Document ID: PHMSA-2009-0285-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permit
Posted Date: 2009-12-10T05:00Z

[Federal Register: December 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 236)]
[Notices]               
[Page 65591-65592]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de09-103]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0285]

 
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 several 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 
January 11, 2010.

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 a.m. and 5 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.

    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any docket. DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement 
was published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) 
and is available on http://www.regulations.gov.

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 several 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. 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 special permit requests:

[[Page 65592]]

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                                                     Regulation(s)
         Docket Number              Requester           affected               Nature of special permit
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PHMSA-2009-0266...............  CountryMark        49 CFR             CountryMark Pipeline, LLC requested relief
                                 Cooperative, LLP.  195.452(h)(4)(ii   from certain federal regulations for its
                                                    )(A),.             178 mile Intrastate, Mount Vernon,
                                                   49 CFR              Indiana to Jolietville, Indiana pipeline.
                                                    195.452(h)(4)(ii   CountryMark requests that the special
                                                    i)(B).             permit conditions be in accordance with
                                                                       the guidelines from ASME B31.4 and the
                                                                       PRCI Pipeline Repair Manual, which states
                                                                       that:
                                                                       Dents deeper than 6% should be
                                                                       repaired.
                                                                       In pipe NPS 4 and smaller, dents
                                                                       are allowed up to \1/4\ inch and
                                                                       Dents larger than 2% should be
                                                                       analyzed for fatigue.
                                                                      The pipeline runs through the counties of
                                                                       Posey, Gibson, Knox, Green, Owen, Putnam,
                                                                       Morgan, Hendricks, Boone and Hamilton in
                                                                       Indiana. The pipeline has two segments;
                                                                       (1) Mount Vernon to Switz City; and (2)
                                                                       Switz City to Jolietville.
                                                                      This intrastate pipeline was constructed
                                                                       in 1952 and 1953 (8\5/8\-inch, 0.322''
                                                                       wall thickness, Grade B steel, seamless
                                                                       pipe) and follows a largely rural route
                                                                       as it passes through 13 (11 Ecological
                                                                       and 2 Drinking Water) Unusually Sensitive
                                                                       Areas. The pipeline operates at a MOP of
                                                                       800 psig.
PHMSA-2009-0273...............  Vintage            49 CFR 192.53,     Vintage Production California LLC
                                 Production         192.55, 492.105,   requested relief from certain federal
                                 California LLC.    192.107,           regulations for the use of flexible steel
                                                    192.109,           pipe. The flexible steel pipe that
                                                    192.111,           Vintage proposes to use was designed and
                                                    192.113, 192.221   manufactured in accordance with API 17J,
                                                    192.455,           Specification for Un-bonded Flexible
                                                    192.503(b)(3),     Pipe. Vintage proposes to install
                                                    192.619.           approximately 46,300 feet of 6-inch Flex
                                                                       Steel \TM\ pipe in Ventura County,
                                                                       California.
PHMSA-2009-0319...............  Kern River Gas     49 CFR 192.625...  Kern River Gas Transmission Company
                                 Transmission                          requested relief from federal regulations
                                 Company.                              require odorization of natural gas in its
                                                                       Centennial Lateral Line. This line is
                                                                       located in Clark County, Las Vegas,
                                                                       Nevada. The lateral begins at the Kern
                                                                       River 36-inch main line (mile post
                                                                       519.68) and runs to a meter station that
                                                                       supplies natural gas to the Southwest Gas
                                                                       Corporation. The lateral is 1,083 feet in
                                                                       length and has a 10.750-inch diameter tap
                                                                       valve that transitions into a 12.75-inch,
                                                                       0.250'' wall thickness, Grade API 5L-X65
                                                                       pipe line. The current MAOP is 1,200 psig
                                                                       with plans to operate at 1,333 psig in
                                                                       the future per special permit, PHMSA-2007-
                                                                       29078.
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    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 60118 (c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 3, 2009.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-29400 Filed 12-9-09; 8:45 am]

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