58226 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 29, 2004 / Notices 

promulgated by RSPA/OPS. After 

completion of the hydrostatic test, the 

pressure is relieved and the water is 

removed from the pipeline during dewatering procedures. 

The de-watering process involves 

connecting a temporary de-watering line 

to the main pipeline with mechanical 

couplers and adequately securing the 

temporary de-watering line to prevent 

displacement. A de-watering pig is then 

forced through the main pipeline using 

several hundred pounds pressure of 

compressed air. As the pig is forced 

through the pipeline with air pressure, 

the water remaining in the line from 

hydrostatic testing is pushed out of the 

main pipeline through the temporary 

de-watering line. 

During the de-watering process, 

significant and sudden variations in 

pressure often occur within the main 

pipeline and temporary de-watering 

line. These variations can be caused by 

changes in pig velocity as it passes 

through bends in the pipeline or 

changes in pig and water velocity due 

to changes in pipeline elevation. 

Compressed air escaping around the pig, 

which can combine with air already 

present in the main pipeline at high 

spots in the pipe, can also create a 

source for stored energy within the main 

pipeline. These sudden pressure 

changes produce surges that are 

transferred from the main pipeline to 

the temporary de-watering line. This 

can result in movement of the 

temporary de-watering line, as the 

pressures can easily exceed the working 

pressures and bending capabilities of 

the temporary de-watering line 

couplers. The movement of the dewatering line can result in violent 

failure of the temporary piping system, 

particularly when the temporary piping 

is not properly anchored. This situation 

can be exacerbated when the temporary 

pipeline suddenly changes direction, 

when couplers or pipe sections have 

worn beyond the specified tolerances 

established by the manufacturer of the 

de-watering piping system, or when the 

entire de-watering manifold is 

inadequately designed for the stresses 

that can be imposed while de-watering.

RSPA/OPS recognizes the existence of 

hazards associated with testing 

pipelines and requires operators to 

protect their employees and the public 

during hydrostatic testing. Section 

192.515(a) states that ‘‘* * * each 

operator shall insure that every 

reasonable precaution is taken to protect 

its employees and the general public 

during the testing.’’ In addition, 

§ 195.402(c) requires each pipeline 

operator to prepare and follow 

procedures for safety during 

maintenance and normal operation. 

Advisory Bulletin (ADB–04–01) 

To: Owners and operators of gas and 

hazardous liquid pipeline systems. 

Subject: Hazards associated with dewatering of pipelines. 

Purpose: To advise owners and 

operators of gas and hazardous liquid 

pipelines to consider hazards associated 

with pipeline de-watering operations 

and to follow recommended work 

practices and guidelines to reduce the 

potential for unexpected separation of 

temporary de-watering pipes. 

Advisory: Each operator of a gas or 

hazardous liquid pipeline should take 

recommended precautions against the 

unexpected separation of temporary dewatering pipes during de-watering 

procedures. This advisory bulletin was 

originally issued jointly with the 

Department of Labor’s Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA) as Safety and Health 

Information Bulletin SHIB 06–21–2004. 

The original advisory bulletin issued by 

OSHA can be viewed at http://

www.osha.gov, or the RSPA/OPS Web 

site at http://www.ops.gov.

The following guidelines will help 

reduce the risk of injury to employees 

involved in de-watering activities: 

• Study the piping system. During the 

initial planning stage of a de-watering 

operation, an engineering analysis of the 

existing and temporary piping system 

should be performed to identify the 

pressure associated with fluids and 

other forces that could adversely affect 

the integrity of the pipeline or the 

stability of the drainage and its 

components. The operator should 

design the de-watering system and 

develop installation techniques based 

on the expected forces of the particular 

project. Alternatively, designs and 

techniques could be developed for a 

‘‘worst case’’ scenario that could be 

applied to all de-watering projects. 

• Anchor the de-watering lines. It is 

accepted industry practice to adequately 

anchor or secure de-watering piping to 

prevent movement and separation of the 

piping. Operators should establish 

effective anchoring systems based on 

expected forces and ensure that the 

systems are used during de-watering 

projects. 

