  
  
G/TBT/N/USA/1624  
11 June 2020  
(20-4159) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT) [1652]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to ha ndle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Gas 
pipeline safety; Quality (ICS 03.120), Environmental protection (ICS 13.020), Accident and 
disaster control (ICS 13.200), Pipeline components and pipelines (ICS 23.040), Petroleum 
products and natural gas handling equipment (ICS 75.200)  
5. Title, num ber of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Pipeline Safety: 
Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform (15 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice of proposed rulemaking - PHMSA is seeking comments on 
proposed amendments to the Federal Pipe line Safety Regulations that are intended to ease 
regulatory burdens on the construction, maintenance and operation of gas transmission, 
distribution, and gathering pipeline systems. The amendments in this proposal are based 
on PHMSA's considered review of  public comments, petitions for rulemaking, and an 
agency initiative to identify appropriate areas where regulations might be repealed, 
replaced, or modified.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection  of human health or safety; Protection of the environment; Cost 
saving and productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
• 85 Federal Register (FR) 35240, 9 June 2020; Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Parts 191 and 192:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-06-09/html/2020 -11843.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-06-09/pdf/2020 -11843.pdf  
This prop osed rule is identified by docket number PHMSA -2018-0046.  
The docket folder is available on Regulations.gov  at 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=PHMSA -2018-0046, and provides access to 
primary and supporting document s as well as comments received. Documents are also G/TBT/N/USA/1624  
 
- 2 - 
 
  accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the docket number. WTO Members and their 
stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point . 
Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their 
stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  on 
Regulations.gov  if received within the comment period.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  10 August 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/USA/20_3692_00_e.pdf  
 