[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3215]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
49 CFR Part 195
[Docket RSPA-99-6355; Amdt. 195-70]
RIN 2137-AD45
Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High
Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators With 500 or More Miles of
Pipelines)
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), Department
of Transportation.
ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, titled ``Regulatory
Review Plan,'' published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2001,
this action temporarily delays for 60 days the effective date of the
rule titled ``Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High
Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators with 500 or More Miles of
Pipelines),'' published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2000, 65
FR 75378. That rule requires operators of hazardous liquid pipelines to
establish and implement plans to assess the integrity of pipeline in
areas in which a failure could impact certain populated and
environmentally sensitive areas.
DATES: The effective date of the final rule is delayed for 60 days,
from March 31, 2001, to a new effective date of May 29, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni, (202) 366-4571, or by e-
mail: [email protected], regarding the subject matter of this
final rule, or the Dockets Facility for copies of this final rule or
other material in the docket. All materials in this docket may be
accessed electronically at http://dms.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To the extent that 5 U.S.C. section 553
applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it
constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(A).
Alternatively, the RSPA's implementation of this action without
opportunity for public comment, effective immediately upon publication
today in the Federal Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in
5 U.S.C. section 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3). Seeking public comment is
impracticable, unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The
temporary 60-day delay in effective date is necessary to give
Department officials the opportunity for further review and
consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Assistant to the
President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given the imminence of the
effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay
would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest
in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations. The
imminence of the effective date is also good cause for making this
action effective immediately upon publication.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 31, 2001.
Edward A. Brigham,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-3215 Filed 2-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P