Document ID: PHMSA-2012-0112-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permits
Posted Date: 2012-06-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34458-34459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14088]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0112]

Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is 
publishing this notice of special permit requests we have received from 
Norgasco, Inc., and BreitBurn Energy Company LP, two natural gas 
pipeline operators, seeking relief from compliance with certain 
requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This notice 
seeks public comments on the requests, including comments on any safety 
or environmental impacts. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment 
period, PHMSA will evaluate the requests and determine whether to grant 
or deny a special permit.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
July 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket numbers for the 
specific special permit 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the special 
permit request you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. 
If you submit your comments by mail, please submit two copies. To 
receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, please 
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:
    General: Kay McIver by telephone at (202) 366-0113; or, email at 
kay.mciver@dot.gov.
    Technical: Jeffery Gilliam by telephone at (202) 366-0568; or, 
email at Jeffery.Gilliam@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has received requests for special 
permits from two natural gas pipeline operators, Norgasco, Inc., 
(``NI''), and BreitBurn Energy Company LP (``BreitBurn'') seeking 
relief from compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations.\1\ The 
requests include a technical analysis provided by the operators. The 
requests are filed in the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) and 
have been assigned docket numbers, (Norgasco--PHMSA-2011-0344 and 
BreitBurn--PHMSA-2011-0343) in the FDMS. We invite interested persons 
to participate by reviewing these special permit requests at http://www.Regulations.gov, and by submitting written comments, data or other 
views. Please include any comments on potential environmental

[[Page 34459]]

impacts that may result if these special permits are granted.
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    \1\ Effective December 31, 2011, BreitBurn Energy Company LP, 
changed its name to Pacific Coast Energy Company, LP.
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    Before acting on these special permit requests, PHMSA will evaluate 
all comments received on or before the closing date. Comments will be 
evaluated after this date if it is possible to do so without incurring 
additional expense or delay. PHMSA will consider each relevant comment 
we receive in making our decision to grant or deny the requests.
    PHMSA has received the following special permit requests:

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                                                            Regulation(s)
            Docket No.                   Requester             affected            Nature of special permit
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PHMSA-2011-0344..................  Norgasco, Inc.......  49 CFR 192.121.....  The special permit request from
                                                                               Norgasco, Inc. (``NI'') seeks
                                                                               permission to use Fiberspar pipe
                                                                               up to the hydrostatic design
                                                                               basis as listed by ASTM D 2517,
                                                                               to construct and operate a three
                                                                               mile long natural gas pipeline
                                                                               located in the Deadhorse area of
                                                                               Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The pipeline
                                                                               is intended to transport natural
                                                                               gas from the oil and gas
                                                                               producers on the Alaskan North
                                                                               Slope to the existing Deadhorse
                                                                               natural gas distribution utility,
                                                                               Norgasco, Inc. The main portion
                                                                               is 2.76 miles long. All portions
                                                                               of the pipeline are located
                                                                               within the Alaskan North Slope
                                                                               Prudhoe Bay area. The entire
                                                                               pipeline is in a largely
                                                                               unpopulated area (Class 1) area.
                                                                               The pipeline will be constructed
                                                                               of a thermoset composite pipe
                                                                               that is manufactured by Fiberspar
                                                                               LinePipe, LLC. The pipeline is
                                                                               expected to be constructed during
                                                                               the 2012/2013 Winter construction
                                                                               season.
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PHMSA-2011-0343..................  BreitBurn Energy      49 CFR 192.53(c),    The special permit request from
                                    Company LP.           192.121, 192.123,    BreitBurn Energy Company LP
                                                          192.619(a).          (``BreitBurn''), seeks permission
                                                                               to use composite, reinforced
                                                                               thermoplastic (``RTP'') for the
                                                                               replacement of a segment of steel
                                                                               pipeline located in the city of
                                                                               Los Angeles, California.
                                                                               BreitBurn plans to insert a 6-
                                                                               inch OD Smart Pipe system into
                                                                               the current 12-inch OD segment of
                                                                               the existing steel gas gathering
                                                                               line. The line is in need of
                                                                               replacement due to the age of the
                                                                               pipeline and the recently
                                                                               discovered presence of internal
                                                                               corrosion. In August 2011, a leak
                                                                               developed from a threaded
                                                                               connection of pipe. On further
                                                                               examination of a cut out section,
                                                                               internal corrosion was found. The
                                                                               normal operating pressure for
                                                                               this line is 220 psig and the
                                                                               MAOP is 245 psig. This line is a
                                                                               Type B line as specified in 49
                                                                               CFR Sec.   192.8. The entire area
                                                                               through which this pipeline
                                                                               travels, and indeed the general
                                                                               area of the City of Los Angeles,
                                                                               is a densely populated and
                                                                               utilized, Class 4 location as
                                                                               defined in 49 CFR Sec.   192.5.
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    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118 (c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 7, 2012.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-14088 Filed 6-8-12; 8:45 am]
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