[Federal Register: April 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 70)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 17086-17089]
[DOCID:fr14ap09-6]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 70

[EPA-R07-OAR-2008-0793; FRL-8791-6]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Operating
Permits Program; State of Missouri

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the
State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program to amend
the definitions provisions of the rules by adding definitions for stage
I/II vapor recovery systems and outstate area, updating the lists of
volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants for consistency
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists, removing
unnecessary definitions, and making typographical corrections and
clarifications. Approval of this revision will ensure consistency
between the state and the Federally-approved rules.

DATES: This direct final rule will be effective June 15, 2009, without
further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by May 14, 2009. If
adverse comment is received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of
the direct final rule in the Federal Register informing the public that
the rule will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R07-
OAR-2008-0793, by one of the following methods:
    1. http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for
submitting comments.
    2. E-mail<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    3. Mail or Hand Delivery: Amy Bhesania, Environmental Protection
Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 901 North 5th Street,
Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-R07-OAR-
2008-0793. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit through http://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail information that you consider to be CBI
or otherwise protected. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is an
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to

technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically in http://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Environmental Protection
Agency, Air Planning and Development Branch, 901 North 5th Street,
Kansas City, Kansas 66101. The Regional Office's official hours of
business are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding
Federal holidays.
    The interested persons wanting to examine these documents should
make an appointment with the office at least 24 hours in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Bhesania at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or by
e-mail at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' or
``our'' refer to EPA. This section provides additional information by
addressing the following questions:

What is a SIP?
What is the Federal approval process for a SIP?
What does Federal approval of a state regulation mean to me?
What is the Part 70 Operating Permits Program?
What is the Federal approval process for an Operating Permits
Program?
What is being addressed in this document?
Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision and a Part 70
revision been met?
What action is EPA taking?

What is a SIP?

    Section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states to develop
air pollution regulations and control strategies to ensure that state
air quality meets the national ambient air quality standards
established by EPA. These ambient standards are established under
section 109 of the CAA, and they currently address six criteria
pollutants. These pollutants are: Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
ozone, lead, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.
    Each state must submit these regulations and control strategies to
us for approval and incorporation into the Federally-enforceable SIP.
    Each Federally-approved SIP protects air quality primarily by
addressing air pollution at its point of origin. These SIPs can be
extensive, containing state regulations or other enforceable documents
and supporting information such as emission inventories, monitoring
networks, and modeling demonstrations.

What is the Federal approval process for a SIP?

    In order for state regulations to be incorporated into the
Federally-enforceable SIP, states must formally adopt the regulations
and control strategies consistent with state and Federal requirements.
This process generally includes a public notice, public hearing, public
comment period, and a formal adoption by a state-authorized rulemaking
body.
    Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the
state submits it to us for inclusion into the SIP. We must provide
public notice and seek additional public comment regarding the proposed
Federal action on the state submission. If adverse comments are
received, they must be addressed prior to any final Federal action by
us.
    All state regulations and supporting information approved by EPA
under section 110 of the CAA are incorporated into the Federally-
approved SIP. Records of such SIP actions are maintained in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at title 40, part 52, entitled ``Approval and
Promulgation of Implementation Plans.'' The actual state regulations
which are approved are not reproduced in their entirety in the CFR
outright but are ``incorporated by reference,'' which means that we
have approved a given state regulation with a specific effective date.

What does Federal approval of a state regulation mean to me?

    Enforcement of the state regulation before and after it is
incorporated into the Federally-approved SIP is primarily a state
responsibility. However, after the regulation is Federally approved, we
are authorized to take enforcement action against violators. Citizens
are also offered legal recourse to address violations as described in
section 304 of the CAA.

What is the Part 70 Operating Permits Program?

