Areas Unusually Sensitive to Environmental Damage

Passage 1[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 29, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 44823-44824] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-21426] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 49 CFR Part 195 Areas Unusually Sensitive to Environmental Damage AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: RSPA invites industry, State and local government representatives, and the public to a second workshop on unusually sensitive environmental areas. The workshop's purpose is to openly discuss the process for determining areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage from a hazardous liquid pipeline release. This workshop is a continuation of the June 15-16, 1995 workshop on unusually sensitive environmental areas. DATES: The workshop will be held on October 17, 1995 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Persons who want to participate in the workshop should call (703) 218-1449 or e-mail their name, affiliation, and phone number to [email protected] before close of business October 2, 1995. The workshop is open to all interested persons, but RSPA may limit participation because of space considerations and the need to obtain a spectrum of views. Callers will be notified if participation is not open. Persons who are unable to attend may submit written comments in duplicate by November 27, 1995. Interested persons should submit as part of their written comments all material that is relevant to a statement of fact or argument. Late filed comments will be considered so far as practicable.#

Passage 2ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., room 9230-34, Washington, DC. Non-federal employee visitors are admitted into the DOT headquarters building through the southwest entrance at Seventh and E Streets, SW. Send written comments in duplicate to the Dockets Unit, Room 8421, Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Identify the docket and notice numbers stated in the heading of this notice. All comments and docketed materials will be available for inspection and copying in room 8421 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each business day. A summary of the workshop will be available from the Dockets Unit about three weeks after the workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Sames, (202) 366-4561, about this document, or the Dockets Unit, (202) 366-5046, for copies of this document or other material in the docket.#

Passage 3SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60109 requires the Secretary of Transportation to: consult with the Environmental Protection Agency and describe areas that are unusually sensitive to environmental damage if there is a hazardous liquid pipeline accident, and establish criteria for identifying each hazardous liquid pipeline facility and gathering line, whether otherwise subject to regulation, located in an area unusually sensitive to environmental damage in the event of a pipeline accident. Consistent with the President's regulatory policy (E.O. 12866), RSPA wants to accomplish this congressional mandate at the least cost to society. Toward this end, RSPA is seeking early public participation in the rulemaking process by holding public workshops at which participants, including RSPA staff, may exchange views on relevant issues. RSPA hopes these workshops will enable government and industry to reach a better understanding of the problem and the potential solutions before proposed rules are issued. (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601) On June 15 and 16, 1995, RSPA held a public workshop to openly discuss the criteria being considered to determine areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage from a hazardous liquid pipeline release (60 FR 27948, May 26, 1995). Participants included representatives from the hazardous liquid pipeline industry; the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Transportation, and Commerce; the Environmental Protection Agency; non-government agencies; and the public. Participants at the workshop requested that additional workshops be held to further discuss this complex topic. On October 17, 1995, RSPA will hold a second workshop on areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage from a hazardous liquid pipeline release. The second workshop will focus on developing a process that can be used to determine if an area is unusually sensitive to environmental damage and if an operator has pipeline facilities located within that area. Persons interested in receiving a transcript of the first workshop, material presented at the first workshop, or comments submitted on the material presented in the first public workshop notice (60 FR 27948, May 26, 1995) should contact the Dockets Unit at (202) 366-5046 and reference docket PS-140.#

Passage 4Issued in Washington, DC on August 24, 1995. Richard B. Felder, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 95-21426 Filed 8-28-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P#