[DOCKET NO. PHMSA-2017-0094]
Section 19 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-183) requires PHMSA to expand the definition of an Ecological resource USA (as defined in 49 CFR 195.6(b)) to include the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and marine coastal waters. All USAs are treated as high consequence areas (HCAs) for liquid pipelines, which are subject to stricter safety and maintenance standards (such as 49 CFR 195.452). To address this mandate, PHMSA must define and map these areas.
PHMSA will host a one-day public meeting in the Washington, D.C. area on November 17, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, to discuss applicable definitions and available geospatial information system (GIS) data sources for marine coastal waters, coastal beaches and the Great Lakes, pertaining to Coastal Ecological Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA). The Coastal Ecological USA public meeting will include discussions from government and industry stakeholders on proposed definition, available GIS data sources, and how Coastal Ecological USA protect the public and environment through integrity management planning. The meeting will also include facilitated discussions with meeting participants and experts to understand additional perspectives on proposed definitions and recommended GIS data sources. Stakeholder feedback may inform future policy efforts impacting the definition of a Coastal Ecological USA.
Members of the public who wish to attend in person are asked to register on the PHMSA Meetings website no later than November 7, 2017, to facilitate entry and guarantee seating. Members of the public who attend in person will also be provided an opportunity to make a statement during the meeting. The meeting will be held at a location yet to be determined in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. The meeting location, agenda and any additional information will be published once they are finalized on the following public meeting registration page.
The meeting will not be webcast; however, a conference call number and presentation slides will be available to remote participants, and any documents presented will be available on the meeting website and posted on the E-Gov Website in docket number PHMSA-2017-0094 within 30 days following the meeting. For information about the meeting, contact Leigha Gooding by phone at 202-366-0667 or by email.