    The CAA amendments of 1990 require all states to develop operating
permits programs that meet certain Federal criteria. In implementing
this program, the states are to require certain sources of air
pollution to obtain permits that contain all applicable requirements
under the CAA. One purpose of the part 70 operating permits program is
to improve enforcement by issuing each source a single permit that
consolidates all of the applicable CAA requirements into a Federally-
enforceable document. By consolidating all of the applicable
requirements for a facility into one document, the source, the public,
and the permitting authorities can more easily determine what CAA
requirements apply and how compliance with those requirements is
determined.
    Sources required to obtain an operating permit under this program
include ``major'' sources of air pollution and certain other sources
specified in the CAA or in our implementing regulations. For example,
all source regulated under the acid rain program, regardless of size,
must obtain permits. Examples of major sources include those that emit
100 tons per year or more of volatile organic compounds, carbon
monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide or PM10;
those that emit 10 tons per year of any single hazardous air pollutant
(HAP) (specifically listed under the CAA); or those that emit 25 tons
per year or more of a combination of HAPs.
    Revisions to the state operating permits program are also subject
to public notice, comment and our approval.

What is the Federal approval process for an Operating Permits Program?

    In order for state regulations to be incorporated into the
Federally enforceable Title V operating permits program, states must
formally adopt regulations consistent with state and Federal
requirements. This process generally includes a public notice, public
hearing, pubic comment period, and formal adoption by a state-
authorized rulemaking body.
    Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the
state submits it to us for inclusion into the approved operating
permits program. We must provide public notice and seek additional
public comment regarding the proposed Federal action on the state
submission. If adverse comments are received, they must be addressed
prior to any final Federal action by us.
    All state regulations and supporting information approved by EPA
under section 502 of the CAA are incorporated into the Federally-
approved operating permits program. Records of such actions are
maintained in the CFR at Title 40, part 70, appendix A, entitled,

``Approval Status of State and Local Operating Permits Programs.''

What is being addressed in this document?

    EPA is approving revisions to the Missouri SIP and operating
permits program which revise the definitions provisions of the rule by
adding definitions for stage I/II vapor recovery systems and ``outstate
area'' (areas outside metropolitan areas such as Kansas City and St.
Louis), updating the lists of volatile organic compounds and hazardous
air pollutants for consistency with the EPA lists, removing unnecessary
definitions, and making typographical corrections and clarifications.
    The state removed numerous definitions that are no longer used
anywhere throughout the state regulations. Because they are
unnecessary, the deletion does not substantively impact the
regulations. Definitions revised are as follows: adverse impact on
visibility (adding a reference to a table in the rule identifying class
I areas in Missouri) and delivery vessel (deleting the term ``drum''
from the definition). The phrase ``potential to emit'' is revised to
clarify that enforceable permit conditions which may be considered in
determining potential emissions include conditions relating to
application of pollution control equipment and other conditions (such
as limits on operating rates and hours of operation). Any of these
limits, under the state rule, must be contained in Federally-
enforceable permit conditions in order to be considered in the
calculation of potential emissions. (For example, limits based on use
of pollution control equipment must be contained in a Federally-
enforceable permit condition in order to be considered in the
calculation under the state rule.) The revisions to these definitions
are for clarification and do not adversely affect the stringency of the
SIP or the operating permits program.
    The terms and definitions added to the SIP are as follows: Outstate
area--Any area throughout the state except the City of St. Louis and
St. Charles, St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Clay, Cass, Buchanan, Ray,
Jackson, Platte and Green Counties; Stage I vapor recovery system--A
system used to capture the gasoline vapors that would otherwise be
emitted when gasoline is transferred from a loading installation to a
delivery vessel or from a delivery vessel to a storage tank; and Stage
II vapor recovery system--A system used to capture the gasoline vapors
that would otherwise be emitted when gasoline is dispensed into a
vehicle fuel tank by routing vapors back to the fuel storage tank.
These provisions merely provide clarification of terms used in the
regulations and do not substantively change the requirements.
    The definitions were renumbered as appropriate due to the deletions
and additions.
    Revisions were made to the table of compounds not considered
volatile organic compounds because of their known lack of participation
in the atmospheric reactions to produce ozone. Revisions include
deletions, corrections and additions which are consistent with EPA
regulations and do not adversely affect the stringency of the SIP or
the operating permits program. Deletions and corrections were also made
to General Provisions, Table 3, Hazardous Air Pollutants.

Have the requirements for approval of a SIP revision and a Part 70
revision been met?

