Pipeline Safety: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center

Portal detail 1Pipeline Safety: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin. PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind operators of gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of their obligation to report incidents in accordance with PHMSA's incident reporting requirements. This advisory bulletin addresses a safety recommendation that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued to PHMSA in response to a fatal incident that occurred on a gas distribution system in February 2018. Comment now on Regulations.gov Issued Date: Friday, February 20, 2026#

Attachment 1, passage 1Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2026 / Notices 8305 The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA–2014–0383, FMCSA– 2014–0384, FMCSA–2017–0058, FMCSA–2018–0136, FMCSA–2018– 0138, FMCSA–2020–0027, FMCSA– 2021–0014, FMCSA–2022–0032, FMCSA–2022–0035, FMCSA–2023– 0018, or FMCSA–2023–0020. Their exemptions were applicable as of July 30, 2025, and will expire on July 30, 2027. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), each exemption will be valid for 2 years from the effective date unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked if the following occurs: (1) the person fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained prior to being granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of Title 49 chapter 313 or section 31136. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2026–03357 Filed 2–19–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2010–0029] Amtrak’s Request To Amend Its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and Positive Train Control System AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that on February 9, 2026, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to one of its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA’s approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad’s RFA to its PTCSP. DATES: FRA will consider comments received by March 12, 2026. FRA may consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable and without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to a PTC system. ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments may be submitted by going to https:// www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and the applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for this host railroad is Docket No. FRA–2010–0029. For convenience, all active PTC dockets are hyperlinked on FRA’s website at https://railroads.dot.gov/research- development/program-areas/train- control/ptc/railroads-ptc-dockets. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gabe Neal, Staff Director, Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 816–516–7168, email: Gabe.Neal@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In general, title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) section 20157(h) requires FRA to certify that a host railroad’s PTC system complies with title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 236, subpart I, before the technology may be operated in revenue service. Before making certain changes to an FRA-certified PTC system or the associated FRA-approved PTCSP, a host railroad must submit, and obtain FRA’s approval of, an RFA to its PTCSP under 49 CFR 236.1021. Under 49 CFR 236.1021(e), FRA’s regulations provide that FRA will publish a notice in the Federal Register and invite public comment in accordance with 49 CFR part 211, if an RFA includes a request for approval of a material modification of a signal or train control system. Accordingly, this notice informs the public that, on February 9, 2026, Amtrak submitted an RFA to its PTCSP for its Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II), which seeks FRA’s approval for an update of new ACSES II hardware and software to support system reliability improvements. That RFA is available in Docket No. FRA–2010–0029. Interested parties are invited to comment on Amtrak’s RFA to its PTCSP by submitting written comments or data. During FRA’s review of this railroad’s RFA, FRA will consider any comments or data submitted within the timeline specified in this notice and to the extent practicable, without delaying implementation of valuable or necessary modifications to a PTC system. See 49 CFR 236.1021; see also 49 CFR 236.1011(e). Under 49 CFR 236.1021, FRA maintains the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny a railroad’s RFA to its PTCSP at FRA’s sole discretion. Privacy Act Notice In accordance with 49 CFR 211.3, FRA solicits comments from the public to better inform its decisions. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to https:// www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See https://www.regulations.gov/ privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. To facilitate comment tracking, we encourage commenters to provide their name, or the name of their organization; however, submission of names is completely optional. If you wish to provide comments containing proprietary or confidential information, please contact FRA for alternate submission instructions. Issued in Washington, DC. Carolyn R. Hayward-Williams, Director, Office of Railroad Systems and Technology. [FR Doc. 2026–03377 Filed 2–19–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–2026–0496] Pipeline Safety: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin. SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind operators of gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of their obligation to report incidents in accordance with PHMSA’s incident reporting requirements. This advisory bulletin addresses a safety recommendation that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued to PHMSA in response to a fatal incident that occurred on a gas distribution system in February 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy White by phone at 202–923–8268 or by email at Nancy.White1@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 23, 2018, an incident occurred VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:37 Feb 19, 2026 Jkt 268001 PO 00000 Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM 20FEN1#

