Improving the Pipeline Safety Program; Public Meetings and Request for Comments Related to Regulatory Review and Customer Service

Passage 1[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 17295-17296] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-8362] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Research and Special Programs Administration Improving the Pipeline Safety Program; Public Meetings and Request for Comments Related to Regulatory Review and Customer Service AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT. ACTION: Public meetings and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces a nationwide series of three public meetings during April and May to seek information from the public on regulatory reform and improved customer service for RSPA's pipeline safety program. DATES: Meetings: Public meetings will be held as follows: (1) April 25, 1995, in Dallas, Texas. (2) April 27, 1995, in Lakewood, Colorado. (3) May 15, 1995, in Houston, Texas. Comments: This notice invites comments on both regulatory reform and improved customer service. Participation in the meeting is not a prerequisite for the submission of written comments. Please submit comments before May 31, 1995. ADDRESSES: Meetings: See Supplementary Information for specific times, locations and agendas. Comments: Please address written comments to the Dockets Unit, Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments may also be faxed to (202) 366-4566. Comments should identify the docket (Docket No. PS- 139). The Dockets Unit is located in room 8421 of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on public holidays when the office is closed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, (202) 366-0918 regarding the subject matter of this notice; or the Dockets Unit (202) 366-4900; RSPA, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590- 0001. Any person wishing to speak should notify Jenny Donohue at (202) 366-4046 with an estimate of the time required for their statement.#

Passage 2SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 4, 1995, President Clinton issued a memorandum to heads of departments and agencies calling for a review of all agency regulations and elimination or revision of those that are outdated or in need of reform. The President also directed that front line regulators ``* * * get out of Washington and create grassroots partnerships'' with people affected by agency regulations. RSPA is reviewing the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) in response to the President's directive. On September 11, 1993, the President signed an Executive Order on setting customer service standards. The Executive Order requires continual reform of the executive branch's management practices and operations to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. RSPA is seeking information from customers of its pipeline safety program to determine the kind and quality of services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing services. Meetings will be informal, intended to produce a dialogue between agency personnel and those persons directly affected by the pipeline safety programs, regulations and customer services. The meeting officer reserves the right to limit time allocated to speakers, if necessary, to ensure that all have an opportunity to speak. Other individuals will have an opportunity to present their comments after scheduled speakers complete their comments, subject to the approval of the presiding officer. Conversely, meetings may conclude before the scheduled time if all persons wishing to participate have been heard. The public meetings will be held as follows: (1) April 25, 1995, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in Dallas, Texas, at Loews Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX. 75207, in the ``Emerald Room''. This meeting will be held concurrently with the American Petroleum Institute's 46th Annual Pipeline Conference. (2) April 27, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Lakewood, Colorado, Denver Federal Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Building 25, Lecture Hall A & B (first floor), Lakewood, CO. (3) May 15, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Houston, Texas, Sheraton Crown Hotel & Conference Center, 15700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77032. [[Page 17296]]#

Passage 3In calling on agencies to cut obsolete regulations, the President directs each agency to consider the following issues in its review of the regulations: Is this regulation obsolete? Could its intended goal be achieved in more efficient, less intrusive ways? Are there better private sector alternatives, such as market mechanisms, that can better achieve the public good envisioned by the regulation? Could private business, setting its own standards and being subject to public accountability, do the job as well? Could the States or local governments do the job, making Federal regulation unnecessary? RSPA suggests that persons commenting on the pipeline safety program consider these issues. The President's call for regulatory reform provides opportunities for eliminating or improving pipeline safety regulations. RSPA is undertaking a page-by-page review of the Pipeline Safety Regulations and is identifying certain sections of the regulations that are candidates for elimination, revision, clarification or relaxation. RSPA is soliciting comments on the kind and quality of services its customers want and their level of satisfaction with the services currently provided by the pipeline safety program. RSPA will use the comments to establish service standards and measure results against them; provide customers with choices in both the sources of service and the means of delivery; make information, services, and complaint systems easily accessible; and provide the means to address customer complaints. RSPA's current customer services include providing guidance in understanding and complying with the Pipeline Safety Regulations and processing exemptions, approvals, registrations, grant applications, and enforcement actions. Other customer services include conduct of pipeline safety seminars, and the development and dissemination of training and informational materials. Issued in Washington, DC on March 31, 1995. Cesar De Leon, Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 95-8362 Filed 4-4-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P#