    The state submittal has met the public notice requirements for SIP
submissions in accordance with 40 CFR 51.102. The submittal also
satisfied the completeness criteria of 40 CFR part 51, appendix V. The
substantive requirements of Title V of the 1990 CAA Amendments and 40
CFR part 70 have been met as well.

What action is EPA taking?

    We are approving the request to amend the Missouri SIP and
operating permits program. This revision will amend the definitions
provisions of the rules by adding definitions for stage I/II vapor
recovery systems and outstate area, updating the lists of volatile
organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants for consistency with the
EPA lists, as well as removing unused definitions and making
typographical corrections and clarifications.
    Approval of this revision will ensure consistency between the state
and the Federally-approved rules. EPA has determined that these changes
will not relax the SIP or adversely impact air emissions and will not
substantively change the operating permits program.
    We are processing this action as a direct final action because the
revisions make routine changes to the existing rules which are
noncontroversial and make regulatory revisions, required by state
statute. Therefore, we do not anticipate any adverse comments. Please
note that if EPA receives adverse comment on part of this rule and if
that part can be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt
as final those parts of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse
comment.

Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this
action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and therefore is not
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. For this
reason, this action is also not subject to Executive Order 13211,
``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001). This action
merely approves state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes
no additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
Accordingly, the Administrator certifies that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because
this rule approves pre-existing requirements under state law and does
not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that required by
state law, it does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4).
    This rule also does not have tribal implications because it will
not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65
FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not have Federalism
implications because it does not have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64
FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action merely approves a state rule
implementing a Federal standard, and does not alter the relationship or
the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the CAA.
This rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of
Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR
19885, April 23, 1997) because it approves a state rule implementing a
Federal standard.
    In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this
context, in the absence of a prior existing requirement for the State
to use voluntary consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority

to disapprove a state submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus
be inconsistent with applicable law for EPA when it reviews a state
submission, to use VCS in place of a state submission that otherwise
satisfies the provisions of the CAA. Thus, the requirements of section
12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995
(15 U.S.C. 272 note) do not apply. This rule does not impose an
information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule,
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the
United States. EPA will submit a report containing this rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior
to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot
take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal
Register. This action is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2).
    Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review
of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for
the appropriate circuit by June 15, 2009. Filing a petition for
reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect
the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does
it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be
filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action.
Parties with objections to this direct final rule are encouraged to
file a comment in response to the parallel notice of proposed
rulemaking for this action published in the proposed rules section of
today's Federal Register, rather than file an immediate petition for
judicial review of this direct final rule, so that EPA can withdraw
this direct final rule and address the comment in the final rulemaking.
This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its
requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen
dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Volatile organic compounds.

40 CFR Part 70

    Administrative practice and procedure, Air pollution control,
Intergovernmental relations, Operating permits, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: April 3, 2009.
William Rice,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 7.

0
Chapter I, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as
follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart AA--Missouri

0
2. In Sec.  52.1320(c) the table is amended under Chapter 6 by revising
the entry for ``10-6.020'' to read as follows:

Sec.  52.1320   Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *

                                        EPA-Approved Missouri Regulations
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                                                      State
   Missouri  citation             Title          effective date     EPA approval date          Explanation
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                                    Missouri Department of Natural Resources
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                                                  * * * * * * *
     Chapter 6--Air Quality Standards, Definitions, Sampling and Reference Methods and Air Pollution Control
                                      Regulations for the State of Missouri
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                  * * * * * * *
10-6.020...............  Definitions and Common         9/30/08  4/14/09 [insert FR      .......................
                          Reference Tables.                       page number where the
                                                                  document begins].

