Document ID: PHMSA-2011-0063-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety; Request for Special Permit
Posted Date: 2011-04-15T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21423-21425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9226]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0063]

Pipeline Safety: Request 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 
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 the requests and determine whether 
to grant or deny a special permit.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
May 16, 2011.

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: 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://

[[Page 21424]]

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 e-mail at kay.mciver@dot.gov.
    Technical: Steve Nanney by telephone at 713-628-7479, or e-mail at 
Steve.Nanney@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has received requests for special 
permits from several pipeline operators who seek relief from compliance 
with certain pipeline safety regulations. Each request includes a 
technical analysis provided by the respective operator. Each request 
has been filed at www.Regulations.gov and assigned a separate docket 
number. 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.
    PHMSA has received the following special permit requests:

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            Docket No.                     Requester              Regulation(s)        Nature of special permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2010-0311...................  Gulf South Pipeline      49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize Gulf South
                                     Company LP (GSPC)                                Pipeline LP (GSPC) to
                                     (Operated by Boardwalk                           engage in an alternative
                                     Pipeline Partners).                              approach to conduct risk
                                                                                      control activities based
                                                                                      on Integrity Management
                                                                                      Program principles rather
                                                                                      than lowering the Maximum
                                                                                      Allowable Operating
                                                                                      Pressure (MAOP) or
                                                                                      replacing the subject pipe
                                                                                      segments. This application
                                                                                      is for two 30-inch
                                                                                      segments, segments 3 and
                                                                                      4, of the TPL 330 natural
                                                                                      gas pipeline located in
                                                                                      St. Landry Parish of
                                                                                      Louisiana. These segments
                                                                                      have changed from Class 1
                                                                                      and 2 locations to Class 3
                                                                                      locations. Segments 3 and
                                                                                      4 are located at Survey
                                                                                      Station 3,673+02 ft. to
                                                                                      Survey Station 3,696+13
                                                                                      ft. and Survey Station
                                                                                      3,772+10 ft. to Survey
                                                                                      Station 3,806+09 ft.,
                                                                                      respectively. Both
                                                                                      segments have a MAOP of
                                                                                      1,000 psig and a total
                                                                                      combined length of 1.08
                                                                                      miles.
PHMSA-2010-0300...................  Belle Fourche..........  49 CFR 195.106,         To authorize Belle Fourche
                                                              195.112(a)(b),          an exemption from certain
                                                              195.120, 195.200,       requirements in Subpart A,
                                                              195.406(a)(1) and       Subpart C and Subpart H of
                                                              195.653.                49 CFR Part 195. Belle
                                                                                      Fourche seeks exception in
                                                                                      two general categories;
                                                                                      first for permission to
                                                                                      allow flexible steel pipe
                                                                                      in Federally regulated
                                                                                      service, and second to
                                                                                      adopt the use of
                                                                                      requirements and standards
                                                                                      appropriate for flexible
                                                                                      steel pipes. Belle Fourche
                                                                                      further seeks permission
                                                                                      to insert Flexsteel pipe
                                                                                      into 32 miles of existing
                                                                                      out-of-service 4-inch
                                                                                      steel pipelines, for the
                                                                                      transport of diesel fuel
                                                                                      from Belle Fourche's Hawk
                                                                                      Point station to the Arch
                                                                                      Coal Mine diesel tank in
                                                                                      Campbell County, Wyoming.
PHMSA-2006-26618..................  El Paso Pipeline Group   49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize Tennessee Gas
                                     for Tennessee Gas                                Pipeline to extend
                                     Pipeline.                                        previously approved permit
                                                                                      for the 30-inch Niagara
                                                                                      Spur Loop Line 230B-200,
                                                                                      near Lockport, New York by
                                                                                      an additional 1,250 feet.
                                                                                      The previously issued
                                                                                      permit allowed Tennessee
                                                                                      Gas Pipeline (TGP) to
                                                                                      operate at or below the
                                                                                      MAOP of 877 psig.
PHMSA-2011-0056...................  Exxon Mobil............  49 CFR 195.452(h)(4)..  To authorize Exxon Mobil
                                                                                      Pipeline Company (EMPCo)
                                                                                      permission to employ
                                                                                      alternative repair
                                                                                      criteria to repair
                                                                                      reconditioned sections of
                                                                                      the South Bend to New
                                                                                      Iberia and the New Iberia
                                                                                      to Sunset segments of
                                                                                      their pipeline.
                                                                                      Specifically EMPCo
                                                                                      proposes to leave in-situ
                                                                                      the anomalous conditions
                                                                                      that were previously
                                                                                      repaired/addressed during
                                                                                      reconditioning activities
                                                                                      performed circa 1951,
                                                                                      prior to the pipeline
                                                                                      installation. This
                                                                                      pipeline transports crude
                                                                                      production from
                                                                                      Louisiana's South Marsh
                                                                                      Island Offshore System
                                                                                      pipeline (South Bend
                                                                                      Station) to New Iberia and
                                                                                      Sunset stations for
                                                                                      further delivery into
                                                                                      Alon's refinery in Krotz
                                                                                      Springs or the Anchorage
                                                                                      Terminal near Baton Rouge.
                                                                                      The segment is 34.5 miles
                                                                                      long. Of that portion, the
                                                                                      HCA mileage is 32.0 miles.
                                                                                      The pipeline runs through
                                                                                      the counties of Parish,
                                                                                      St. Martin, Lafayette and
                                                                                      St. Landy in Louisiana.
                                                                                      The pipeline segment is
                                                                                      Interstate with original
                                                                                      construction dates of
                                                                                      1951, 1952 and 1967. The
                                                                                      majority of the 12.75'' OD
                                                                                      line was constructed from
                                                                                      pipe that was
                                                                                      reconditioned post World
                                                                                      War II (including puddle
                                                                                      welding of pitted and
                                                                                      dented areas, double
                                                                                      jointing, and new
                                                                                      coating).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 21425]]

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 8, 2011.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2011-9226 Filed 4-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P