[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 232 (Monday, December 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23641]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-19914; Grant 2]


Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Enstar Natural Gas Company

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice; grant of waiver.

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SUMMARY: Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar) petitioned PHMSA for a 
waiver of the pipeline safety regulation that prohibits tracer wire 
from being wrapped around the pipe.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The pipeline safety regulation at 49 CFR 192.321(e), Installation 
of plastic pipe, requires plastic pipe that is not encased to have an 
electric conducting wire or other means of locating the pipe while it 
is underground. Tracer wire may not be wrapped around the pipe and 
contact with the pipe must be minimized but is not prohibited. Tracer 
wire or other metallic elements installed for pipe locating purposes 
must be resistant to corrosion damage, either by use of coated copper 
wire or by other means. Enstar requested a waiver from Sec.  192.321(e) 
because it is uncommon for lightning strikes to occur in the service 
area of its pipeline. Enstar contends wrapping tracer wire around its 
plastic pipe allows utilities to be accurately located and thus reduces 
the risk of third-party damage to its pipeline.
    In support of its waiver request, Enstar provided information from 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) who is responsible for tracking 
lightning strike occurrences and monitoring forest fire activity. BLM 
determined that lightning strikes are most frequent north and west of 
the Alaska Range. Accordingly, BLM installed lightning detection 
systems with electrical sensors at nine stations in Alaska where 
lightning strikes are most common. BLM did not install electrical 
sensors to the south and east of the Alaska Range where Enstar 
facilities are located, because it determined lightning strikes are 
uncommon in those areas.
    Enstar's service area is located in south central Alaska. Because 
of the unique geographical and climatic conditions of Enstar's 
pipeline, Enstar has been able to demonstrate that in 32 years, it has 
recorded only one confirmed pipeline incident due to lightning strikes.
    On April 6, 2005, PHMSA published a notice in Federal Register 
seeking public comment on Enstar's waiver request (70 FR 17509); no 
comments were received.

Grant of Waiver

    Based on the information presented by Enstar showing that lightning 
strikes are rare in the service area of its pipeline, PHMSA finds that 
granting this waiver request is not inconsistent with pipeline safety. 
Therefore, Enstar's request for waiver from the regulatory requirements 
of Sec.  192.321(e) is granted. If, however, PHMSA determines the terms 
of this waiver are no longer appropriate or the overall effect of the 
waiver is inconsistent with pipeline safety, PHMSA may revoke this 
waiver and require Enstar to comply with the regulatory requirements of 
Sec.  192.321(e).
    This waiver is granted on the condition that Enstar:
    <bullet> Apply this waiver only to its pipeline facilities located 
south of the Alaska Range in the state of Alaska;
    <bullet> Protect its pipelines from ground faults--in particular, 
those pipelines that may be located in an electric power corridor; and
    <bullet> Place tracer wire in proximity to, but not in direct 
contact with, its pipeline whenever and where possible.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118(c) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 28, 2005.
Joy Kadnar,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-23641 Filed 12-2-05; 8:45 am]
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