                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 70--[AMENDED]

0
3. The authority citation for Part 70 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Appendix A--[Amended]

0
4. Appendix A to part 70 is amended in the entry for Missouri by adding
paragraph (w) to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 70--Approval Status of State and Local Operating
Permits Programs

* * * * *

Missouri

* * * * *
    (w) The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted
revisions to Missouri rule 10 CSR 10-6.020, ``Definitions and Common
Reference Tables,'' on September 5, 2008, approval effective May 14,
2009.
* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E9-8487 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11253-11254]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05677]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket ID: PHMSA-2018-0086]

Pipeline Safety: Exercise of Enforcement Discretion Regarding
Farm Taps

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of enforcement discretion.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is announcing its exercise of enforcement discretion
with respect to portions of its regulations that pertain to farm taps.
Pursuant to the exercise of enforcement discretion announced in this
document, PHMSA will not take enforcement action against operators who
forego the new maintenance and inspection requirements established in
March 2017 and instead mitigate any future risk associated with farm
taps through compliance with the existing Distribution Integrity
Management Program (DIMP) regulations. This will provide regulatory
flexibility to pipeline operators while at the same time maintaining an
equivalent level of safety.

DATES: This action is effective March 26, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or
questions, contact Chris McLaren at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or 281-216-
4455.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 23, 2017, PHMSA published in the Federal Register a
final rule titled, ``Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident
and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes.'' \1\
This final rule, effective March 24, 2017, modified 49 CFR 192.1003 by
adding an exemption from the distribution integrity management program
(DIMP) regulations for an individual service line directly connected to
a transmission, gathering, or production pipeline. Additionally, PHMSA
added maintenance and inspection requirements in a new section (Sec.
192.740) to ensure the safety of pressure regulating, limiting, and
overpressure protection for individual service lines directly connected
to production, gathering, or transmission pipelines.
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    \1\ 82 FR 7972, also available in Docket No. PHMSA 2013-0163 at
www.regulations.gov.
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    Individual service lines directly connected to transmission,
gathering, or production pipelines are also called ``farm taps.'' Farm
taps are typically located in rural areas, and provide gas to a
customer. Prior to the final rule, PHMSA worked with stakeholders to
best identify how to address risk with farm taps in an appropriate and
cost efficient manner. The result of this work is contained in the
final rule with the exemption of farm taps from the DIMP regulations in
Sec.  192.1003(b), and the addition of Sec.  192.740, which requires
certain maintenance and inspection tasks be performed on a periodic
basis.
    On September 18, 2017, the American Gas Association (AGA) sent to
PHMSA a Regulatory Impact Position Paper titled, ``Pipeline Safety:
Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and Incident
Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes Final Rule.'' In its
paper, AGA encourages PHMSA to consider revising Sec. Sec.  192.740 and
192.1003 to give operators the choice of managing the risk to farm taps
under either of these regulatory sections. On November 9, 2017, AGA,
the American Petroleum Institute, and the Interstate Natural Gas
Association of American submitted joint comments to DOT's Regulatory
Reform Docket, which sought comment on whether existing regulations may
be repealed, replaced, or modified without compromising safety (e.g.,
for burdening domestic energy production, for imposing costs that
exceed benefits, or for eliminating jobs or inhibiting job
creation).\2\ The joint comments endorsed the recommendations of the
AGA paper, and included that paper as an appendix.
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    \2\ See https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2017-0069-1504.
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    AGA believes that PHMSA significantly underestimated the costs
associated with the new farm tap inspection requirements. AGA also
questions the pipeline safety enhancements attributed to the new
regulatory requirements, noting that operators have continuously
monitored farm taps for heightened levels of risk under their DIMP
plans since 2011, when the DIMP rule became effective. AGA also notes
that operators currently are obligated to periodically perform leak
surveys on farm taps under

Sec.  192.723(b)(2), and these activities provide operators an
opportunity to verify their functionality and identify any existing
abnormal operating conditions.
    As part of DOT's regulatory review process, PHMSA is considering
AGA's request to revise Sec. Sec.  192.740 and 192.1003 to give
operators the choice of managing the risk to farm taps under either of
these regulatory sections. AGA contends that this action would provide
industry with cost savings, while simultaneously improving pipeline
safety by allowing operators to mitigate any future risk associated
with farm taps through their DIMP plans. PHMSA believes that the two
regulatory sections provide equivalent levels of safety.

