98-34634. Pipeline Safety: One-Call Systems Study  

  • [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
    
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    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
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/31/1998
Department:
Research and Special Programs Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
98-34634
Dates:
The following meetings have been scheduled:
Pages:
72344-72345 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. RSPA-98-4029, Notice 2
PDF File:
98-34634.pdf