[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72344-72345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34634]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-98-4029; Notice 2]
Pipeline Safety: One-Call Systems Study
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA); Office of
Pipeline Safety (OPS), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces RSPA's current activities to collect
information and solicit public participation in a study of prevention
of damage to underground facilities. RSPA established the Damage
Prevention Best Practices Study Team. The Study Team consists of
representatives of government, public, and industries interested in
identifying best practices preventing damage to underground facilities.
RSPA has developed a Web-based information system to support
communication among Study Team participants. The One Call Systems Study
Information System (OCSS Information System) provides access to the
public for documents prepared by the Study Team. It also allows public
input on the issues addressed by the Team, or any other issues relevant
to underground damage prevention. The system also provides information
to the public on the various Study Team meetings being held around the
country until the conclusion of the study in June, 1999. All Study Team
meetings are open to the public. RSPA invites all interested
individuals to access the OCSS Information System, review information
regarding the Study Team, and provide the Study Team with comments and
any additional issues of concern relating to damage prevention best
practices. The OCSS Information System can be accessed through the OPS
Homepage at http://ops.dot.gov, under the ``Damage Prevention'' option.
DATES: The following meetings have been scheduled:
Planning and Design Practices Task Team
January 19-20, 1999--Orlando, FL
February 8-9, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
One-Call Center Practices Task Team
January 5-6, 1999--Dallas, TX
February, 9-10, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
Locating and Marking Practices Task Team
January 7-8, 1999--Dallas, TX
February 9, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
Excavation Practices Task Team
January 6-7, 1999--Baltimore, MD
February 6, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
Compliance Practices Task Team
January 6-8, 1999--Baltimore, MD
February 2-3, 1999--Orlando, FL
Mapping Task Team
January 11-13, 1999--Phoenix, AZ
February 10, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
April 13-14, 1999--Houston, TX
Reporting and Evaluation Practices Task Team
February 9, 1999--Las Vegas, NV
Public Education and Awareness Task Team
January 6-7, 1999--Baltimore, MD
February 17-18, 1999--Houston, TX
March 22-23, 1999--Dallas, TX
April 29-30, 1999--Atlanta, GA
Emerging Technologies Task Team
January 20-21, 1999--Raleigh, NC
February 17-18, 1999--Raleigh, NC
March 17-18, 1999--Raleigh, NC
April 21, 1999--TBD
Specific details regarding times and meeting places can be found on
the OCSS Information System. These meetings are subject to change.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Dockets Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20590-0001, or you can E-Mail your comments to
ops.comments@rspa.dot.gov. Comments should identify the docket number
RSPA-98-4029. Persons should submit the original comment document and
one copy. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their
comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. The Dockets
Facility is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building in Room
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC. The Dockets Facility is
open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, (202) 366-0918, or by
e-mail (eben.wyman@rspa.dot.gov), regarding the subject matter of this
notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
RSPA's Office of Pipeline Safety established a national
organizational framework and staffing plan to study underground
facility damage prevention practices, consistent with federal pipeline
safety laws. This study, scheduled to be completed in June, 1999, will
identify and evaluate current practices related to one-call
notification systems. It will identify those that are most effective in
protecting the public, excavators, and the environment and in
preventing disruptions and damage to public services and underground
facilities. Study Team participants represent a broad range of
utilities and distribution systems, highway departments, railroads,
excavators, municipal governments, trade associations and academia. The
Study Team is charged to meet, discuss, and develop a consensus report
that identifies practices used by one-call centers, excavators,
facility locators, and underground facility operators to prevent damage
to buried facilities.
OPS held a public meeting in August, 1998, to solicit participation
in this initiative. OPS met with the Study Team in Washington, DC on
September 20-21, 1998, to begin the process of identifying other Study
Team participants, and again on October 19-20, 1998, to confirm the
Study Team's structure and develop protocols for exchanging
information. Nine Task Teams have been established to provide input to
the
[[Page 72345]]
report. The Task Team focus areas include: Emerging Technologies,
Compliance Practices, Excavation Practices, Locating and Marking
Practices, Mapping Practices, One-Call Center Practices, Planning and
Design Practices, Public Education Practices, and Reporting and
Evaluation Practices. These Task Teams are meeting frequently over the
next few months to develop their content for the report.
All Task Teams have scheduled their respective meetings and have
begun identifying the best practices in their respective focus areas.
The Teams are coordinating information, receiving and disseminating
comments, and drafting the introductory and concluding chapters of the
report on damage prevention best practices. As mentioned before, all
Study Team meetings are open to the public and OPS invites public
attendance.
Information about team activities and specific meeting information
is available through the OPS Information System (OPSIS). OPSIS and the
OCSS Information System can be accessed through the OPS Homepage
(ops.dot.gov). Select the ``Damage Prevention'' and then the ``OPS
Damage Prevention Best Practices--Implementation of One-Call Systems
Study'' options.
OCSS Information System provisions
After accessing the OCSS Information System, the user is provided
with several options, including:
The ability to submit issues and concerns for
consideration by the Study Team;
Contact information for all Study Team members;
Information on scheduled meetings; and
Access to applicable documents. These include the ``TEA-
21'' one call provisions, protocols of the Study Team, meeting
summaries, and the current damage prevention practices identified to-
day by the Task Teams.
``Submit an Issue''
The OCSS Information System allows input concerning damage
prevention from interested parties outside of the team participants.
The ``submit an issue'' option provides the user the ability to submit
a detailed description of the problem or issue of concern, and allows
the user to suggest a solution or recommend a ``best practice'' to
address the problem or issue. The user may also recommend which Task
Team should address the issue further.
Individuals without access to the Internet may also submit an issue
to the Study Team through OPS. OPS will forward written issues to the
Team for consideration. These will subsequently be entered into the
OCSS Information System. Issue submissions should include the contact
information for the person submitting the issue. This includes the
person's name, organization, job title, E-mail address, phone number
(E-mail or phone required), mailing address, detailed description of
problem or issue and, if applicable, a recommended solution or ``best
practice''. Issues submitted outside of the OCSS Information System
should be sent in writing to Eben M. Wyman, Office of Pipeline Safety,
400 7th St., SW, Room 7128, Washington, DC 20590.
In order for RSPA to manage the considerable number of ``issues''
that may be submitted, the submitter's contact information is required.
Any information provided is for Study Team consideration and
evaluation. The Study Team will record the disposition of each issue
offered for consideration. Any information provided may appear in
Government reports and/or other public documents. Proprietary
information should not be provided.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 23, 1998.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-34634 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P