II. Announcement of Exercise of Enforcement Discretion

    PHMSA is exercising enforcement discretion while it considers AGA's
request to revise Sec. Sec.  192.740 and 192.1003 to give operators the
choice of managing the risk to farm taps under either of these
regulatory sections. PHMSA will not take any enforcement action
relating to violations of Sec.  192.740 with respect to operators that
choose to include farm taps in their DIMP plans, and will instead
require that such operators comply with the existing DIMP regulations
of 49 CFR part 192, subpart P. This exercise of enforcement discretion
provides operators with the flexibility to choose to either address the
safety of farm taps under the current regulatory framework of
Sec. Sec.  192.740 and 192.1003(b), or under the regulatory framework
that was in place prior to March 24, 2017, by including farm taps in
their DIMP. Operators who choose the second option should continuously
monitor their farm taps for heightened levels of risk under their DIMP.
All operators of farm taps, moreover, should comply with other
regulatorily required programs (e.g., Sec. Sec.  192.603(c)(4) Abnormal
Operations; 192.613(a) Continuing Surveillance; and, 192.617
Investigation of Failures).
    PHMSA is issuing this document while it continues to evaluate and
analyze the technical aspects of this matter. This exercise of
enforcement discretion will remain in effect until further notice.
Nothing in this document prohibits PHMSA from rescinding this document
and pursuing an enforcement action if it determines that a significant
safety issue warrants doing so. Furthermore, this document does not
relieve operators from compliance with any other applicable provisions
of the pipeline safety regulations.

    Issued in Washington DC on March 20, 2019, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2019-05677 Filed 3-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4919-60-P


[Federal Register: February 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 32)]
[Notices]
[Page 7646-7647]
[DOCID:fr16fe07-76]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP06-446-000]

Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East Texas to
Mississippi Expansion Project

February 9, 2007.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared this Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Gulf South
Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) under the above-referenced docket.
Gulf South's East Texas to Mississippi Expansion Project (Project)
would be located in various counties and parishes in eastern Texas,
northern Louisiana, and western Mississippi.
    The Draft EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act. The FERC staff concludes that the
proposed Project, with the appropriate mitigation measures as
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service
(NPS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (COE) are federal cooperating agencies for the
development of this EIS. A federal cooperating agency has jurisdiction
by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact
involved with the proposal and is involved in the NEPA analysis.
    The general purpose of the proposed Project is to transport up to
1.7 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from production fields in
eastern Texas to markets in the Gulf coast, Midwestern, Northeastern
and Southeastern regions of the United States.
    The Draft EIS addresses the potential environmental impacts
resulting from the construction and operation of the following
facilities:
     Approximately 240.0 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline extending easterly from DeSoto Parish, Louisiana to Simpson
County, Mississippi;
     Approximately 3.3 miles of 36-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline extending northward from Gulf South's existing Carthage
Junction Compressor Station in Panola County, Texas to interconnect
with existing natural gas facilities within Panola County;
     Two new compressor stations, the Vixen and the Tallulah
Compressor Stations, located in Ouachita and Madison Parishes,
Louisiana, respectively;
     Modifications to three existing compressor stations, the
Carthage Junction, Hall Summit, and McComb Compressor Stations in
Panola, County, Texas, Bienville Parish, Louisiana and Walthall County,
Mississippi, respectively; and
     Other ancillary facilities including six meter and
regulator (M/R) facilities, eleven mainline valves, nine side valves,
and six pig launcher and/or receiver facilities.
    Project construction would be initiated in May 2007 and completed
by September 2007, at which point Gulf South would place the proposed
Project in-service.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the Draft EIS may do so. To ensure
that your comments are timely and properly recorded so that they may be
considered in the Final EIS, please carefully follow these
instructions:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of your comments to the attention of Gas
Branch 2, DG2E; and Reference Docket No. CP06-446-000 on the original
and both copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before March 27, 2007.
    Please note that the Commission strongly encourages the electronic
filing (``eFiling'') of comments. Instructions on how to ``eFile''
comments can be found on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
 under the ``Documents and Filings'' link.

