Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/07/27/2011-19029/pipeline-safety-potential-for-damage-to-pipeline-facilities-caused-by-flooding
Timestamp: 2018-04-21 08:49:02
Document Index: 77715412

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 190', '§\u2009192', '§\u2009195', '§\u2009195', '§\u2009195', '§\u2009192', 'art 191', 'art 195', '§\u2009191']

Federal Register :: Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding
Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding
A Notice by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on 07/27/2011
Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0177
Advisory Bulletin (ADB-11-04)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-19029 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-19029
PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to communicate the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding. This advisory includes actions that operators should consider taking to ensure the integrity of pipelines in case of flooding.
Operators of pipelines subject to regulation by PHMSA should contact the appropriate PHMSA Regional Office. The PHMSA Regional Offices and their contact information are as follows:
Eastern Region: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, call 609-989-2171.
Southern Region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee, call 404-832-1140.
Central Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, call 816-329-3800.
Southwest Region: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, call 713-272-2859.
Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, call 720-963-3160.
Intrastate pipeline operators should contact the appropriate State pipeline safety authority. A list of State pipeline safety authorities is provided at: http://www.napsr.org/​managers/​napsr_​state_​program_​managers2.htm.
Section 192.613(a) of the Pipeline Safety Regulations (49 CFR parts 190-199) states that “[e]ach operator shall have a procedure for continuing surveillance of its facilities to determine and take appropriate action concerning changes in class location, failures, leakage history, corrosion, substantial changes in cathodic protection requirements, and other unusual operating and maintenance conditions.” Section 192.613(b) further states that “[i]f a segment of pipeline is determined to be in unsatisfactory condition but no immediate hazard exists, the operator shall initiate a program to recondition or phase out the segment involved, or, if the segment cannot be reconditioned or phased out, reduce the maximum allowable operating pressure in accordance with § 192.619 (a) and (b).”
Likewise, § 195.401(b)(1) of the Pipeline Safety Regulations states that “[w]henever an operator discovers any condition that could adversely affect the safe operation of its pipeline system, it must correct the condition within a reasonable time. However, if the condition is of such a nature that it presents an immediate hazard to persons or property, the operator may not operate the affected part of the system until it has corrected the unsafe condition.” Section 195.401(b)(2) further states that “[w]hen an operator discovers a condition on a pipeline covered under [the integrity management requirements in] § 195.452, the operator must correct the condition as prescribed in § 195.452(h).”
Severe flooding is the kind of unusual operating condition that can adversely affect the safe operation of a pipeline and require corrective action under §§ 192.613(a) and 195.401(b). In October 1994, major flooding along the San Jacinto River near Houston, Texas, resulted in eight pipeline failures and compromised the integrity of several other pipelines. Similar flooding has occurred along the Yellowstone River in the past few months. While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company experienced a pipeline failure near Start Printed Page 44986Laurel, Montana, on July 1, 2011, resulting in the release of crude oil into the Yellowstone River.
Severe flooding and other conditions that can adversely affect the safe operation of a pipeline may also trigger the reporting requirements in Part 191 and Part 195 or applicable state reporting requirements. PHMSA requires operators to submit telephonic and written reports when natural gas or hazardous liquid releases occur that exceed certain threshold requirements. PHMSA also requires operators to submit reports of safety-related conditions involving potentially unsafe conditions on natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines (§§ 191.23 and 195.55).
Subject: Potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding.
Advisory: Severe flooding can adversely affect the safe operation of a pipeline. Operators need to direct their resources in a manner that will enable them to determine the potential effects of flooding on their pipeline systems. Operators are urged to take the following actions to prevent and mitigate damage to pipeline facilities and ensure public and environmental safety in areas affected by flooding:
5. Deploy personnel so that they will be in position to take emergency actions, such as shut down, isolation, or containment.
6. Determine if facilities that are normally above ground (e.g., valves, regulators, relief sets, etc.) have become submerged and are in danger of being struck by vessels or debris; if possible, such facilities should be marked with an appropriate buoy with Coast Guard approval.
If a pipeline has suffered damage, is shut-in, or is being operated at a reduced pressure as a precautionary measure as a result of flooding, the operator should advise the appropriate PHMSA Regional Office or State pipeline safety authority before returning the line to service, increasing its operating pressure, or otherwise changing its operating status. PHMSA or the State will review all available information and advise the operator, on a case-by-case basis, whether and to what extent a line can safely be returned to full service.
[FR Doc. 2011-19029 Filed 7-26-11; 8:45 am]