Attachment 1, passage 2lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 8306 Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2026 / Notices on a gas distribution system in Dallas, Texas, resulting in one fatality, injuring four other people, and causing major structural damage to a residence. Two separate incidents occurred two days earlier at nearby residences served by the same gas distribution system, resulting in second-degree burns to an occupant and causing significant structural damage to the residences.1 The operator did not provide an immediate notification to the National Response Center (NRC) of either incident as required by 49 CFR 191.5 or file a written incident report with PHMSA,2 asserting there was no evidence at the time that a release of natural gas from its distribution system was involved.3 NTSB conducted an investigation and determined that the probable cause of the February 23, 2018 incident was: . . . the ignition of an accumulation of natural gas that leaked from the gas main that was damaged during a sewer replacement project 23 years earlier and was undetected by [the gas distribution operator’s] investigation of two related natural gas incidents on the 2 days before the explosion. Contributing to the explosion was [the gas distribution operator’s] insufficient wet weather leak investigation procedures. Contributing to the severity of the explosion was [the gas distribution operator’s] inaction to isolate the affected main and evacuate the houses. Contributing to the degradation of the pipeline system was [the gas distribution operator’s] inadequate integrity management program.4 NTSB also issued Safety Recommendation P—21–1 to PHMSA, advising the Agency to ‘‘[e]xpand incident reporting requirements in [49 CFR] Part 191 so that events that may meet the definition of ‘incident’ are immediately reported to [NRC,] even when the source of the natural gas has not been determined.’’ 5 NTSB’s Accident Report also lists industry guidance factors that pipeline operators can use to determine whether an event could be a reportable incident, such as a rupture or explosion, fire, loss of service, evacuation of people in the area, involvement of local emergency response personnel, and degree of media involvement (ANSI/GPTC 2018).6 PHMSA’s regulations in 49 CFR part 191 require operators of gas pipelines, UNGS facilities, and LNG facilities to notify the NRC of an incident at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one hour after confirmed discovery.7 An ‘‘incident’’ is defined in § 191.3 as any of the following events: (1.) An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline, gas from a UNGS facility, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, refrigerant gas, or gas from an LNG facility, and that results in one or more of the following consequences: (i) A death, or personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization; (ii) Estimated property damage of [$149,700] or more, including loss to the operator or others, or both, but excluding the cost of gas lost,8 [or] (iii) Unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more. (2.) An event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility or a UNGS facility.9 (3.) An event that is significant in the judgment of the operator, even though it did not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition. For purposes of the incident reporting requirements, ‘‘confirmed discovery’’ of an event occurs ‘‘when it can be reasonably determined, based on information available to the operator at the time a reportable event has occurred, even if only based on a preliminary evaluation.’’ 10 Operators are required to file additional telephonic or electronic reports to NRC to confirm or revise the initial estimates of the number of fatalities or injuries, amount of product released, or extent of damages.11 This may include filing an updated NRC report for a previously reported event that an operator subsequently determines did not meet the regulatory reporting thresholds. PHMSA’s incident reporting requirements play a critical role in ensuring public safety. Federal, state, and local agencies need to be aware of incidents ‘‘at the earliest practicable moment so that emergency personnel or investigators can be dispatched quickly to mitigate the consequences of such an event.’’ 12 Incident reporting also provides PHMSA and states with a means to identify safety issues, implement preventative measures to mitigate safety risks, analyze trends, and enhance pipeline safety across the Nation. PHMSA and its predecessor agency, the Research and Special Programs Administration, have issued numerous alerts and advisory bulletins emphasizing the importance of complying with the incident reporting requirements in Part 191, and providing complete and accurate information during emergencies.13 PHMSA continues to remind operators of gas pipelines, UNGS facilities, and LNG facilities of the requirement to report incidents to NRC at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one hour after confirmed discovery. Guidance and advisory bulletins are not rules; are not meant to bind the public in any way; and do not assign duties, create legally enforceable rights, or impose new obligations that are not otherwise contained in regulations. I. Advisory Bulletin (ADB–2026–04) To: Owners and Operators of Gas Pipelines, Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities, and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities. Subject: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center. Advisory: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to inform owners and operators of gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of the findings and safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in response to a natural gas distribution incident that occurred in Dallas, Texas on February 23, 2018, and to remind operators of their obligation under 49 CFR part 191 to notify the National Response Center (NRC) of 1 NTSB, Accident Report PAR–21/01, Atmos Energy Corporation Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion: Dallas, Texas: February 23, 2018, at 1 (Jan. 12, 2021) (NTSB/PAR–21/01), available at: https:// www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/ Reports/PAR2101.pdf. 2 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 61. Atmos provided a courtesy email to the state regulator following the second explosion on the evening of February 22, 2018, but did not provide official notification or file a formal incident report. 3 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 4, 61. 4 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 71. 5 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 72. 6 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 61, 62. 7 49 CFR 191.5(a). 8 The dollar figure adjusts for inflation for 2025. Changes to the reporting threshold are posted on PHMSA’s website and determined in accordance with the procedures in appendix A to Part 191. See https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/ files/2025-04/2025-Gas-Property-Damage- Reporting-Threshold-Inflation-Adjustment.pdf. 9 ‘‘Activation of an emergency shutdown system for reasons other than an actual emergency within the facility does not constitute an incident.’’ 49 CFR 191.3. 10 49 CFR 191.3. 11 49 CFR 191.5. 