    In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, we invite
you to attend the public comment meetings the FERC will conduct in the
project area to receive comments on the Draft EIS. All meetings will
begin at 6 p.m. (CDT), and are scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 26, 6 p.m...........  Minden American Legion Hall, 119
                                        Pine Street, Minden, LA 71055,
<PHONE_NUMBER>.
Tuesday, February 27, 6 p.m..........  Ouachita Parish Public Library--
                                        Main Branch, 1800 Stubbs Avenue,
                                        Monroe, LA 71201, (318) 327-
                                        1490.
Thursday, March 1, 6 p.m.............  Vicksburg Convention Center, Room
                                        4, 1600 Mulberry Street,
                                        Vicksburg, MS 39180, (866) 822-
                                        6338.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The public comment meetings will be posted on the FERC's calendar
located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx.

Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and present
oral comments on the Draft EIS. Transcripts of the meetings will be
prepared.
    After the comments received are reviewed, any significant new
issues are investigated, and modifications are made to the Draft EIS, a
Final EIS will be published and distributed by the FERC staff. The
Final EIS will contain the staff's responses to timely comments
received on the Draft EIS.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to

become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Anyone may intervene in this proceeding
based on this Draft EIS. You must file your request to intervene as
specified above.\1\ You do not need intervenor status to have your
comments considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Draft EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and
is available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street N.E., Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    A limited number of copies of the Draft EIS are available from the
Public Reference Room identified above. In addition, CD copies of the
Draft EIS have been mailed to affected landowners; various Federal,
State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; local libraries and
newspapers; intervenors; and other individuals that expressed an
interest in the proposed Project. Hard-copies of the Draft EIS have
also been mailed to those who requested that format during the scoping
and comment periods for the proposed Project.
    Additional information about the proposed Project is available from
the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).

    To access information via the FERC Web site click on the
``eLibrary'' link then click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket
number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be
sure you have selected an appropriate date range. The ``eLibrary'' link
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. For assistance
with ``eLibrary'', please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY,

contact<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
these documents. To learn more about eSubscription and to sign-up for
this service please go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-2695 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58631-58632]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26815]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2017-0022; OMB No. 1660-0004]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Application for Participation in the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites
the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a
reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved information
collection for which approval has expired. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning
the collection of information under which communities submit
information to FEMA for application and continued participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use
only one of the following means to submit comments:
    (1) Online. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
FEMA-2017-0022. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of
Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-
3100.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket
ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material,
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any
personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this
information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act
notice that is available via the link in the footer of
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne L. Sheldon, Supervisory
Emergency Management Specialist, Floodplain Management Division (202)
212-3966. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of
the proposed collection of information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
codified at 42 U.S.C. 4001, et seq., requires all flood prone
communities throughout the country to apply for participation in the
NFIP one year after their flood prone status is identified or submit to
the prohibition of certain types of federal and federally-related
financial assistance for use in their floodplains. Title 44 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) section 59.2 authorizes previously
unavailable flood insurance protection to property owners in flood-
prone areas, and 44 CFR 59.22 identifies the information that
communities are required to submit to FEMA for application into the
NFIP. 44 CFR 59.22 and 59.24 identify the information a community is
required to submit to FEMA for continued participation in the program.
    This information collection expired on September 30, 2017. FEMA is
requesting a reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved
information collection for which approval has expired.

Collection of Information

    Title: Application for Participation in the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP).
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, without change, of a
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 1660-0004.
    Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 086-0-30, Application for
Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

    Abstract: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides
flood insurance to the communities that apply for participation and
make a commitment to protect against future flood damages. The
application form and supporting documentation will enable FEMA to
continue to rapidly process new community applications and to thereby
more quickly provide flood insurance protection to the residents in
communities.
    To qualify for the NFIP, a participating community must adopt
certain minimum standards in accordance with FEMA's regulations at 44
CFR 60.3, 60.4, and 60.5. In order to verify whether communities
maintain such standards, the NFIP requires participating communities to
retain documentation on development taking place in the flood hazard
areas within the community. 44 CFR 59.22. Such information will be made
available to FEMA upon request. This information assists FEMA in
evaluating the effectiveness of a community's floodplain management
program and participating property owners' eligibility for flood
insurance.
    This reinstatement does not propose any change in the information
solicited from respondents through this information collection;
however, the number of burden hours has been updated to reflect
changing number of respondents and responses received through this
collection over time. These changes have occurred naturally, and do not
result from specific action taken by FEMA.
    The ``Application for Participation in the NFIP'' and the ``NFIP
and the Community Development Permit Process'' are separate actions
documented under the same collection.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,367.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 97,724.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 244,418.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $20,946,623.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $ 83,041.

