49 C.F.R. Subpart A—General
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) This part prescribes procedures used by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in carrying out duties regarding pipeline safety under 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. (the pipeline safety laws) and 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. (the hazardous material transportation laws). (b) This subpart defines certain terms and prescribes procedures that are applicable to each proceeding described in this part. [45 FR 20413, Mar. 27, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 190–6, 61 FR 18512, Apr. 26, 1996; 70 FR 11137, Mar. 8, 2005] As used in this part: Administrator means the Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or his or her delegate. Hearing means an informal conference or a proceeding for oral presentation. Unless otherwise specifically prescribed in this part, the use of “hearing” is not intended to require a hearing on the record in accordance with section 554 of title 5, U.S.C. OPS means the Office of Pipeline Safety, which is part of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Person means any individual, firm, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association, State, municipality, cooperative association, or joint stock association, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof. Presiding Official means the person who conducts any hearing relating to civil penalty assessments, compliance orders or hazardous facility orders. Regional Director means the head of any one of the Regional Offices of the Office of Pipeline Safety, or a designee appointed by the Regional Director. Regional Offices are located in Washington, DC (Eastern Region); Atlanta, Georgia (Southern Region); Kansas City, Missouri (Central Region); Houston, Texas (Southwest Region); and Lakewood, Colorado (Western Region). Respondent means a person upon whom the OPS has served a notice of probable violation. PHMSA means the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation. State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. [Amdt. 190–6, 61 FR 18513, Apr. 26, 1996, as amended at 68 FR 11749, Mar. 12, 2003; 70 FR 11137, Mar. 8, 2005] (a) Each order, notice, or other document required to be served under this part shall be served personally or by registered or certified mail. (b) Service upon a person's duly authorized representative or agent constitutes service upon that person. (c) Service by registered or certified mail is complete upon mailing. An official U. S. Postal Service receipt from the registered or certified mailing constitutes prima facie evidence of service. (a) The Administrator, PHMSA, the Chief Counsel, PHMSA, or the official designated by the Administrator, PHMSA, to preside over a hearing convened in accordance with this part, may sign and issue subpoenas individually on their own initiative or, upon request and adequate showing by any person participating in the proceeding that the information sought will materially advance the proceeding. (b) A subpoena may require the attendance of a witness, or the production of documentary or other tangible evidence in the possession or under the control of person served, or both. (c) A subpoena may be served personally by any person who is not an interested person and is not less than 18 years of age, or by certified or registered mail. (d) Service of a subpoena upon the person named therein shall be made by delivering a copy of the subpoena to such person and by tendering the fees for one day's attendance and mileage as specified by paragraph (g) of this section. When a subpoena is issued at the instance of any officer or agency of the United States, fees and mileage need not be tendered at the time of service. Delivery of a copy of a subpoena and tender of the fees to a natural person may be made by handing them to the person, leaving them at the person's office with the person in charge thereof, leaving them at the person's dwelling place or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein, by mailing them by registered or certified mail to the person at the last known address, or by any method whereby actual notice is given to the person and the fees are made available prior to the return date. (e) When the person to be served is not a natural person, delivery of a copy of the subpoena and tender of the fees may be effected by handing them to a designated agent or representative for service, or to any officer, director, or agent in charge of any office of the person, or by mailing them by registered or certified mail to that agent or representative and the fees are made available prior to the return date. (f) The original subpoena bearing a certificate of service shall be filed with the official having responsibility for the proceeding in connection with which the subpoena was issued. (g) A subpoenaed witness shall be paid the same fees and mileage as would be paid to a witness in a proceeding in the district courts of the United States. The witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the person at whose instance the subpoena was issued. (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (g) of this section, and upon request, the witness fees and mileage may be paid by the PHMSA if the official who issued the subpoena determines on the basis of good cause shown, that: (1) The presence of the subpoenaed witness will materially advance the proceeding; and (2) The person at whose instance the subpoena was issued would suffer a serious hardship if required to pay the witness fees and mileage. (i) Any person to whom a subpoena is directed