12 PHMSA, Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes, 82 FR 7972, 7978 (Jan. 23, 2017). 13 E.g., ALN–91–01, Reemphasize each pipeline operator’s responsibility to report promptly; criteria specified in 49 CFR 191.5/195.52. (Apr. 15, 1991); ADB–02–04, Pipeline Safety: Required Notification of National Response Center (Sep. 6, 2002); ADB– 10–08, Emergency Preparedness Communications (Nov. 3, 2010); ADB–2012–09 Communications During Emergency Situations (Oct. 11, 2012); ADB– 2013–01, Pipeline Safety: Telephonic Notification Time Limit to NRC (Jan. 30, 2013). 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Attachment 1, passage 3Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2026 / Notices 8307 incidents at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one hour after confirmed discovery. For purposes of the incident reporting requirements in Part 191, confirmed discovery occurs ‘‘when it can be reasonably determined, based on information available to the operator at the time a reportable event has occurred, even if only based on a preliminary evaluation.’’ 14 PHMSA’s incident reporting regulations are intended to ensure that Federal, state, and local agencies are alerted to incidents ‘‘at the earliest practicable moment so that emergency personnel or investigators can be dispatched quickly to [help] mitigate the consequence of such an event.’’ 15 Operators are reminded that the regulations require reporting of events that are significant in the judgement of the operators even if they do not meet criteria specified in the regulations.16 Operators are also reminded that the regulations require immediate notification to the NRC of potential incidents based on available information, even if only a preliminary evaluation has been conducted.17 Gas pipeline operators should also note that the ‘‘[e]stimated property damage of $[149,700] or more’’ requirement under § 191.3 does not include cost of gas lost but does encompass certain ancillary costs associated with the natural gas release event. PHMSA notes that NTSB’s Accident Report identifies factors that pipeline operators can use to determine whether an incident might be reportable. Those factors include rupture or explosion; fire; loss of service; evacuation of people in the area; involvement of local emergency response personnel; and degree of media involvement.18 NTSB’s Accident Report further identifies that several of these factors (explosion, fire, local emergency response, and media involvement) occurred during the two nearby incidents that preceded the February 23, 2018 incident yet these incidents went unreported by the gas distribution operator.19 PHMSA agrees with NTSB that timely incident reporting ‘‘can make the difference between life and death’’ and ‘‘provides appropriate stakeholders with the information they need to perform their incident response functions which support the identification, analysis, and evaluation of pipeline safety problems, and facilitate[s] the development of practical solutions to pipeline safety challenges.’’ 20 It is imperative for an effective emergency response to ensure that all information concerning a gas pipeline, UNGS facility, or LNG facility’s reportable incident is identified, considered, evaluated, and integrated with other known system information.21 For these reasons, PHMSA reminds operators that Federal pipeline safety regulations require operators to notify NRC at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one hour after confirmed discovery, of a reportable incident that involves a release from a gas pipeline, UNGS facility, or LNG facility, even if only based on a preliminary evaluation. PHMSA notes that the contents of this advisory bulletin do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind operators nor the public in any way. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2026, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.97. Linda Daugherty, Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 2026–03361 Filed 2–19–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Agency Information Collection Activities: Information Collection Renewal; Comment Request; Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury. ACTION: Notice and request for comment. SUMMARY: The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 14 49 CFR 191.3. 15 Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes, 82 FR 7972, 7978 (Jan. 23, 2017). 16 See 49 CFR 191.3. 17 See 49 CFR 191.3. 18 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 61–62. 19 NTSB/PAR–21/01 at 62. 20 NTSB, PAR–21/01 at 60. 21 See 49 CFR 192.615(a)(3) and 192.631(a)(2); see also PHMSA, Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes, 82 FR 7972 (Jan. 23, 2017). (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning the renewal of its information collection titled, ‘‘Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions.’’ DATES: Comments must be received by April 21, 2026. ADDRESSES: Commenters are encouraged to submit comments by email, if possible. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov. • Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office, Attention: Comment Processing, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Attention: 1557–0142, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Fax: (571) 293–4835. Instructions: You must include ‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘1557– 0142’’ in your comment. In general, the OCC will publish comments on www.reginfo.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided, such as name and address information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. Following the close of this notice’s 60-day comment period, the OCC will publish a second notice with a 30-day comment period. You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to this information collection beginning on the date of publication of the second notice for this collection by the method set forth in the next bullet. • Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to www.reginfo.gov. Hover over the ‘‘Information Collection Review’’ tab and click on ‘‘Information Collection Review’’ from the drop-down menu. From the ‘‘Currently under Review’’ drop-down menu, select ‘‘Department of the Treasury’’ and then click ‘‘submit.’’ This information collection can be located by searching OMB control number ‘‘1557–0142’’ or ‘‘Recordkeeping Requirements for Securities Transactions.’’ Upon finding the appropriate information collection, click on the related ‘‘ICR Reference Number.’’ On the next screen, select ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ and then click on the link to any comment listed at the bottom of the screen. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:37 Feb 19, 2026 Jkt 268001 PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM 20FEN1#