Document ID: PHMSA-2010-0016-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permit
Posted Date: 2010-01-26T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 26, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 16)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4136-4137]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja10-117]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0016]

 
Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
February 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket numbers for the 
specific special permit requests 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

[[Page 4137]]

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.
    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone can search the electronic form of 
comments received in response to any of our dockets by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement was published in the Federal Register on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General: Kay McIver by telephone at 
(202) 366-0113; or, e-mail at kay.mciver@dot.gov.
    Technical: Steve Nanney by telephone at (713) 272-2855; or, e-mail 
at steve.nanney@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has received these requests for 
special permits from pipeline operators who seek relief from compliance 
with certain pipeline safety regulations. Each request is filed in the 
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) and has been assigned a 
separate docket number in the FDMS. Each docket includes any technical 
analysis or other supporting documentation provided by the requestor, 
including a description of any alternative measures the operator 
proposes to take in lieu of compliance with the current regulations. 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 impacts that may result if these special 
permits are granted.
    Before acting on these special permit requests, PHMSA will evaluate 
all comments received on or before the comments 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 a 
request and what terms and conditions are appropriate.
    PHMSA has received the following two special permit requests:

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            Docket No.                    Requester            Regulation(s)         Nature of special permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2009-0390...................  Colonial Pipeline      49 CFR 195.310(b)....  Colonial Pipeline Company
                                     Company.                                      requests relief from certain
                                                                                   recordkeeping requirements
                                                                                   for two segments of Line 01.
                                                                                   Colonial Pipeline Company
                                                                                   operates 1,049 miles of 40-
                                                                                   inch and 36-inch diameter
                                                                                   steel pipeline that runs from
                                                                                   Houston, Texas to Greensboro,
                                                                                   North Carolina. The segments
                                                                                   of request include
                                                                                   approximately 66 miles of 40-
                                                                                   inch pipeline in LA, and 10
                                                                                   miles of 36-inch pipeline in
                                                                                   GA, for which Colonial can no
                                                                                   longer locate certain
                                                                                   pressure recording charts and
                                                                                   calibration data from the
                                                                                   original construction
                                                                                   hydrostatic testing of the
                                                                                   pipeline. These original
                                                                                   construction hydrostatic
                                                                                   tests were conducted more
                                                                                   than thirty years ago. The
                                                                                   application is for a special
                                                                                   permit to waive the
                                                                                   requirement to have retained
                                                                                   the pressure recording charts
                                                                                   and certain other pressure
                                                                                   test data.
PHMSA-2009-0407...................  Union Oil of           49 CFR 195.452(h)(3)   Union Oil of California
                                     California (Chevron).  and                    requests a waiver to the 180-
                                                            195.452(h)(4)(iii).    day repair requirement for a
                                                                                   riser which is part of the
                                                                                   Anna platform ``A'' pipeline.
                                                                                   The Anna platform ``A''
                                                                                   pipeline terminates at the
                                                                                   Bruce platform riser located
                                                                                   in Kenai Borough, Alaska on
                                                                                   the Cook Inlet, a navigable
                                                                                   waterway. The Bruce platform
                                                                                   riser, for which the special
                                                                                   permit is sought, is a 12-
                                                                                   inch OD riser, constructed of
                                                                                   .500 inch wall thickness,
                                                                                   ASTM A53 grade B material
                                                                                   with coating of unknown
                                                                                   origin. The riser was
                                                                                   constructed in 1967. Union
                                                                                   Oil of California conducted
                                                                                   an in-line inspection in
                                                                                   2008. The results
                                                                                   demonstrated a 64% wall loss.
                                                                                   Union Oil of California
                                                                                   requests a waiver from
                                                                                   repairs due to the
                                                                                   inaccessibility of the repair
                                                                                   location, the MOP, and the
                                                                                   remaining 36% original wall
                                                                                   thickness. Union Oil of
                                                                                   California proposes
                                                                                   alternative measures to
                                                                                   mitigate the wall thickness
                                                                                   loss. These measures include
                                                                                   re-inspection of the 12-inch
                                                                                   pipeline riser location in
                                                                                   2010.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2010.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2010-1470 Filed 1-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P