Pipeline Leak Detection, Leak Repair and Methane Emission Reductions Public Meeting

This is a virtual meeting. There is no option to attend in person. The meeting will be recorded and will be available on this page after the meeting. Participation is limited to 1,000 attendees. Attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants may login to the meeting 30 minutes before the start time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meeting Recordings:

PHMSA plans to host a two-day virtual Pipeline Leak Detection, Leak Repair and Methane Emission Reductions public meeting on May 5-6, 2021. The purpose of this meeting is to engage stakeholders on gas pipeline leak detection and repair issues as an important step in fulfilling the requirements of Sections 113 and 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020 ("Act"). During the meeting, stakeholders—including environmental and public safety groups, Federal and state governments, and the pipeline industry—will have the opportunity to share perspectives on improving gas pipeline leak detection and repair. Topics discussed will include the scope of the current problem, as well as advanced technologies and practices to address methane emissions from natural gas pipeline systems.

Meeting Recordings:

May 6, 2021 Afternoon - https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/pn9fsomv7zjc/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The PIPES Act of 2020, Section 113, mandates that the Secretary promulgate a final rule pertaining to gas pipeline leak detection and repair by December 27, 2021, which is one year from the enactment of the law. In addition, Section 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020 requires pipeline operators to revise their inspection and maintenance plans to contribute to eliminating hazardous leaks and minimizing releases of natural gas from pipeline facilities and requires PHMSA and its state partners to inspect these plans. Section 114 also mandates that PHMSA conduct a study and provide a report to Congress discussing best available technologies or practices for preventing or minimizing the release of natural gas by June 27, 2022.

This public meeting will support PHMSA's engagement with pipeline safety stakeholders on gas pipeline leak detection and repair. Moreover, the meeting will also support the Administration's goals for tackling climate change to ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions from pipelines. The information and perspectives gained will support effective and efficient implementation of Sections 113 and 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020.

The leak detection and repair public meeting will occur on May 5-6, 2021. Members of the public who want to participate in the virtual meeting are asked to register no later than April 30, 2021. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language interpretation or other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA no later than April 26, 2021. For additional information, please see the attached notice. Individuals who are interested in submitting comments on the subject of the public meeting must do so by May 24, 2021.

This meeting will be held virtually. The meeting agenda and instructions on how to attend virtually will be published once they are finalized on the public meeting registration page at: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=152. Presentations will be available on the meeting website and on the E-gov website, https://regulations.gov, under docket number PHMSA-2021-0039, no later than 30 days following the meeting. You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039, by any of the following methods:

• E-Gov Web: http://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12—140, Washington, D.C. 20590—0001.
• Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: 202-493-2251.
• Instructions: Identify the Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039, at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, please submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, you must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at: http://www.regulations.gov.
• Note: All comments received are posted without edits to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
• Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL—14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.
• Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) — 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to provide confidential treatment to information you give to the agency by taking the following steps: (1) mark each page of the original document submission containing CBI as "Confidential;" (2) send PHMSA a copy of the original document with the CBI deleted along with the original, unaltered document; and (3) explain why the information you are submitting is CBI. Unless you are notified otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the Freedom of Information Act and only the redacted version will be placed in the public docket of this notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Sayler Palabrica, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, DOT: PHMSA — PHP-30, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
• Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. Alternatively, you may review the documents in person at the street address listed above.