2137-0596_2010Renewal_Supporting_Statement_1_18_20101

Department of Transportation

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Supporting Statement

“National Pipeline Mapping Program,”

Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0246

INTRODUCTION

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requests Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the renewal of current information collection 2137-0596 entitled “National Pipeline Mapping Program.” The existing authorization to collect mapping information under this OMB Control No. is expiring on December 31, 2010. This is a request for renewal with no change.

Part A. Justification

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). Each operator is required to submit geospatial data appropriate for use in the National Pipeline Mapping System or data in a format that can be readily converted to geospatial data; the name and address of the person with primary operational control (to be known as its operator), and a means for a member of the public to contact the operator for additional information about the pipeline facilities it operates.

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 to PHMSA via the National Pipeline Mapping System National Repository. PHMSA accepts submissions via several techniques that include: ArcInfo, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Smallworld, or Generic (ASCII). Submissions can be made via the NPMS website, ESRI shapefile, or Microsoft Excel files.

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. Efforts to minimize the effects on small business.

PHMSA expects impacted operators to be large and small businesses and therefore the requirement may impact small businesses.¹ In an effort to minimize the burden on small businesses, PHMSA allows for the submission of data in a variety of methods. PHMSA works with any entity, including small businesses, that may have a problem submitting data to help them find the best way to submit the requested information in an acceptable format.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information.

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.

No special circumstances apply with this regulation.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8.

A notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on September 1, 2010 under Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0246 (75 FR 53733) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. The comment period closed on November 1, 2010. No comments were received for this information collection.

A notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2010 under Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0246 (75 FR 69520) inviting public comment on the renewal of this information collection. The comment period closed on December 12, 2010. No comments were received.

9. Payments or gifts to respondents.

The disbursement of payment and gifts is not applicable to this information collection.

10. Assurance of confidentiality.

The assurance of confidentiality is not applicable to this information collection.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information.

No sensitive information will be collected.

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested.

PHMSA estimates that this information collection affects a community of 894 operators who are currently submitting mapping information. 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 approximately 2 minutes to update PHMSA regarding each mile of pipeline.

The total hours for all updates would be 420,117 miles x approximately 2 minutes = 840,234 minutes / 60 minutes per hour =). 16,312 hours.

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 information collection is estimated to be $1,056,202 (= 16,312 hours x $64.75).

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents.

PHMSA does not anticipate any costs other than those detailed in question number 12.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal Government.

PHMSA does not anticipate additional costs in regard to its review of the map updates submitted as a result of this information collection.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments.

PHMSA is not making any changes or adjustments to this information collection.

16. Publication of results of data collection.

PHMSA opened the online pipeline map data to the public in October, 2007 and the information may be viewed by the public at https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/PublicViewer/. As a security precaution there are access restrictions to the website including limiting user ability to “zoom-in” and restricting viewers to a single county per log-in session.

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

PHMSA is not requesting approval to not display the OMB approval 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.

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.

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