Comments

    Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption
above. Comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether the proposed data
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency,
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b)
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

    Dated: December 5, 2017.
William Holzerland,
Director, Information Management Division Mission Support, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2017-26815 Filed 12-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-52-P


Reporting Element	Description	Purpose	Rules & Guidance	Examples

Focus Area	An identifier that

specifies the name

of the focus area under which the activity is undertaken. 	Overarching framework.

Listing of all activities and tasks by focus area.  Summarize funding by focus area.	Select from pick list.  One focus area for each activity.

This is a required field.  	Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern;

Invasive Species; Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution; Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration; Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication and Partnerships

Topic Area	Specifies the topic area under which the activity is undertaken	More detailed framework for categorization of activities.

Aggregation of  activities by topic area; summarize funding for activities and tasks by topic area; summarize 	This is a required field Terrestrial Invasive Species

Activity Category	A short title that describes the nature of the activity	To categorize related activities	Select activity category that best describes the activity from pick list.

If the category doesn’t exist, select “other.”  Required. Assessment

Project Title

	Enter information in text box.  Required field.

	Activity Description	Narrative description of the activity.	Main reporting element that describes the funded activity.

An activity is the smallest reporting unit which accomplishes a job. Enter description of activity in text box.

This is a required field.	Restore 25 acres of wetlands.

Lead

Organization

	The organization or program that has the lead responsibility.	The source/program field allows for the aggregation of data by program.	One for each activity.

This is a required field.	FWS

Point of Contact	Name, phone no. and email address of the staff person within the lead organization who is responsible for the activity.

Enter information in text box.  Required field.	John Doe

Collaborating Organization	Organizations that are contributing resources to the activity.	Links activity to collaborating organizations.	Select from pick list.

This is a required field.	US Army Corps of Engineers

GLRI Funding Amount	Total GLRI funding amount.

Required field

	Funding Year	Specify the fiscal year in which the funding was provided for an activity.	Allows for aggregation of activities and associated funding.	Select from pick list.

This is a required field.	2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Activity  Status 	An identifier that specifies the status of the activity.	Allows for the aggregation of activities and associated funding by current, planned or completed activities.	Select the activity status from the pick list.

This is a required field.	Current, planned, completed, cancelled.

Project Measure	A numeric measure of the actual activity expressed as a linear, area or other numeric measure.	Quantitative summary metric	Enter the measures for the activity.

This is a required field.	50

Units	The units of the measure.

Select from pick list.	Miles

Acres

Pounds

Project location	Longitude

Latitude	Location of the activity.	Enter value in the text box.	-79.12, 39.12

	State	Required field	Pick list.	OH

	Watershed HUCs

Enter information in text box.

Lake basins

	Erie

	Zip codes

	Funding recipient location	Street address, city, zip code, state Location of funding recipient	Enter text in text box	123 Main St.

Chicago, IL 60604

GLRI Long-term Goal	Specifies the long-term goal from the GLRI Action Plan under which the activity is performed	Link activities to specific GLRI goals.

Aggregate funding and activities by GLRI goal.	Select from the pick list.

In some cases, several commitments may seem appropriate.  Select the one that is most appropriate.

This is a required field.	By 2014, delist 5 Areas of Concern.

GLRI Interim Objective	Specifies the interim objective from the GLRI Action Plan under which the activity is performed.	Link activities to specific GLRI interim objectives.	Select from pick list.

This is a required field.	Delist 2 Areas of Concern

Measures of Progress	Specifies the measure of progress from the GLRI action plan under which the activity is performed.	Links activities to GLRI measures of progress.	Select from pick list.

This is a required field.	Miles of rivers reopened for fish passage.

