The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a component agency of the Department of Transportation (DOT), has just announced that it will host a workshop on incorporation by reference on Friday, July 13.  The workshop will provide an opportunity for public discussion about how PHMSA can implement Section 24 of Public Law No. 112-90, the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011. Enacted in January 2012, and due to become effective in January 2013, Section 24 prohibits PHMSA from incorporating by reference into guidance or regulations any standard that is not “made available to the public, free of charge, on an Internet Web site.”

The preliminary agenda for the workshop includes three panels addressing: (1) the basics of incorporation by reference; (2) an overview of how PHMSA uses incorporation by reference and how that use impacts safety and costs; and (3) a facilitated discussion among workshop participants.  There is no fee to attend the workshop, which will take place at the DOT’s West Building, Oklahoma Room, at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590. Phone: 202-366-4400, Fax: 202-366-7041.

PHMSA is also accepting public comments in connection with the workshop and public attendees will be offered the opportunity to share their views.  For information on how to file a comment or speak at the workshop, see PHMSA’s workshop notice.

For more information on the issues raised by incorporation by reference, see Conference Recommendation 2011-5: Incorporation by Reference, and visit the incorporation by reference project page and implementation page.