Document ID: PHMSA-2009-0049-0002
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permits
Posted Date: 2009-04-28T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19264-19267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9610]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0049]

Pipeline Safety: Requests for Special Permits

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice of several special permit 
requests we have received from 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 and 
the terms and conditions of any grant.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
May 28, 2009.

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

[[Page 19265]]

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. 
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) 272-2855; or, e-mail 
at steve.nanney@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice concerns several requests for 
special permits received by PHMSA 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. The docket includes 
any technical analysis or other supporting documentation provided by 
the requester. 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 information including any 
comments on potential environmental impacts that may result from the 
grant of any of these special permits.
    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 the terms and conditions of any grant.
    PHMSA has received the following special permit requests:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Docket No.                      Requester            Regulation(s)       Nature of special permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2008-0286......................  MoGas Pipeline LLC      49 CFR 192.14(a)(4),   To authorize MoGas
                                        (MoGas).                49 CFR 192.619.        Pipeline LLC, to perform
                                                                                       alternative risk control
                                                                                       activities rather than
                                                                                       pressure testing the
                                                                                       pipeline to 1.25 times
                                                                                       the proposed MAOP. The
                                                                                       approximately 24.6 miles
                                                                                       long Curryville to
                                                                                       Sulpher Creek, to Auburn
                                                                                       Station pipeline begins
                                                                                       in Pike County, Missouri
                                                                                       and ends in Lincoln
                                                                                       County, Missouri. The
                                                                                       pipeline transports
                                                                                       natural gas from
                                                                                       Panhandle Eastern
                                                                                       Pipeline receipt point to
                                                                                       the St. Louis metro. This
                                                                                       is from mile post 80.38
                                                                                       to mile post 105.09. The
                                                                                       pipeline is a nominal 12-
                                                                                       inch diameter line
                                                                                       installed in 1949 and
                                                                                       1950.
PHMSA-2009-0053......................  TransCanada Pipelines   49 CFR 192.611(a)....  To authorize TCPL/ANR to
                                        (TCPL) operator of                             engage in an alternative
                                        the American Natural                           approach to conduct risk
                                        Resources (ANR)                                control activities based
                                        pipeline.                                      on Integrity Management
                                                                                       Program principles rather
                                                                                       than lowering the MAOP or
                                                                                       replacing the subject
                                                                                       pipe segment. TCPL seeks
                                                                                       relief for four areas on
                                                                                       the TCPL system where the
                                                                                       class location has
                                                                                       changed as a result of
                                                                                       new structures built
                                                                                       within 660 feet of the
                                                                                       pipeline. The pipelines
                                                                                       have all changed from a
                                                                                       Class 1 location to a
                                                                                       Class 3 location.
                                                                                      Special Permit Area 1:
                                                                                       Line 1-100 is a 30-inch
                                                                                       pipeline with a MAOP of
                                                                                       850 psig, in Lake County,
                                                                                       Indiana. The new
                                                                                       Bridgewood Subdivision
                                                                                       was constructed within
                                                                                       660 feet of the pipeline.
                                                                                       The area became a Class 3
                                                                                       location on May 4, 2007.
                                                                                      Special Permit Area 2:
                                                                                       Line 226, is part of a
                                                                                       pipeline system that
                                                                                       transports gas from
                                                                                       Viking Gas Transmission
                                                                                       Pipeline System,
                                                                                       Wisconsin to Appleton
                                                                                       Meter Station in
                                                                                       Winnebago County,
                                                                                       Wisconsin. The new
                                                                                       subdivision of 13
                                                                                       structures was
                                                                                       constructed within 660
                                                                                       feet of the pipeline. The
                                                                                       area became a Class 3
                                                                                       location on May 11, 2007.
                                                                                       The pipeline is a 24-inch
                                                                                       pipeline with a maximum
                                                                                       MAOP of 975 psig.
                                                                                      Special Permit Area 3:
                                                                                       Line 226 V7, is a 24-inch
                                                                                       pipeline that transport
                                                                                       gas from the Viking Gas
                                                                                       Transmission Pipeline
                                                                                       System to the Appleton
                                                                                       Meter System on the ANR
                                                                                       system in Outagamie
                                                                                       County, Wisconsin. This
                                                                                       line has a maximum MAOP
                                                                                       of 975 psig. A new
                                                                                       proximity structure
                                                                                       (Great Northern Container
                                                                                       Company) was constructed
                                                                                       300 feet of the pipeline.
                                                                                       The area became Class 3
                                                                                       location on May 11, 2007.