• Ensure condition of couplings and 

parts. All couplings and parts of the dewatering system need to be properly 

selected for their application. The 

associated piping which the couplings 

connect is a significant variable in the 

entire mechanical piping system. The 

couplings are manufactured in a 

controlled environment, and variations 

in the quality of the couplings should be 

limited. Operators should ensure that 

couplings are within manufacturer’s 

tolerances and free of damage that may 

result in connection failure. A chain is 

only as strong as its weakest link—in 

de-watering piping systems, the weakest 

link frequently is the temporary dewatering pipe connections. 

• Provide adequate employee 

training. This training should instruct 

employees on de-watering installation 

designs and techniques, including 

proper coupling and anchoring 

methods. Operators should ensure that 

employees understand the potential 

hazards of improperly installed dewatering systems, provide employees a 

means of determining whether the pipe 

groove meets manufacturer’s tolerances, 

and the procedures they should 

implement to protect themselves and 

others working around them. 

• Proper procedures. Operators 

should ensure that proper installation 

and de-watering procedures are 

followed on the job site. 

Operators may refer to recommended 

practices provided by national 

consensus standards organizations, such 

as American Petroleum Institute (API) 

Recommended Practice for 

Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas 

Well Drilling and Servicing Operations 

(API RP 54–1999, Section 12.4.3); 

American National Standards Institute 

(ANSI) Power Piping (ANSI B31.1–1973, 

Section 121.2); and U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE) Safety and Health 

Requirements Manual (EM 285–1–1, 

1996 Section 20).

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 

23, 2004. 

Stacey L. Gerard, 

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 04–21829 Filed 9–28–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–6 (Sub–No. 425X)] 

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 

Railway Company—Abandonment 

Exemption—in Chase, Morris, Marion 

and Dickinson Counties, KS 

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 

Railway Company (BNSF) has filed a 

notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 

1152 subpart F—Exempt 

Abandonments, to abandon a 25.57-mile 

line of railroad between BNSF milepost 

0.00 near Neva and milepost 25.45 near 

Lost Springs, in Chase, Morris, Marion 

and Dickinson Counties, KS. The line 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 29, 2004 / Notices 58227

1The Board will grant a stay if an informed 

decision on environmental issues (whether raised 

by a party or by the Board’s Section of 

Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent 

investigation) cannot be made before the 

exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any 

request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible 

so that the Board may take appropriate action before 

the exemption’s effective date.

2Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing 

fee, which currently is set at $1,100. See 49 CFR 

1002.2(f)(25).

1The Board will grant a stay if an informed 

decision on environmental issues (whether raised 

by a party or by the Board’s Section of 

Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent 

investigation) cannot be made before the 

exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any 

request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible 

so that the Board may take appropriate action before 

the exemption’s effective date.

2Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing 

fee, which currently is set at $1,100. See 49 CFR 

1002.2(f)(25).

traverses United States Postal Service 

Zip Codes 66838, 66850, 66859 and 

66869. 

BNSF has certified that: (1) No local 

traffic has moved over the line for at 

least 2 years; (2) all overhead traffic can 

be rerouted over other lines; (3) no 

formal complaint filed by a user of rail 

service on the line (or by a state or local 

government entity acting on behalf of 

such user) regarding cessation of service 

over the line either is pending with the 

Board or with any U.S. District Court or 

has been decided in favor of 

complainant within the 2-year period; 

and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 

1105.7 (environmental report), 49 CFR 

1105.8 (historic report), 49 CFR 1105.11 

(transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 

(newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 

1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental 

agencies) have been met. 

As a condition to this exemption, any 

employee adversely affected by the 

abandonment shall be protected under 

Oregon Short Line R. Co.—

Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 

(1979). To address whether this 

condition adequately protects affected 

employees, a petition for partial 

revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

must be filed. 

