Pipeline Safety: Semi-Annual Reporting of Performance Measures for Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management, 3255-3256 [05-1061]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 13 / Friday, January 21, 2005 / Notices
Modification
of
exemption
Application
No.
Docket No.
Applicant
13961–M .......
RSPA–04–19297
3AL Testing Corporation Denver, CO.
49 CFR 172.203(a);
172.301(c);
180.205(f),(g);
180.209(a).
13961
13997–M .......
RSPA–04–19643
Maritime Helicopters
Homer, AK.
49 CFR 172.101(9b);
172.302(c).
13997
13998–M .......
RSPA–04–19651
3 AL Testing Corp.
Denver, CO.
49 CFR 172.203(a);
172.302a(b)(2),
(4)(5);
180.205(f)(g);
180.209(a),
(b)(1)(iv).
13998
14005–M .......
RSPA–04–19585
Scientific Cylinder
International, LLC
Castle Rock, CO.
49 CFR 17.203(a),
172.301(c),
180.205(f)(4),
180.205(g),
180.209(a).
14005
14006–M .......
RSPA–04–19586
Scientific Cylinder
International, LLC
Castle Rock, CO.
49 CFR 172.203(a),
172.301(c),
180.205(f)(4),
180.205(g),
180.209(a).
14006
[FR Doc. 05–1060 Filed 1–19–05: 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4909–60–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs
Administration
Pipeline Safety: Semi-Annual
Reporting of Performance Measures
for Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity
Management
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS),
Research and Special Programs
Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory
bulletin.
AGENCY:
This document provides
guidance to operators of gas
transmission pipelines regarding semiannual reporting of performance
measures for integrity management.
Operators of gas transmission pipelines
subject to Subpart O, ‘‘Pipeline Integrity
Management,’’ must submit four overall
measures of their integrity management
performance on a semi-annual basis.
The first report was due August 31,
SUMMARY:
VerDate jul<14>2003
15:21 Jan 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
Regulation(s) affected
2004, and was the subject of RSPA/OPS
Advisory Bulletin ADB–04–02 (69 FR
43881) which published on July 22,
2004. This document provides
additional guidance for operators
regarding on-line reporting that will be
available for the report due in February
2005 and subsequent reports.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Zach Barrett by phone at (405) 954–5559
or by e-mail at zbarrett@tsi.jccbi.gov,
regarding the subject matter of this
Advisory Bulletin. General information
about the RSPA/OPS programs may be
obtained by accessing RSPA’s home
page at https://RSPA.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 15, 2003 (68 FR 69778)
RSPA/OPS published a new Subpart O
to the regulations governing safety of gas
pipelines in 49 CFR part 192. Subpart O
establishes requirements governing
integrity management programs for gas
transmission pipelines. Included among
these provisions (49 CFR 192.945) are
requirements for each transmission
pipeline operator to maintain
quantitative measures of its integrity
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3255
Nature of exemption thereof
To reissue the exemption originally issued
on an emergency basis for the transportation of DOT Specification 3AL cylinders
containing Division 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 materials when retested by a 100% ultrasonic
examination in lieu of the internal visual
and hydrostatic retest.
To reissue the exemption originally issued
on an emergency basis for the transportation of a Division 2.1 mateial in DOT
Specification 51 portable tanks that exceed the quantities limitation by cargo aircraft.
To reissue the exemption originally issued
on an emergency basis for the transportation of DOT Specification 3A, 3AA, 3BN
cylinders containing Division 2.1, 2.2 and
2.3 materials when retested by a 100%
ultrasonic examination in lieu of the internal visual and hydrostatic retest.
To reissue the exemption originally issued
on an emergency basis for the transportation of DOT Specification 3A, 3AA, 3BN
cylinders containing Division 2.1, 2.2 and
2.3 materials when retested by a 100%
ultrasonic examination in lieu of the internal visual and hydrostatic retest.
To reissue the exemption originally issued
on an emergency basis for the transportation of DOT Specification 3 AL cylinders
containing Division 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 materials when retested by a 100% ultrasonic
examination in lieu of the internal visual
and hydrostatic retest.
management performance, including at
least four overall performance measures
specified in ASME/ANSI B31.8S,
‘‘Managing System Integrity of Gas
Pipelines’’, Section 9.4. The same
regulation requires that each operator
submit the four overall performance
measures to RSPA/OPS semi-annually.