[[Page 19266]]

 
                                                                                      Special Permit Area 4:
                                                                                       Line 501, on the TCPL,
                                                                                       ANR system is part of a
                                                                                       pipeline system that
                                                                                       transports gas from the
                                                                                       Gulf Coast, Louisiana up
                                                                                       to Detroit, Michigan.
                                                                                       There are several
                                                                                       delivery points along the
                                                                                       system. The new Class 3
                                                                                       locations are located in
                                                                                       valve section between
                                                                                       survey station number
                                                                                       288+32 and 291+78 in
                                                                                       Fulton County, Ohio. This
                                                                                       new Class 3 location lies
                                                                                       within a High Consequence
                                                                                       Area (HCA). A new
                                                                                       proximity structure (Four
                                                                                       County Family Center) was
                                                                                       constructed within 300
                                                                                       feet of the pipeline. The
                                                                                       area became a Class 3
                                                                                       location on August 24,
                                                                                       2007. This section has a
                                                                                       30-inch diameter pipeline
                                                                                       and a MAOP of 858 psig.
PHMSA-2009-0054......................  Enstar Natural Gas      49 CFR 192.707.......  To authorize ENSTAR
                                        Company.                                       exemption from installing
                                                                                       pipeline markers over gas
                                                                                       mains at road and
                                                                                       railroad crossings in
                                                                                       Class 1 location and
                                                                                       Class 2 location. Instead
                                                                                       ENSTAR proposes to adopt
                                                                                       a risk based approach to
                                                                                       installing markers in
                                                                                       Class 1 location and
                                                                                       Class 2 location and
                                                                                       install markers not only
                                                                                       at road crossings but
                                                                                       over the length of the
                                                                                       large diameter (6''NPS or
                                                                                       larger) gas mains.
PHMSA-2009-0055......................  TransCanada Pipelines   .....................  To authorize TCPL/ANR to
                                        Ltd(TCPL)/American                             engage in an alternative
                                        Natural Resources                              approach to conduct risk
                                        (ANR).                                         control activities based
                                                                                       on Integrity Management
                                                                                       Program principles rather
                                                                                       than lowering the MAOP or
                                                                                       replacing the subject
                                                                                       pipe segment. This
                                                                                       application is for four
                                                                                       segments of Line 716 on
                                                                                       the TCPL/ANR segment in
                                                                                       St. Martin Parish in
                                                                                       Louisiana. This segment
                                                                                       has changed from a Class
                                                                                       1 location to a Class 3
                                                                                       location. Further growth
                                                                                       is anticipated in this
                                                                                       area and TCPL requests
                                                                                       that the special permit
                                                                                       would apply to any
                                                                                       additional pipe segments
                                                                                       located on this pipeline
                                                                                       in the inspection area
                                                                                       that may experience a
                                                                                       Class Location change in
                                                                                       the future. The pipeline
                                                                                       has a 20-inch diameter, a
                                                                                       MAOP of 1050 psig and
                                                                                       operates at 73% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2009-0056......................  TransCanada Pipelines   .....................  To authorize TCPL/ANR to
                                        Ltd(TCPL)/American                             engage in an alternative
                                        Natural Resources                              approach to conduct risk
                                        (ANR).                                         control activities based
                                                                                       on Integrity Management
                                                                                       Program principles rather
                                                                                       than lowering the MAOP or
                                                                                       replacing the subject
                                                                                       pipe segment. This
                                                                                       segment has changed from
                                                                                       a Class 1 location to a
                                                                                       Class 3 location. Further
                                                                                       growth is anticipated in
                                                                                       this area and TCPL
                                                                                       requests that the special
                                                                                       permit would apply to any
                                                                                       additional pipe segments
                                                                                       located on this pipeline
                                                                                       in the inspection area
                                                                                       that may experience a
                                                                                       Class Location change in
                                                                                       the future. This request
                                                                                       is for the 30-inch
                                                                                       diameter Line 1-501
                                                                                       pipeline located in Tate
                                                                                       County, Mississippi. This
                                                                                       loop pipeline transports
                                                                                       gas from the Gulf Coast,
                                                                                       Louisiana to Detroit,
                                                                                       Michigan, USA, and has
                                                                                       several delivery points
                                                                                       in major population
                                                                                       areas.
PHMSA-2009-0061......................  TransCanada Pipelines   .....................  To authorize TCPL/ANR to
                                        Ltd(TCPL)/American                             engage in an alternative
                                        Natural Resources                              approach to conduct risk
                                        (ANR).                                         control activities based
                                                                                       on Integrity Management
                                                                                       Program principles rather
                                                                                       than lowering the MAOP or
                                                                                       replacing the subject
                                                                                       pipe segment. This
                                                                                       segment has changed from
                                                                                       a Class 1 location to a
                                                                                       Class 3 location. Further
                                                                                       growth is anticipated in
                                                                                       this area and TCPL
                                                                                       requests that the special
                                                                                       permit would apply to any
                                                                                       additional pipe segments
                                                                                       located on this pipeline
                                                                                       in the inspection area
                                                                                       that may experience a
                                                                                       Class Location change in
                                                                                       the future. This request
                                                                                       is for Line 515 on the
                                                                                       TCPL ANR system. This is
                                                                                       a 20-inch single line
                                                                                       customer delivery lateral
                                                                                       that delivers gas to
                                                                                       ANR's Maumee Meter
                                                                                       Station. The Class
                                                                                       location change is the
                                                                                       result of the new Ridge
                                                                                       at Wrenwood subdivision
                                                                                       constructed within 660
                                                                                       feet of the pipeline.
                                                                                       These 26 new structures
                                                                                       in addition to existing
                                                                                       structures resulted in a
                                                                                       Class Location change.
                                                                                       The pipeline has a MAOP
                                                                                       of 858 psig and operates
                                                                                       at 66% of SMYS.

