Proposed Rules. Notice and request for comments

Agency: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT
Action: Notice and request for comments
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-16456 · Docket No. PHMSA-PHMSA-2012-0137

Summary

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on a new information collection (IC) to help determine the effectiveness of PHMSA's 811 Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign. In calendar year 2012, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of 811 as the national “Call Before You Dig” toll-free telephone number, PHMSA produced a 30-second video PSA, a 30-second radio PSA and a 60-second radio PSA. All were produced in both English and Spanish and are available in several formats for downloading and broadcasting. PHMSA seeks to measure the effectiveness of the campaign through an online survey. After the comments to this notice are addressed, PHMSA will request approval for this new information collection from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Dates

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 4, 2012.

Supplementary Information

Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies a new information collection request that PHMSA will submit to OMB for approval. The information collection will be titled: “U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 811 Awareness Survey.” This information collection will provide the data necessary to measure the effectiveness of the PHMSA 811 PSA campaign. Excavation damage to pipelines is a leading cause of serious incidents involving fatalities and injuries. A call to 811 is the first step in preventing such incidents and PHMSA seeks to increase awareness of this critical safety message to reduce the number of damages to pipelines. Target audiences for the PSA include the general public and small professional excavators. The survey is designed to measure awareness of the importance of calling 811 before beginning an excavation project and the extent to which the PSA influences that awareness and planned behavior. The results of this survey will help shape future PHMSA 811 outreach and educational efforts. PHMSA is proposing an online form for this information collection. A copy of the survey has been placed in the docket and is available for comment. The following information is provided for this information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control number; (3) Type of request; (4) Abstract of the information collection activity; (5) Description of affected public; (6) Estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden; and (7) Frequency of collection. PHMSA will request a three-year term of approval for this information collection activity. PHMSA requests comments on the following information collection: Title: U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 811 Awareness Survey. OMB Control Number: Pending. Type of Request: New information collection. Abstract: PHMSA is conducting a survey of awareness of 811 as the national “Call Before You Dig” toll-free telephone number, the importance of calling 811 before beginning an excavation project and the extent to which the newly released PHMSA PSA is effective in raising awareness about this topic. This data is necessary to measure the effectiveness of the PSA campaign and plan future educational and outreach efforts. Affected Public: All. Estimated number of responses: 1,000. Estimated annual burden hours: 120. Frequency of collection: One time collection. Comments are invited on: (a) The need for the proposed collection of information for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 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) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques. Issued in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2012. Jeffrey D. Wiese, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 2012-16456 Filed 7-3-12; 8:45 am]