[Federal Register: February 8, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 26)]
[Notices]
[Page 6042-6044]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08fe07-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Pipeline Safety: Requests for Waivers of Compliance (Special
Permits)
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The federal pipeline safety laws allow a pipeline operator to
request PHMSA to waive compliance with any part of the federal pipeline
safety regulations. We are publishing this notice to provide a list of
requests we have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from
compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. This notice seeks
public
[[Page 6043]]
comment on these requests, including comments on any environmental
impacts. In addition, this notice informs the public that we are
changing what we will call a decision granting such a request to a
special permit. At the conclusion of the comment period, PHMSA will
evaluate each request individually to determine whether to grant a
special permit or deny the request.
DATES: Submit any comments regarding any of these requests for special
permit by March 12, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the request
and may be submitted in the following ways:
DOT Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. To submit comments on
the DOT electronic docket site, click ``Comment/Submissions,'' click
``Continue,'' fill in the requested information, click ``Continue,''
enter your comment, then click ``Submit.''
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room PL-401
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW,
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
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.
Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the request
you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. If you submit
your comments by mail, you should submit two copies. If you wish to
receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, you should
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit
comments at http://www.Regulations.gov, and may access all comments received by DOT at http://dms.dot.gov by performing a simple search for
the docket number.
Note: All comments will be posted without changes or edits to
http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided.
Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all
comments received for any of our dockets. You may review DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Lemoi by telephone at (404) 832-
1160; or, e-mail at wayne.lemoi@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Change in Nomenclature
PHMSA is changing the name of a decision we make granting a request
for waiver of compliance from ``decision granting waiver'' to ``special
permit'' to reflect that granting the request will not reduce safety.
We commonly add safety conditions to decisions granting waivers to
ensure that waiving compliance with an existing pipeline safety
standard is consistent with pipeline safety. This is simply a name
change for a decision granting waiver under 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1). To
avoid confusion, we will continue to process requests for waiver on
which we have already begun work under the old nomenclature.
Comments Invited on Requests for Waiver
PHMSA has filed in DOT's Docket Management System (DMS) requests
for waiver we have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from
compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. Each request has
been assigned a separate docket number in the DMS. We invite interested
persons to participate by reviewing these requests and by submitting
written comments, data or other views. Please include any comments on
environmental impacts granting the requests may have.
Before acting on any request, PHMSA will evaluate all comments
received on or before the comment closing date. We will consider
comments received after this date if it is possible to do so without
incurring additional expense or delay. We may grant or deny these
requests based on the comments we receive.
PHMSA has received the following requests for waivers of compliance
with pipeline safety regulations.
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Docket Number Requester Regulation(s) Nature of Waiver
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PHMSA-2006-25802................... CenterPoint Energy as 49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR To authorize operation of a
Transmission. 192.201, 49 CFR 172-mile gas transmission
192.619. pipeline from Carthage, TX
to Perryville, LA at a
maximum allowable
operating pressure (MAOP)
of 80% of the specified
minimum yield strength
(SMYS).
PHMSA-2006-26533................... Gulf South Pipeline... 49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR To authorize operation of
192.201, 49 CFR certain segments of a
192.619. proposed gas transmission
pipeline from Carthage, TX
to Harrisville, MS at a
MAOP of 80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26616................... Ozark Gas Transmission 49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR To authorize operation of
192.201, 49 CFR certain segments of a 233-
192.619. mile gas transmission
pipeline (East End
Expansion Project) in
Arkansas and Mississippi
at a MAOP of 80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2007-27121................... Transwestern Pipeline 49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR To authorize operation of a
Company, L.L.C. 192.201, 49 CFR 205-mile gas transmission
192.505, 49 CFR pipeline from La Plata, CO
192.619. to Gallup, NM at a MAOP of
80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26530................... Alyeska Pipeline 49 CFR 192.463, To authorize operation of a
Service Company. 192.465 & Appendix D 148-mile gas pipeline from
of Part 192. Prudhoe Bay, AK to a pump
station in the Brooks
Mountain range, AK without
applying and monitoring
external cathodic
protection.