may, prior to the time specified therein for compliance, but in no event more than 10 days after the date of service of such subpoena, apply to the official who issued the subpoena, or if the person is unavailable, to the Administrator, PHMSA to quash or modify the subpoena. The application shall contain a brief statement of the reasons relied upon in support of the action sought therein. The Administrator, PHMSA, or this issuing official, as the case may be, may: (1) Deny the application; (2) Quash or modify the subpoena; or (3) Condition a grant or denial of the application to quash or modify the subpoena upon the satisfaction of certain just and reasonable requirements. The denial may be summary. (j) Upon refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person under the provisions of this section, the PHMSA may request the Attorney General to seek the aid of the U. S. District Court for any District in which the person is found to compel that person, after notice, to appear and give testimony, or to appear and produce the subpoenaed documents before the PHMSA, or both. [45 FR 20413, Mar. 27, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 190–6, 61 FR 18513, Apr. 26, 1996; Amdt. 190–7, 63 FR 7722, Feb. 17, 1998; 70 FR 11137, Mar. 8, 2005] (a) In circumstances where a rule contained in parts 192, 193 and 195 of this chapter authorizes the Administrator to make a finding or approval, an operator may petition the Administrator for such a finding or approval. (b) Each petition must refer to the rule authorizing the action sought and contain information or arguments that justify the action. Unless otherwise specified, no public proceeding is held on a petition before it is granted or denied. After a petition is received, the Administrator or participating state agency notifies the petitioner of the disposition of the petition or, if the request requires more extensive consideration or additional information or comments are requested and delay is expected, of the date by which action will be taken. (1) For operators seeking a finding or approval involving intrastate pipeline transportation, petitions must be sent to: (i) The State agency certified to participate under 49 U.S.C. 60105. (ii) Where there is no state agency certified to participate, the Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. (2) For operators seeking a finding or approval involving interstate pipeline transportation, petitions must be sent to the Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. (c) All petitions must be received at least 90 days prior to the date by which the operator requests the finding or approval to be made. (d) The Administrator will make all findings or approvals of petitions initiated under this section. A participating state agency receiving petitions initiated under this section shall provide the Administrator a written recommendation as to the disposition of any petition received by them. Where the Administrator does not reverse or modify a recommendation made by a state agency within 10 business days of its receipt, the recommended disposition shall constitute the Administrator's decision on the petition. [Amdt. 190–5, 59 FR 17280, Apr. 12, 1994, as amended by Amdt. 190–6, 61 FR 18513, Apr. 26, 1996; 70 FR 11137, Mar. 8, 2005] (a) Availability of telephonic and Internet assistance. (1) PHMSA has established a website on the Internet and a telephone line at the Office of Pipeline Safety headquarters where small operators and others can obtain information on and advice about compliance with pipeline safety regulations, 49 CFR parts 190–199. The website and telephone line are staffed by personnel from PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. When the lines are not staffed, individuals may leave a recorded voicemail message, or post a message at the OPS website. All messages will receive a response by the following business day. The telephone number for the OPS information line is (202) 366–0918 and the OPS website can be accessed via the Internet at http://ops.dot.gov. (2) PHMSA's Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) is available to answer questions concerning Federal pipeline safety law, 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. OCC may be contacted by telephone (202–366–4400) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Information and guidance concerning Federal pipeline safety law may also be obtained by contacting OCC via the Internet at http://rspa-atty.dot.gov. (b) Availability of Written Interpretations. (1) A written regulatory interpretation, response to a question, or an opinion concerning a pipeline safety issue may be obtained by submitting a written request to the Office of Pipeline Safety (DPS–10), PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. The requestor must include his or her return address and should also include a daytime telephone number. (2) A written interpretation regarding Federal pipeline safety law, 49 U.S.C 60101 et seq., may be obtained from the Office of the Chief Counsel, PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. The requestor must include his or her return address and should also include a daytime telephone number. [62 FR 24057, May 2, 1997; 62 FR 34415, June 26, 1997, as amended at 70 FR 11137, Mar. 8, 2005]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 190—PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAMS AND RULEMAKING PROCEDURES
Subpart A—General
§ 190.1 Purpose and scope.
§ 190.3 Definitions.
§ 190.5 Service.
§ 190.7 Subpoenas; witness fees.
§ 190.9 Petitions for finding or approval.
§ 190.11 Availability of informal guidance and interpretive assistance.
