[Federal Register: July 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 148)]
[Notices]               
[Page 44800]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31jy08-97]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-RSPA-1997-2426]

 
Pipeline Safety: National Pipeline Mapping System

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: This document advises gas transmission pipeline operators, 
hazardous liquid pipeline operators, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
plant operators of voluntary changes pertaining to submittal dates and 
Operator ID numbers for National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) 
submissions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Nelson by phone at (202) 493-0591 
or by e-mail at amy.nelson@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires gas 
transmission pipeline operators, hazardous liquid pipeline operators, 
and LNG plant operators to submit data to NPMS. Currently, operators 
submit their data annually, within one year of the last submission 
date. PHMSA is attempting to simplify NPMS's reporting process and to 
improve PHMSA's ability to accurately describe an operator's assets 
internally and to Congress.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-08-07)

    To: Operators of Gas Transmission Pipelines, Hazardous Liquid 
Pipelines and LNG Plant Operators.
    Subject: NPMS Submissions.
    Purpose: To advise operators of voluntary changes to their NPMS 
submissions.
    Advisory: Beginning on January 1, 2009, PHMSA is requesting that 
operators submit their NPMS data concurrently with hazardous liquid and 
gas transmission annual report submissions. Annual reports are due on 
March 15 each year for gas transmission operators and on June 15 for 
hazardous liquid operators. PHMSA suggests that beginning on January 1, 
2009, gas transmission NPMS submissions be submitted by March 15, 2009, 
and represent the pipeline operator assets as of December 31, 2008. LNG 
plant operators would also submit to NPMS by March 15, 2009, 
representing assets as of December 31, 2008. Hazardous liquid annual 
reports and NPMS submissions would both be submitted by June 15, 2009, 
representing assets as of December 31, 2008. In 2010 and beyond, the 
annual report and NPMS submission due dates would remain March 15 for 
gas transmission and LNG plants and June 15 for hazardous liquid 
pipelines. NPMS submissions would represent physical assets as of 
December 31 of the previous year.
    Submitting annual reports and NPMS data at the same time will 
alleviate the need for pipeline operators to track their last NPMS 
submission and may decrease the receipt of notices from PHMSA that data 
has not been submitted.
    PHMSA also suggests that Operator ID numbers (internal DOT numbers 
assigned by PHMSA to the operator for specific assets) in annual report 
submissions match the same assets described in NPMS submissions. 
Operators who choose to follow this guidance will use the same Operator 
ID number to describe a pipeline or LNG asset in both the annual report 
and NPMS submission beginning with their 2009 submissions. This does 
not apply to pipeline operators who have requested and been assigned 
only one Operator ID number. Synchronizing the Operator ID numbers will 
alleviate confusion in identifying operator assets and improve PHMSA's 
ability to accurately describe the pipeline operated by a specific 
pipeline operator. The ability to accurately identify and track 
operator physical assets is beneficial to PHMSA, pipeline operators, 
and all stakeholders who utilize our data, and ultimately helps promote 
pipeline safety.
    Pipeline operators whose NPMS submission due date would normally 
fall between October 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008, and who choose to 
align their submission dates with annual report due dates, may wait to 
submit their 2008 data capture until their new submission dates (either 
March 15, 2009 or June 15, 2009). As stated above, NPMS submissions 
will reflect the state of the assets on December 31, 2008.
    The NPMS processing department encourages operators to submit data 
prior to the suggested deadlines. Submitting early will speed 
submission processing and provide time for the processing department to 
notify operators if a submission is incomplete. Submissions for the 
December 31, 2008, data capture will be accepted starting January 2, 
2009. If operators have no change since their previous NPMS submission, 
they may continue to send an e-mail to npms-nr@mbakercorp.com or use 
the ``Update your submission online'' tool on the NPMS Web site (http:/
/www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov) in lieu of making a submission.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 24, 2008.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E8-17532 Filed 7-30-08; 8:45 am]

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