PHMSA-2006-26528................... Dominion Transmission, 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of
Inc. 5,722 ft of a gas
transmission pipeline
between Loudon and
Quantico, VA without
reducing operating
pressure as a result of a
change from a Class 1 to a
Class 3 location.
PHMSA-2007-27122................... Spectra Energy 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of 2
Transmission parallel gas lines in
(formerly Duke Energy Westmoreland County, PA
Gas Transmission). without reducing operating
pressure as a result of
changes from Class 1 to
Class 2 locations.
[[Page 6044]]
PHMSA-2006-26612................... Tennessee Gas Pipeline 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of 2
parallel gas lines in
Jasper and Lowndes
Counties, MS without
reducing operating
pressure as a result of
changes from Class 2 to
Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26618................... Tennessee Gas Pipeline 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of
one pipeline valve section
on the Niagara Spur Loop
Line, a gas transmission
pipeline in upstate New
York, without reducing
operating pressure
required as a result of a
change from a Class 1 to a
Class 3 location.
PHMSA-2006-26611................... Texas Gas 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of 3
Transmission, LLC. parallel gas lines near
Lafayette, LA and 2
parallel gas lines near
Louisville, KY without
reducing operating
pressure as a result of
changes from Class 1 to
Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26531................... Williams Gas Pipeline. 49 CFR 192.611........ To authorize operation of 2
segments of gas pipelines
in Coweta, Fayette and
Oconee Counties Georgia
without reducing operating
pressure as a result of
changes from Class 2 to
Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26615................... Texas Gas 49 CFR 192.612........ To extend the required
Transmission, LLC. completion date of repairs
to 5 areas of gas
transmission pipeline with
depths-of-cover less than
12-inches in Terrebonne
Parish, LA and federal
offshore waters from
November 1, 2006 to March
31, 2007.
PHMSA-2006-26532................... Chesapeake Appalachia, 49 CFR 192.619........ To authorize Chesapeake to
L.L.C. (formerly establish the MAOP of
Columbia Natural various segments of its
Resources). gas gathering pipeline
system in Kentucky and
West Virginia using a 5
year operating history.
PHMSA-2006-26614................... Northern Natural Gas 49 CFR 192.625........ To authorize operation of
Company. the St. Joseph, MN
distribution pipeline
without injecting odorant
into the gas stream.
PHMSA-2006-26617................... TransCanada Keystone 49 CFR 195.106, 49 CFR To authorize operation of a
Pipeline, LP. 195.406. 1,369-mile crude oil
pipeline from the Canadian
border near Cavalier
County, ND to Payne
County, OK at a MAOP of
80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26613................... BP Exploration 49 CFR 195.424........ To authorize movement of
(Alaska) Inc. certain above ground
hazardous liquid pipeline
sections during routine
inspection and maintenance
activities without
reducing the operating
pressure on approximately
150 miles of hazardous
liquid pipelines in the
North Slope of Alaska.
PHMSA-2006-26529................... ConocoPhillips Alaska 49 CFR 195.424........ To authorize movement of
Pipeline. certain above ground
hazardous liquid pipeline
sections during routine
inspection and maintenance
activities without
reducing the operating
pressure on approximately
100 miles of hazardous
liquid pipelines in the
North Slope of Alaska.
PHMSA-2007-27120................... ExxonMobil Pipeline 49 CFR 195.452(h)..... To authorize operation of a
Company. 36.3-mile crude oil
pipeline from South Bend
to New Iberia, LA at a
reduced operating pressure
in lieu of repairing
certain anomalies
discovered during an in-
line inspection.
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Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118 (c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.
Issued in Washington, DC on February 2, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-2094 Filed 2-7-07; 8:45 am]
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