The acceptable means for submitting
reports required by Subpart O are in 49
CFR 192.951. That regulation specifies
an address for submission by mail,
includes a facsimile number, and
provides that submissions may be made
through the online reporting system
provided by RSPA/OPS for electronic
reporting. The electronic system is
available at the RSPA/OPS Home Page
at https://ops.dot.gov. The electronic
submission form for integrity
management performance measures is
available from the ‘‘Gas IMP Reporting’’
link on that page.
Advisory Bulletin ADB–04–02
informed natural gas transmission
pipeline operators that the initial
performance measures submission
required by August 31, 2004, could be
abbreviated, in recognition of the
developmental state of operator integrity
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
3256
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 13 / Friday, January 21, 2005 / Notices
management programs. This advisory
bulletin provides additional information
concerning on-line reporting of
performance measures for the report due
in February 2005.
Advisory Bulletin (ADB–05–01)
To: Operators of gas transmission
pipelines.
Subject: Semi-Annual Reporting of
Integrity Management Performance
Measures in 49 CFR 192.945.
Purpose: To provide guidance to
operators for making required semiannual submission of performance
measures for integrity management.
Advisory: Operators are required by
49 CFR 192.945 to submit integrity
management performance measures
semi-annually. RSPA/OPS developed an
electronic form to facilitate submission
of the required measures. This form is
available on the RSPA/OPS Home Page
(https://ops.dot.gov) for ‘‘Gas IMP
Reporting’’. RSPA/OPS strongly
encourage operators to submit data
using the electronic form, since this
minimizes future transcription and
handling, and lessens the chance for
error. Operators may also submit the
information by mail or facsimile,
addressed to RSPA/OPS, 400 7th Street,
SW., Room 2103, Washington, DC
20590. The fax number is (202) 366–
4566. Please clearly notate your
correspondence with ‘‘Gas IMP
Reporting’’.
The four overall performance
measures that gas transmission pipeline
operators are required to submit are the:
1. Number of pipeline miles inspected
versus program requirements;
2. Number of immediate repairs
completed as a result of the integrity
management inspection program;
3. Number of scheduled repairs
completed as a result of the integrity
management program; and
4. Number of leaks, failures, and
incidents (classified by cause).
With respect to the first performance
measure, the phrase ‘‘versus program
requirements’’ refers to the number of
miles of the operator’s pipeline system
that require assessment in accordance
with Subpart O, (i.e., the number of
miles in high consequence areas.)
Operators were not required to have
developed their integrity management
programs and baseline inspection plans
until December 17, 2004, and thus may
not have known the total number of
miles that would require assessment at
the time the first report was due (August
31, 2004). Similarly, operators may not
have known, at that time, what repairs
were reportable, since they may not
have known which were made in high
consequence areas. For these reasons,
VerDate jul<14>2003
14:11 Jan 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
Advisory Bulletin ADB–04–02 advised
operators that the quantitative
performance measures would not be
required for the first (August 31, 2004)
report. That report, instead, allowed
operators to report that they had begun
assessment activities by June 17, 2004,
in conformance with the Pipeline Safety
Improvement Act of 2002 (codified at 49
U.S.C. 60109(c)).
The December 17, 2004, deadline for
identifying high consequence areas has
now passed. Operators should be aware
of how many miles of their pipeline
system are in high consequence areas
and where those areas are located.
Operators should have all of the
information needed for the overall
quantitative performance measures
required by the rule. Operators must
include the quantitative information in
their February 2005 reports and in
subsequent semi-annual submissions,
unless the requirement is changed by
future rulemaking. The February 2005
report should include data covering all
of calendar year 2004, (i.e., it should
include the quantitative data that would
have been reported in August 2004 but
for which reporting was deferred by the
earlier advisory bulletin.) Failure to
submit performance measures in
accordance with the rule could result in
enforcement action.
The electronic report form provides a
template with data fields that operators
can complete to submit the required
quantitative performance measures for
2004 (report due February 28, 2005).
