50430 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices

Group. Each of the future meetings will

be announced in the Federal Register at

least two weeks prior to the meeting.

We specifically want that segment of

the pipeline industry involved with inline inspection to be aware of the status

of this contract. To assure that a cross

section of industry is well represented

at these meetings, we have invited the

major domestic in-line inspection

company (Tuboscope-Vetco Pipeline

Services) and the following pipeline

industry trade associations: American

Petroleum Institute, Interstate Natural

Gas Association of America, and the

American Gas Association. Each has

named an engineering/technical

representative.

The first hour of the meeting will be

devoted to reviewing the overall project

plan. This review will assist those

attending a quarterly meeting for the

first time to better understand the

overall project. The remainder of this

meeting will be devoted to a review of

progress made during the past quarter

and plans for the next quarter.

II. The Contract

The Battelle contract is a research and

development contract to evaluate and

develop in-line inspection technologies

for detecting mechanical damage and

cracking, such as stress-corrosion

cracking (SCC), in natural gas

transmission and hazardous liquid

pipelines. Third-party mechanical

damage is one of the largest causes of

pipeline failure, but existing in-line

inspection tools cannot always detect or

accurately characterize the severity of

some types of third-party damage that

can threaten pipeline integrity.

Although SCC is not very common on

pipelines, it usually appears in highstressed, low-population-density areas

and only when a limited set of

environmental conditions are met.

Several attempts have been made to

develop an in-line inspection tool for

SCC, but there is no commercially

successful tool on the market.

Under the contract, Battelle will

evaluate and advance magnetic flux

leakage (MFL) inspection technology for

detecting mechanical damage and two

electromagnetic technologies for

detecting SCC. The focus is on MFL for

mechanical damage because experience

shows MFL can characterize some types

of mechanical damage and can be

successfully used for metal-loss

corrosion under a wide variety of

conditions. The focus for SCC is on

electromagnetic technologies that can be

used in conjunction with, or as a

modification to, MFL tools. The

technologies to be evaluated take

advantage of the MFL magnetizer either

by enhancing signals or using electrical

currents that are generated by the

passage of an inspection tool through a

pipeline.

The contract includes two major tasks

during the base two years of the

contract. Task 1 is to evaluate existing

MFL signal generation and analysis

methods to establish a baseline from

which today’s tools can be evaluated

and tomorrow’s advances measured.

Then, it will develop improvements to

signal analysis methods and verify them

through testing under realistic pipeline

conditions. Finally, it will build an

experience base and defect sets to

generalize the results from individual

tools and analysis methods to the full

range of practical applications.

Task 2 is to evaluate two inspection

technologies for detecting stress

corrosion cracks. The focus in Task 2 is

on electromagnetic techniques that have

been developed in recent years and that

could be used on or as a modification

to existing MFL tools. Three subtasks

will evaluate velocity-induced remotefield techniques, remote-field eddycurrent techniques, and external

techniques for sizing stress corrosion

cracks.

A Task 3 is being considered for an

option year to the contract. Task 3, if

done, will verify the results from Tasks

1 and 2 by tests under realistic pipeline

conditions. Task 3 will: (1) Extend the

mechanical damage detection, signal

decoupling, and sizing algorithms

developed in the basic program to

include the effects of pressure, (2) verify

the algorithms under pressurized

conditions in GRI’s 4,700 foot, 24-inch

diameter Pipeline Simulation Facility

(PSF) flow loop, and (3) evaluate the use

of eddy-current techniques for

characterizing cold working within

mechanical damage.

A drawback of present pig technology

is the lack of a reliable pig performance

verification procedure that is generally

accepted by the pipeline industry and

RSPA. The experience gained by the

pipeline industry and RSPA with the

use of the PSF flow loop in this project

will provide a framework to develop

procedures for evaluating pig

performance. Defect detection reliability

is critical if instrumented pigging is to

be used as an in-line inspection tool in

pipeline industry risk management

programs.

The ultimate benefits of the project

could be more efficient and costeffective operations, maintenance

programs to monitor and enhance the

safety of gas transmission and

hazardous liquid pipelines. Pipeline

companies will benefit from having

access to inspection technologies for

detecting critical mechanical damage

and stress-corrosion cracks. Inspection

tool vendors will benefit by

understanding where improvements are

beneficial and needed. These benefits

will support RSPA’s long-range

objective of ensuring the safety and

reliability of the gas transmission and

hazardous liquid pipeline

infrastructure.

Issued in Washington, D.C., on September

19, 1997.

Richard B. Felder,

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 97–25434 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

[Notice No. 97–10]

Notice of Information Collection

Approval

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of information collection

approval.

SUMMARY: This notice announces OMB

approval of information collection

requests (ICRs), for OMB No. 2137–

0014, entitled Cargo Tank Specification

Requirements, OMB No. 2137–0051,

entitled Rulemaking, Exemption and

Preemption Requirements, and OMB

No. 2137–0059, entitled Requirements

for Rail Tank Car Tanks, Transportation

of Hazardous Materials by Rail. These

information collections have been

extended until September 30, 2000.

