Document ID: PHMSA-2013-0146-0002
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Pipeline Safety: Special Permits
Posted Date: 2013-08-26T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52821-52822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20640]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0146]

Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

DATES: Submit any comments regarding this special permit request by 
September 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number 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: 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: Steve Nanney by telephone at 713 272 2855, or email at 
Steve.Nanney@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has received a request for a special 
permit from a pipeline operator seeking relief from compliance with 
certain pipeline safety regulations. The request includes a technical 
analysis provided by the operator. The request has been filed at 
www.Regulations.gov and assigned a docket number. We invite interested 
persons to participate by reviewing this special permit request 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 this special permit is granted.
    Before acting on this special permit request, 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.
    PHMSA has received the following special permit request:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Nature of special
          Docket No.                      Requester                Regulation(s) affected           permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2013-0146...............  North Slope Borough, Alaska..  49 CFR 192.939...............  To authorize the
                                                                                               North Slope
                                                                                               Borough, Alaska
                                                                                               variance from 49
                                                                                               CFR 192.939 for
                                                                                               the reassessment
                                                                                               interval of its 6-
                                                                                               inch Natural Gas
                                                                                               Transmission Line
                                                                                               that runs from
                                                                                               South Barrow Gas
                                                                                               Fields,
                                                                                               approximately 4
                                                                                               miles southeast
                                                                                               of the City of
                                                                                               Barrow, to the
                                                                                               Barrow Utilities
                                                                                               & Electric
                                                                                               Cooperative Inc.
                                                                                               (BUECI) in the
                                                                                               city of Borough,
                                                                                               Alaska. The total
                                                                                               length of the
                                                                                               pipeline is
                                                                                               29,000 feet.
                                                                                              On June 4, 2013,
                                                                                               North Slope
                                                                                               Borough Assembly,
                                                                                               identified and
                                                                                               allocated funding
                                                                                               for the
                                                                                               construction of a
                                                                                               new secondary
                                                                                               redundant
                                                                                               pipeline. North
                                                                                               Slope Borough
                                                                                               requested relief
                                                                                               from the
                                                                                               requirements of
                                                                                               Sec.   192.939
                                                                                               until December
                                                                                               31, 2016. This is
                                                                                               to allow for
                                                                                               completion of the
                                                                                               new pipeline and
                                                                                               removal of the
                                                                                               current pipeline
                                                                                               from service, in
                                                                                               order to address
                                                                                               the reassessment
                                                                                               requirements
                                                                                               without creating
                                                                                               a hazard or loss
                                                                                               of product supply
                                                                                               to the Alaska
                                                                                               community.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 52822]]

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 20, 2013.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2013-20640 Filed 8-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P