[[Page 19267]]

 
PHMSA-2009-0079......................  Williams                49 CFR 192.611.......  To authorize Williams
                                        Transcontinental Gas                           Transcontinental Pipe
                                        Pipe Line (WGPT).                              Line (WGPT) to engage in
                                                                                       an alternative approach
                                                                                       to conduct risk control
                                                                                       activities based on
                                                                                       Integrity Management
                                                                                       Program principles rather
                                                                                       than lowering the MAOP or
                                                                                       replacing the subject
                                                                                       pipe segment. This
                                                                                       request is for the 30-
                                                                                       inch and 36-inch
                                                                                       pipelines located in the
                                                                                       Davidson, Guilford, and
                                                                                       Rockingham counties in
                                                                                       the state of North
                                                                                       Carolina. The 30-inch
                                                                                       line has a MAOP of 780
                                                                                       psig and the 36-inch has
                                                                                       a MAOP of 780 psig. The
                                                                                       lines transport gas from
                                                                                       the Gulf Coast, East
                                                                                       Texas, and Southern
                                                                                       Louisiana to Northeast
                                                                                       Markets providing gas to
                                                                                       WGPT customers. The Class
                                                                                       location change is due to
                                                                                       the addition of 32 homes.
PHMSA-2009-0100......................  Paiute Pipeline         49 CFR 190.341, 49     To authorize Piaute
                                        Company.                CFR 192.605, 49 CFR    Pipeline Company to
                                                                192.745.               temporarily deviate from
                                                                                       certain federal pipeline
                                                                                       regulations and Piaute's
                                                                                       maintenance procedures
                                                                                       relative to transmission
                                                                                       valves, and the partial
                                                                                       operation of certain
                                                                                       buried steel ball valves
                                                                                       during regularly
                                                                                       scheduled valve
                                                                                       maintenance activities.
                                                                                       Piaute proposes
                                                                                       alternatives for this
                                                                                       deviation. Piaute owns
                                                                                       and operates 856 miles of
                                                                                       interstate gas
                                                                                       transmission pipeline in
                                                                                       the state of Nevada under
                                                                                       PHMSA Operator
                                                                                       Identification Number
                                                                                       15033.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2009.
Alan Mayberry,
Director, Engineering and Emergency Support.
[FR Doc. E9-9610 Filed 4-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P