GLRI Proposed Reporting Elements


[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19090-19091]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08102]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2015-0006]

Notice of Public Meeting on the Proposed Revised Guidelines for
Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, as Revised
Through the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice is to announce a public meeting to solicit public
input on the proposed ``Revised Guidelines for Implementing Executive
Order 11988, Floodplain Management.''

DATES: The public meeting will be held in Seattle, WA on April 14,
2015, from 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) to 3:30 p.m. PT.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in Seattle, WA, at the
University of Washington Medicine at South Lake Union, Administrative
Building C, Orin Smith Auditorium, 850 Republican Street, Seattle, WA
98109.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, please
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section by April 10.
    Due to space constraints of the facility, seating will be limited
to 100 participants for the meeting. To reserve a seat in advance for
this meeting, please provide a request via email or mail with the
contact information of the participant (including name, mailing
address, and email address), the meeting(s) to be attended, and include
the subject/attention line (or on the envelope if by mail): Reservation
Request for FFRMS Meeting. Advance reservations are preferred three (3)
business days prior to the meeting to ensure processing, but will be
accepted until seating capacity is reached. Unregistered participants
will be accepted after all participants with reservations have been
accommodated and will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis,
provided the person capacity is not exceeded. To submit reservations,
please email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or send by mail to the address
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT caption.
    To facilitate public participation, members of the public are
invited to provide written comments on the issues to be considered at
the public meeting. Comments may be submitted by one of the following
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief
Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the docket ID
FEMA-2015-0006. Comments received will be posted without alteration at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to
http://www.regulations.gov, and search for the Docket ID FEMA-2015-
0006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bradley Garner,<PHONE_NUMBER> or<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Mailing Address: FFRMS, 1800 South Bell Street,
Room 627, Arlington, VA 20598-3030. The Web site is https://www.fema.gov/federal-flood-risk-management-standard-ffrms.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 30, 2015, the President signed
Executive Order 13690, directing FEMA, on behalf of the Mitigation
Framework Leadership Group, to publish for public comment draft revised
Floodplain Management Guidelines to provide guidance to agencies on the
implementation of Executive Order 11988, as amended, consistent with a
new Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. These draft revised
Guidelines were developed by the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group
in consultation with the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task
Force. FEMA is publishing this Notice on behalf of the Mitigation
Framework Leadership Group, which is chaired by FEMA, to solicit and
consider public input on the draft revised Guidelines at a public
meeting.
    Background information about these topics is available on the FFRMS
Web site at https://www.fema.gov/federal-flood-risk-management-standard-ffrms or in the docket for this Notice at www.regulations.gov,
Docket ID FEMA-2015-0006.
    The meeting is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), as the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group is an
intergovernmental committee and falls under the intergovernmental
committee exception to FACA, 41 CFR 102-3.40(g).

    Authority:  Executive Order 11988, as amended; Executive Order
13690.

    Dated: April 3, 2015.
Roy Wright,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2015-08102 Filed 4-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-47-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 43071]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17773]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. EL12-84-000]

MPS Customer Group v. Maine Public Service Company; Notice of
Complaint

    Take notice that on July 13, 2012, pursuant to sections 206 and 306
of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 824e and 825e, and Rule 206 of the
Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission); 18 CFR 385.206, MPS Customer Group
(Complainant) filed a formal complaint against Maine Public Service
Company (MPS or Respondent) seeking an order to reduce the return on
equity (ROE) used in calculating formula rates for transmission service
under the MPS Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT). Complainant
asserts that the current ROE under the OATT is unjust and unreasonable.
    The Complainant certifies that copies of the complaint were served
on the contacts for the Respondent.
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must
file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Protests will be
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. The Respondent's
answer and all interventions, or protests must be filed on or before
the comment date. The Respondent's answer, motions to intervene, and
protests must be served on the Complainants.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the ``eFiling'' link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an
original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
    This filing is accessible on-line at http://www.ferc.gov, using the
``eLibrary'' link and is available for review in the Commission's
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an ``eSubscription''
link on the web site that enables subscribers to receive email
notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online service, please email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For
TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 2, 2012.

    Dated: July 16, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-17773 Filed 7-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P