Document ID: PHMSA-2007-28505-0002
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permits
Posted Date: 2008-01-04T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 3)]
[Notices]               
[Page 922-923]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ja08-62]                         

[[Page 922]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2007-28505]

 
 Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permits

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal pipeline safety laws allow a pipeline operator to 
request PHMSA to waive compliance with any part of the Federal pipeline 
safety regulations. We are publishing this notice to provide a list of 
requests we have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from 
compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. This notice seeks 
public comment on these requests, including comments on any 
environmental impacts. In addition, this notice reminds the public that 
we have changed what we call a decision granting such a request to a 
special permit. At the conclusion of the comment period, PHMSA will 
evaluate each request individually to determine whether to grant a 
special permit or deny the request.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding any of these requests for special 
permit by February 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the request 
and may be submitted in the following ways:
     E-Gov Web Site: http://www.Regulations.gov. This site 

allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice 
issued by any agency.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: You should identify the docket ID for the request you 
are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your 
comments by mail, submit two copies. To receive confirmation that PHMSA 
received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. 
Internet users may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Note: Comments are posted without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information provided. 

There is a privacy statement published on http://www.regulations.gov
.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Lemoi by telephone at (404) 832-
1160; or, e-mail at wayne.lemoi@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Change in Nomenclature

    PHMSA changed the name of a decision we made granting a request for 
waiver of compliance from ``decision granting waiver'' to ``special 
permit'' to reflect that granting the request will not reduce safety. 
We commonly add safety conditions to decisions granting waivers to 
ensure that waiving compliance with an existing pipeline safety 
standard is consistent with pipeline safety. The change was simply a 
name change for a decision granting waiver under 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1).

Comments Invited on Requests for Waiver

    PHMSA has filed in the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) 
requests for waivers we have received from pipeline operators seeking 
relief from compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. Each 
request has been assigned a separate docket ID in the FDMS. We invite 
interested persons to participate by reviewing these requests and by 
submitting written comments, data or other views. Please include any 
comments on the environmental impacts that granting the requests may 
have.
    Before acting on any request, PHMSA will evaluate all comments 
received on or before the comment closing date. We will consider 
comments received after this date if it is possible to do so without 
incurring additional expense or delay. We may grant or deny these 
requests based on the comments we receive.
    PHMSA has received the following requests for waivers of compliance 
with pipeline safety regulations.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Docket ID                     Requester                   Regulation(s)            Nature of waiver
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2007-29033............  ExxonMobil Pipeline Company.  49 CFR 195.452(h)...........  To allow certain
                                                                                           anomalies discovered
                                                                                           on the New Iberia to
                                                                                           Sunset Pipeline in
                                                                                           Louisiana to remain
                                                                                           ``as-is'' by
                                                                                           permanently
                                                                                           maintaining an
                                                                                           operating pressure
                                                                                           reduction taken on
                                                                                           January 3, 2007. The
                                                                                           anomalies were
                                                                                           discovered using In-
                                                                                           Line Inspection (ILI)
                                                                                           tools during
                                                                                           Integrity Management
                                                                                           Program (IMP)
                                                                                           assessments.
PHMSA-2007-29034............  ConocoPhillips Pipe Line      49 CFR 195.452(h)...........  To waive repair
                               Company.                                                    requirements for one
                                                                                           dent located on the
                                                                                           top of the BL-01
                                                                                           pipeline from
                                                                                           Hardtner, KS to
                                                                                           Wichita, KS and for
                                                                                           one dent located on
                                                                                           the top of the CM-01
                                                                                           pipeline from
                                                                                           Kingfisher, OK to
                                                                                           Medford, OK. The
                                                                                           dents were discovered
                                                                                           using ILI tools
                                                                                           during IMP
                                                                                           assessments.
PHMSA-2007-0038.............  ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.   49 CFR 195.583..............  To waive atmospheric
                               (CPAI).                                                     corrosion inspection
                                                                                           requirements for
                                                                                           certain non-piggable
                                                                                           sections of CPAI's
                                                                                           above ground
                                                                                           pipelines on the
                                                                                           North Slope of
                                                                                           Alaska.
PHMSA-2007-28994............  Gulf South Pipeline Company,  49 CFR 192.111..............  To authorize operation
                               L.P.                         49 CFR 192.201..............   of the Southeast
                                                            49 CFR 192.619..............   Expansion Project, a
                                                                                           110.8-mile gas
                                                                                           transmission
                                                                                           pipeline, from
                                                                                           Harrisville, MS to
                                                                                           Choctaw County, AL at
                                                                                           a maximum allowable
                                                                                           operating pressure
                                                                                           (MAOP) of 80% of the
                                                                                           specified minimum
                                                                                           yield strength
                                                                                           (SMYS).
PHMSA-2007-29078............  Kern River Gas Transmission   49 CFR 192.111..............  To authorize operation
                               Company.                     49 CFR 192.201..............   of approximately
                                                            49 CFR 192.505..............   1,380 miles of the
                                                            49 CFR 192.619..............   Kern River pipeline
                                                                                           system and 300 miles
                                                                                           of Common Facilities
                                                                                           running from Lincoln
                                                                                           County, WY through
                                                                                           Utah and into San
                                                                                           Bernardino County, CA
                                                                                           at an MAOP of 80%
                                                                                           SMYS in Class 1
                                                                                           locations, 67% SMYS
                                                                                           in Class 2 locations,
                                                                                           and 56% SMYS in Class
                                                                                           3 locations and
                                                                                           compressor stations.

[[Page 923]]

PHMSA-2007-29032............  Texas Eastern Transmission,   49 CFR 192.611..............  To authorize operation
                               L.P. (a Spectra Energy                                      of 19 pipeline
                               Company).                                                   segments at 6 sites
                                                                                           along Lines 14, 18,
                                                                                           and 31 downstream of
                                                                                           the Union Church and
                                                                                           Clinton compressor
                                                                                           stations in
                                                                                           Mississippi without
                                                                                           reducing operating
                                                                                           pressure as a result
                                                                                           of a change from
                                                                                           Class 1 to Class 2
                                                                                           locations.
PHMSA-2007-0039.............  Gulf South Pipeline Company,  49 CFR 192.611..............  To authorize operation
                               L.P.                                                        of 3 pipeline
                                                                                           segments on the TPL
                                                                                           880 pipeline in
                                                                                           Marion County, AL
                                                                                           without reducing
                                                                                           operating pressure as
                                                                                           a result of a change
                                                                                           from Class 1 to Class
                                                                                           3 locations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 27, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-25634 Filed 1-3-08; 8:45 am]

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