[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17295-17296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8362]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
49 CFR Parts 190-199
[Docket No. PS-139; Notice No. 1]
Improving the Pipeline Safety Program; Public Meetings and
Request for Comments Related to Regulatory Review and Customer Service
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Public meetings and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a nationwide series of three public
meetings during April and May to seek information from the public on
regulatory reform and improved customer service for RSPA's pipeline
safety program.
DATES: Meetings: Public meetings will be held as follows:
(1) April 25, 1995, in Dallas, Texas.
(2) April 27, 1995, in Lakewood, Colorado.
(3) May 15, 1995, in Houston, Texas.
Comments: This notice invites comments on both regulatory reform
and improved customer service. Participation in the meeting is not a
prerequisite for the submission of written comments. Please submit
comments before May 31, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Meetings: See Supplementary Information for specific times,
locations and agendas.
Comments: Please address written comments to the Dockets Unit,
Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Comments may also be faxed
to (202) 366-4566. Comments should identify the docket (Docket No. PS-
139). The Dockets Unit is located in room 8421 of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on public holidays
when the office is closed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, (202) 366-0918
regarding the subject matter of this notice; or the Dockets Unit (202)
366-4900; RSPA, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Any person wishing to speak should notify Jenny Donohue at (202)
366-4046 with an estimate of the time required for their statement.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 4, 1995, President Clinton issued a
memorandum to heads of departments and agencies calling for a review of
all agency regulations and elimination or revision of those that are
outdated or in need of reform. The President also directed that front
line regulators ``* * * get out of Washington and create grassroots
partnerships'' with people affected by agency regulations. RSPA is
reviewing the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) in
response to the President's directive.
On September 11, 1993, the President signed an Executive Order on
setting customer service standards. The Executive Order requires
continual reform of the executive branch's management practices and
operations to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the
best service available in the private sector. RSPA is seeking
information from customers of its pipeline safety program to determine
the kind and quality of services they want and their level of
satisfaction with existing services.
Conduct of Meetings
Meetings will be informal, intended to produce a dialogue between
agency personnel and those persons directly affected by the pipeline
safety programs, regulations and customer services. The meeting officer
reserves the right to limit time allocated to speakers, if necessary,
to ensure that all have an opportunity to speak. Other individuals will
have an opportunity to present their comments after scheduled speakers
complete their comments, subject to the approval of the presiding
officer. Conversely, meetings may conclude before the scheduled time if
all persons wishing to participate have been heard.
Meeting Schedule
The public meetings will be held as follows:
(1) April 25, 1995, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in Dallas, Texas,
at Loews Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX. 75207, in
the ``Emerald Room''. This meeting will be held concurrently with the
American Petroleum Institute's 46th Annual Pipeline Conference.
(2) April 27, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Lakewood,
Colorado, Denver Federal Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Building 25,
Lecture Hall A & B (first floor), Lakewood, CO.
(3) May 15, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Houston, Texas,
Sheraton Crown Hotel & Conference Center, 15700 John F. Kennedy
Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77032. [[Page 17296]]
Areas of Regulatory Concern
In calling on agencies to cut obsolete regulations, the President
directs each agency to consider the following issues in its review of
the regulations:
Is this regulation obsolete?
Could its intended goal be achieved in more efficient,
less intrusive ways?
Are there better private sector alternatives, such as
market mechanisms, that can better achieve the public good envisioned
by the regulation?
Could private business, setting its own standards and
being subject to public accountability, do the job as well?
Could the States or local governments do the job, making
Federal regulation unnecessary?
RSPA suggests that persons commenting on the pipeline safety
program consider these issues.
The President's call for regulatory reform provides opportunities
for eliminating or improving pipeline safety regulations. RSPA is
undertaking a page-by-page review of the Pipeline Safety Regulations
and is identifying certain sections of the regulations that are
candidates for elimination, revision, clarification or relaxation.
Improvements to Customer Service
RSPA is soliciting comments on the kind and quality of services its
customers want and their level of satisfaction with the services
currently provided by the pipeline safety program. RSPA will use the
comments to establish service standards and measure results against
them; provide customers with choices in both the sources of service and
the means of delivery; make information, services, and complaint
systems easily accessible; and provide the means to address customer
complaints. RSPA's current customer services include providing guidance
in understanding and complying with the Pipeline Safety Regulations and
processing exemptions, approvals, registrations, grant applications,
and enforcement actions. Other customer services include conduct of
pipeline safety seminars, and the development and dissemination of
training and informational materials.
Issued in Washington, DC on March 31, 1995.
Cesar De Leon,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-8362 Filed 4-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
