would render PHMSA unable to appropriately and properly assess the effectiveness of the CPM system. As a result, the safety and economic viability of the U.S. pipeline system could be compromised.

7. Special circumstances:

There are no special circumstances affecting the conduct of this information collection activity.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8.

A 60-day notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2010 (75 FR 40863) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. No comments were received.

A 30-day notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on July 23, 2010 (75 FR 58014) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. The comment period closes on October 25, 2010.

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.

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.

Number of Respondents:

50, which is the number of pipeline operators currently using computational Pipeline Monitoring Systems.

Number of Responses:

50. Each operator maintains one system of records.

Number of Annual Burden Hours:

100. The number of annual burden hours was calculated as follows:

PHMSA estimates that there are 50 operators in the U.S. using CPM systems. It takes approximately 2 hours of an engineer’s time to record and prepare the test results for an industry total of 100 hours (50 x 2 hours = 100 hours).

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, totaling $6,475.00 (64.75*100 hours).

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government:

There will be no additional costs to the Federal government.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments:

There are no program changes or adjustments.

16. Publication of results of data collection.

PHMSA does not have plans to collect or display this information. The recordkeeping supports individual systems.

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

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

18. Exceptions to certification statement:

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

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.