Operators who submit by mail or
facsimile should similarly include all of
the quantitative information required by
the rule and the referenced standard.
The rule does not now require that
performance measures be submitted
separately for each state in which a
pipeline operator operates. State
pipeline safety authorities will have
significant involvement in oversight of
the implementation of integrity
management requirements for gas
transmission pipelines and performance
measure information for their state will
be useful for prioritizing and managing
this work. RSPA/OPS is considering a
change to the rule that would require
operators to report separately for each
state in which they have transmission
pipeline. In the meantime, RSPA/OPS
encourages operators with transmission
pipeline in more than one state to
submit their integrity management
performance measure information
separately for each state.
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 12,
2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05–1061 Filed 1–14–05; 9:11 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 34641]
Nicholas B. Temple and Eric Temple—
Control Exemption—Central
Washington Railroad Company
Nicholas B. Temple and Eric Temple
(Petitioners), noncarrier individuals,
have filed a verified notice of exemption
for Petitioners to control Central
Washington Railroad Company (CWA),
upon CWA’s becoming a Class III rail
carrier.
The transaction was expected to be
consummated on or after December 29,
2004.
This transaction is related to the
concurrently filed verified notice of
exemption in STB Finance Docket No.
34640, Central Washington Railroad
Company—Lease and Operation
Exemption—The Burlington Northern
and Santa Fe Railway Company. In that
proceeding, CWA seeks to lease, from
The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe
Railway Company, and operate
approximately 41.57 miles of rail line in
Washington State and to acquire
specified incidental trackage rights.
Petitioners also control the Columbia
Basin Railroad Company, Inc. (CBRW),
which leases and operates property in
the State of Washington.1
Petitioners state that: (1) The railroads
do not connect with each other or any
railroad in their corporate family; (2) the
transaction is not part of a series of
anticipated transactions that would
connect the railroads with each other or
any railroad in their corporate family;
and (3) the transaction does not involve
a Class I carrier. Therefore, the
transaction is exempt from the prior
approval requirements of 49 U.S.C.
11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board
may not use its exemption authority to
relieve a rail carrier of its statutory
obligation to protect the interests of its
employees. Section 11326(c), however,
does not provide for labor protection for
transactions under sections 11324 and
11325 that involve only Class III rail
carriers. Accordingly, the Board may not
impose labor protective conditions here,
1 Each Petitioner has a 50% ownership interest in
CBRW.
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 13 (Friday, January 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3255-3256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1061]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
Pipeline Safety: Semi-Annual Reporting of Performance Measures
for Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management
AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Research and Special Programs
Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document provides guidance to operators of gas
transmission pipelines regarding semi-annual reporting of performance
measures for integrity management. Operators of gas transmission
pipelines subject to Subpart O, ``Pipeline Integrity Management,'' must
submit four overall measures of their integrity management performance
on a semi-annual basis. The first report was due August 31, 2004, and
was the subject of RSPA/OPS Advisory Bulletin ADB-04-02 (69 FR 43881)
which published on July 22, 2004. This document provides additional
guidance for operators regarding on-line reporting that will be
available for the report due in February 2005 and subsequent reports.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zach Barrett by phone at (405) 954-
5559 or by e-mail at zbarrett@tsi.jccbi.gov, regarding the subject
matter of this Advisory Bulletin. General information about the RSPA/
OPS programs may be obtained by accessing RSPA's home page at https://
RSPA.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 15, 2003 (68 FR 69778) RSPA/OPS published a new Subpart
O to the regulations governing safety of gas pipelines in 49 CFR part
192. Subpart O establishes requirements governing integrity management
programs for gas transmission pipelines. Included among these
provisions (49 CFR 192.945) are requirements for each transmission
pipeline operator to maintain quantitative measures of its integrity
management performance, including at least four overall performance
measures specified in ASME/ANSI B31.8S, ``Managing System Integrity of
Gas Pipelines'', Section 9.4. The same regulation requires that each
operator submit the four overall performance measures to RSPA/OPS semi-
annually.