DATES: The expiration date for these

ICRs is September 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of an

information collection should be

directed to Deborah Boothe, Office of

Hazardous Materials Standards (DHM–

10), Research and Special Programs

Administration, Room 8102, 400

Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC

20590–0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Boothe, Office of Hazardous

Materials Standards (DHM–10),

Research and Special Programs

Administration, Room 8102, 400

Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC

20590–0001, Telephone (202) 366–8553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Office of

Management and Budget (OMB)

regulations (5 CFR 1320) implementing

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) require that

interested members of the public and

affected agencies have an opportunity to
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices 50431

1 In a letter received on September 9, 1997, the

applicants’ representative amended the notice of

exemption filed on September 4, 1997, to change

the milepost numbers for the McAllen branch.

comment on information collection and

recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR

1320.8(s)) and specify that no person is

required to respond to an information

collection unless it displays a valid

OMB control number. In accordance

with the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995, RSPA has received OMB approval

of the following ICRs:

Title: Cargo Tank Specification

Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2137–0014.

Title: Rulemaking, Exemption and

Preemption Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2137–0051.

Title: Requirements for Rail Tank Car

Tanks, Transportation of Hazardous

Materials by Rail.

OMB Control Number: 2137–0059.

These information collection

approvals expire on September 30,

2000.

Issued in Washington, DC on September

19, 1997.

Edward T. Mazzullo,

Director, Office of Hazardous Materials

Standards.

[FR Doc. 97–25435 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB No. MC–F–20906]

Capital Motor Lines, et al.—Pooling—

Greyhound Lines, Inc.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board;

DOT.

ACTION: Notice of approval in part of

pooling application and supplemental

notice of proposed pooling application.

SUMMARY: Applicants, Capital Motor

Lines, d/b/a Capital Trailways, of

Montgomery, AL, and Colonial

Trailways, of Mobile, AL, and

Greyhound Lines, Inc., of Dallas, TX,

jointly seek approval under 49 U.S.C.

14302 of an operations and revenue

pooling agreement to govern their motor

passenger and express transportation

services between described points in

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,

and Mississippi. Notice of the

application was published in the

Federal Register on April 23, 1997 (62

FR 19853). We have approved the

application in part and have tentatively

approved the remainder of the

application in a decision served

concurrently with this notice. The

original notice did not completely

describe the scope of the pooling

agreement, necessitating this

republication to describe more fully the

transportation services governed by

applicants’ agreement and to provide

additional opportunity for comment as

to that part of the application for which

approval has not been finally given.

DATES: Comments are due by October

27, 1997 and, if comments are filed,

applicants’ rebuttal is due by November

14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10

copies of comments referring to STB No.

MC–F–20906 to: Surface Transportation

Board, Office of the Secretary, Case

Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20423–0001. Also, send

one copy of comments to applicants’

representatives: Dennis N. Barnes, 1800

M Street, N.W. (#600N), Washington, DC

20036–5869; and Fritz R. Kahn, Suite

750 West, 1100 New York Avenue,

N.W., Washington, DC 20005–3934.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beryl Gordon, (202) 565–1600. [TDD for

the hearing impaired: (202) 565–1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The prior

notice of the application stated that

applicants’ operations and revenue

pooling agreement governs their motor

passenger and express transportation

services between Mobile and

Birmingham, AL, and between Mobile

and New Orleans, LA. No comments

were received. However, in addition to

the described routes, the pooling

agreement also governs routes between

Mobile and Montgomery, AL, and

between Mobile and Jackson, MS, and

between Montgomery and Birmingham,

between Montgomery and Tallahassee,

FL, between Montgomery and Meridian,

MS, and between Montgomery and

Columbus, GA. We have reviewed the

application and have granted final

approval for the proposed pooling of

services that were specifically covered

by our prior notice, and have tentatively

approved the remainder of the

application in a decision served

September 25, 1997. Because the scope

of the application is broader than the

notice originally published, our

approval for the broader portion is

contingent upon publication of this

notice and the opportunity for public

comment. If no comments are received

by the due date, our tentative approval

of that part of the application will

become final.

Copies of the application may be

obtained free of charge by contacting

applicants’ representatives. Copies of

our decision tentatively approving the

application may be purchased from DC

News & Data, Inc., 1925 K Street, N.W.,

Suite 210, Washington, DC 20006.

Telephone: (202) 289–4357. (Assistance

for the hearing impaired is available

through TDD services (202) 565–1695.)

A copy of this notice will be served on

the Department of Justice, Antitrust

Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20530.

Decided: September 17, 1997.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice

Chairman Owen.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–25480 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33459]

Rio Valley Railroad, Inc. and Rio Valley

Switching Company—Lease and

Operation Exemption—Southern

Pacific Transportation Company

Rio Valley Railroad, Inc. (RVRI) and

Rio Valley Switching Company (RVSC),

Class III rail carriers, have filed a joint

verified notice of exemption under 49

CFR 1150.41 for RVRI to lease a total of

12.79 miles of rail lines owned by

Southern Pacific Transportation

Company, and for RVSC to operate these

lines pursuant to an operating

agreement with RVRI. The transaction

was expected to be consummated on or

shortly after September 11, 1997, the

effective date of the exemption.

The lines involved in the lease and

operation are described as follows: (1) A

portion of the Brownsville branch at or

near Edinburg, TX, between milepost

142.65 at the west leg of the wye track

and milepost 145.0, a short distance east

of the plant of Inland Paperbox

Packaging, a distance of 2.35 miles; and,

(2) a portion of the McAllen branch

between milepost 141.52 at the end of

the Edinburg line at or near Edinburg,

TX, and milepost 151.96 at the point of

connection of that line with the line of

Union Pacific Railroad Company at or

near McAllen, TX, a distance of 10.44

miles.1

If the notice contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the

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

may be filed at any time. The filing of

a petition to revoke will not

automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33459, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423–