[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 56525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19199]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-21314; Notice 2]


Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; BOC Gases

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Grant of Waiver; BOC Gases.

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SUMMARY: BOC Gases (BOC) petitioned PHMSA for a waiver from the 
pipeline safety standards at 49 CFR 195.306(c)(5) to allow the use of 
inert gas or carbon dioxide as the test medium for pressure testing its 
existing carbon dioxide pipeline.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The hazardous liquid pipeline safety 
regulation at 49 CFR 195.306(c)(5) allows an operator of a carbon 
dioxide pipeline to use inert gas or carbon dioxide as the test medium 
if the pipe involved is new pipe having a longitudinal joint factor of 
1.00.
    BOC is requesting the waiver to use carbon dioxide as the test 
medium in its carbon dioxide pipeline system. The BOC carbon dioxide 
pipeline system is approximately 14 miles northwest of Green River, 
Wyoming and located in Sweetwater County. (The County is a remote, 
uninhabited area that does not lie within any city or other populated 
limits.) The pipeline was constructed in February 1995 and is 7 miles 
in length. The line is constructed of 3.5-inch diameter, American 
Petroleum Institute (API) API 5L, Grade B seamless pipe, and has a wall 
thickness of 0.300-inches.
    BOC calculated the pipe's internal design pressure to be 4,320 
pounds per square inch gauge (psig) using the formula in Sec.  195.106 
and pressure tested the pipe after construction. The minimum pressure 
was 3,575 psig and the pipe was tested for 2 hours. The pipeline is 
effectively coated and has had a sacrificial anode cathodic protection 
system since its construction.
    In justification for this waiver, BOC proposed the following 
testing procedure:
    <bullet> BOC will use liquid carbon dioxide to pressure test the 
entire 7 mile pipeline;
    <bullet> BOC will maintain a minimum test pressure of 3,575 psig or 
60% of the pipeline's specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) for at 
least 4 hours;
    <bullet> BOC will test the pipeline for an additional 4 hours at a 
minimum pressure of 3,146 psig or 48% of SMYS;
    <bullet> BOC will station personnel along the pipeline to observe 
any conditions which might indicate leakage during the test;
    <bullet> BOC personnel will be in constant communication with its 
personnel who will supervise and conduct the pressure test; and
    <bullet> BOC's building facilities will be unoccupied and its 
personnel will be stationed along the pipeline where it parallels the 
State highway whenever the test pressure exceeds 50% SMYS during the 
pressure test.
    BOC asserts that this pipeline does not pose a risk to the public 
or the environment because it is in a remote location, in excellent 
condition, and will be tested and operated at a low percentage of SMYS.
    After reviewing the waiver request, PHMSA published a notice 
inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be 
granted (70 FR 40780; July 14, 2005). No comments were received from 
the public in response to the notice.
    For the reasons explained above and in the July 14, 2005 Notice, 
PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is not inconsistent with pipeline 
safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. 
Therefore, BOC's request for waiver of compliance from 49 CFR 
195.306(c)(5) is granted on the condition that BOC follow its proposed 
testing procedure for testing its carbon dioxide pipeline system.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 21, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-19199 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P