Provided no formal expression of 

intent to file an offer of financial 

assistance (OFA) has been received, this 

exemption will be effective on October 

29, 2004, unless stayed pending 

reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do 

not involve environmental issues,1

formal expressions of intent to file an 

OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),2 and 

trail use/rail banking requests under 49 

CFR 1152.29 must be filed by October 

12, 2004. Petitions to reopen or requests 

for public use conditions under 49 CFR 

11152.28 must be filed by October 19, 

2004, with the Surface Transportation 

Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, 

DC 20423–0001.

A copy of any petition filed with the 

Board should be sent to BNSF’s 

representative: Michael Smith, Freeborn 

& Peters, 311 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 3000, 

Chicago, IL 60606–6677. 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio.

BNSF has filed an environmental 

report which addresses the 

abandonment’s effects, if any, on the 

environment and historic resources. 

SEA will issue an environmental 

assessment (EA) by October 4, 2004. 

Interested persons may obtain a copy of 

the EA by writing to SEA (Room 500, 

Surface Transportation Board, 

Washington, DC 20423–0001) or by 

calling SEA, at (202) 565–1539. 

[Assistance for the hearing impaired is 

available through the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–

800–877–8339.] Comments on 

environmental and historic preservation 

matters must be filed within 15 days 

after the EA becomes available to the 

public. 

Environmental, historic preservation, 

public use, or trail use/rail banking 

conditions will be imposed, where 

appropriate, in a subsequent decision. 

Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 

1152.29(e)(2), BNSF shall file a notice of 

consummation with the Board to signify 

that it has exercised the authority 

granted and fully abandoned the line. If 

consummation has not been effected by 

BNSF’s filing of a notice of 

consummation by September 29, 2005, 

and there are no legal or regulatory 

barriers to consummation, the authority 

to abandon will automatically expire. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at http://

www.stb.dot.gov.

Decided: September 21, 2004.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Vernon A. Williams, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 04–21680 Filed 9–28–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–6 (Sub-No. 426X)] 

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 

Railway Company—Abandonment 

Exemption—In Matagorda and 

Wharton Counties, TX 

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 

Railway Company (BNSF) has filed a 

notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1152 

Subpart F–Exempt Abandonments to 

abandon 20.89 miles of rail line between 

BNSF milepost 66.95 in Bay City and 

milepost 54.00 near Cane Junction and 

between milepost 0.00 near Cane 

Junction and milepost 7.94 near 

Newgulf, in Matagorda and Wharton 

Counties, TX. The line traverses United 

States Postal Service Zip Codes 77414, 

77420 and 77482. 

BNSF has certified that: (1) No local 

traffic has moved over the line for at 

least 2 years; (2) any overhead traffic 

can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no 

formal complaint filed by a user of rail 

service on the line (or by a state or local 

government entity acting on behalf of 

such user) regarding cessation of service 

over the line either is pending with the 

Board or with any U.S. District Court or 

has been decided in favor of 

complainant within the 2-year period; 

and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 

1105.7 (environmental reports), 49 CFR 

1105.8 (historic reports), 49 CFR 

1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 

1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 

49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to 

governmental agencies) have been met. 

As a condition to this exemption, any 

employee adversely affected by the 

abandonment shall be protected under 

Oregon Short Line R. Co.—

Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 

(1979). To address whether this 

condition adequately protects affected 

employees, a petition for partial 

revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

must be filed. Provided no formal 

expression of intent to file an offer of 

financial assistance (OFA) has been 

received, this exemption will be 

effective on October 29, 2004, unless 

stayed pending reconsideration. 

Petitions to stay that do not involve 

environmental issues,1 formal 

expressions of intent to file an OFA 

under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),2 and trail 

use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 

1152.29 must be filed by October 12, 

2004. Petitions to reopen or requests for 

public use conditions under 49 CFR 

1152.28 must be filed by October 19, 

2004, with the Surface Transportation 

Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, 

DC 20423–0001.

A copy of any petition filed with the 

Board should be sent to UP’s 

representative: Michael Smith, Freeborn 

& Peters, 311 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 3000, 

Chicago, IL 60606–6677. 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio.

BNSF has filed an environmental 

report which addresses the effects, if 

any, of the abandonment on the