The acceptable means for submitting reports required by Subpart O
are in 49 CFR 192.951. That regulation specifies an address for
submission by mail, includes a facsimile number, and provides that
submissions may be made through the online reporting system provided by
RSPA/OPS for electronic reporting. The electronic system is available
at the RSPA/OPS Home Page at https://ops.dot.gov. The electronic
submission form for integrity management performance measures is
available from the ``Gas IMP Reporting'' link on that page.
Advisory Bulletin ADB-04-02 informed natural gas transmission
pipeline operators that the initial performance measures submission
required by August 31, 2004, could be abbreviated, in recognition of
the developmental state of operator integrity
[[Page 3256]]
management programs. This advisory bulletin provides additional
information concerning on-line reporting of performance measures for
the report due in February 2005.
Advisory Bulletin (ADB-05-01)
To: Operators of gas transmission pipelines.
Subject: Semi-Annual Reporting of Integrity Management Performance
Measures in 49 CFR 192.945.
Purpose: To provide guidance to operators for making required semi-
annual submission of performance measures for integrity management.
Advisory: Operators are required by 49 CFR 192.945 to submit
integrity management performance measures semi-annually. RSPA/OPS
developed an electronic form to facilitate submission of the required
measures. This form is available on the RSPA/OPS Home Page (https://
ops.dot.gov) for ``Gas IMP Reporting''. RSPA/OPS strongly encourage
operators to submit data using the electronic form, since this
minimizes future transcription and handling, and lessens the chance for
error. Operators may also submit the information by mail or facsimile,
addressed to RSPA/OPS, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 2103, Washington, DC
20590. The fax number is (202) 366-4566. Please clearly notate your
correspondence with ``Gas IMP Reporting''.
The four overall performance measures that gas transmission
pipeline operators are required to submit are the:
1. Number of pipeline miles inspected versus program requirements;
2. Number of immediate repairs completed as a result of the
integrity management inspection program;
3. Number of scheduled repairs completed as a result of the
integrity management program; and
4. Number of leaks, failures, and incidents (classified by cause).
With respect to the first performance measure, the phrase ``versus
program requirements'' refers to the number of miles of the operator's
pipeline system that require assessment in accordance with Subpart O,
(i.e., the number of miles in high consequence areas.) Operators were
not required to have developed their integrity management programs and
baseline inspection plans until December 17, 2004, and thus may not
have known the total number of miles that would require assessment at
the time the first report was due (August 31, 2004). Similarly,
operators may not have known, at that time, what repairs were
reportable, since they may not have known which were made in high
consequence areas. For these reasons, Advisory Bulletin ADB-04-02
advised operators that the quantitative performance measures would not
be required for the first (August 31, 2004) report. That report,
instead, allowed operators to report that they had begun assessment
activities by June 17, 2004, in conformance with the Pipeline Safety
Improvement Act of 2002 (codified at 49 U.S.C. 60109(c)).
The December 17, 2004, deadline for identifying high consequence
areas has now passed. Operators should be aware of how many miles of
their pipeline system are in high consequence areas and where those
areas are located. Operators should have all of the information needed
for the overall quantitative performance measures required by the rule.
Operators must include the quantitative information in their February
2005 reports and in subsequent semi-annual submissions, unless the
requirement is changed by future rulemaking. The February 2005 report
should include data covering all of calendar year 2004, (i.e., it
should include the quantitative data that would have been reported in
August 2004 but for which reporting was deferred by the earlier
advisory bulletin.) Failure to submit performance measures in
accordance with the rule could result in enforcement action.
The electronic report form provides a template with data fields
that operators can complete to submit the required quantitative
performance measures for 2004 (report due February 28, 2005). Operators
who submit by mail or facsimile should similarly include all of the
quantitative information required by the rule and the referenced
standard.
The rule does not now require that performance measures be
submitted separately for each state in which a pipeline operator
operates. State pipeline safety authorities will have significant
involvement in oversight of the implementation of integrity management
requirements for gas transmission pipelines and performance measure
information for their state will be useful for prioritizing and
managing this work. RSPA/OPS is considering a change to the rule that
would require operators to report separately for each state in which
they have transmission pipeline. In the meantime, RSPA/OPS encourages
operators with transmission pipeline in more than one state to submit
their integrity management performance measure information separately
for each state.
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 12, 2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-1061 Filed 1-14-05; 9:11 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
