Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; Enstar Natural Gas Company, 17509-17510 [05-6730]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / Notices [FR Doc. 05–6803 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Pipeline Safety: Strapping Table Calibration for Pipeline Breakout Tank Operators Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin. AGENCY: This advisory notice alerts pipeline operators of all hazardous liquid pipeline facility systems about the need to validate the accuracy of breakout tank strapping tables. Under certain circumstances, strapping table errors can potentially lead to dangerous conditions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy Kadnar by phone at (202) 366–0568, by fax at (202) 366–4566, or by e-mail, joy.kadnar@dot.gov. General information about the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) programs may be obtained by accessing the home page at https:// ops.dot.gov. SUMMARY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background A breakout tank exploded and subsequently ignited in Glenpool, Oklahoma on April 7, 2003. The accident involved an 80,000-barrel breakout tank that exploded and burned as it was being filled with diesel. The resulting fire burned for over 20 hours and damaged two other nearby breakout tanks. While there were no injuries or fatalities, the cost of the accident exceeded two million dollars, residents adjacent to the accident site were evacuated, and area schools were closed for two days. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the accident and subsequently published a Pipeline Accident Report titled ‘‘Storage Tank Explosion and Fire in Glenpool, Oklahoma.’’ In its findings adopted on October 13, 2004, the NTSB issued a recommendation to OPS to issue an advisory bulletin to liquid pipeline operators to validate the accuracy of their tank strapping tables. The breakout tank that exploded contained an internal floating roof system equipped with pontoons that VerDate jul<14>2003 18:17 Apr 05, 2005 Jkt 205001 float on top of the product at a certain level. The tank also had legs that supported the roof whenever the product was drained and the volume of liquid in the tank decreased to the level at which the roof no longer floated. Additionally, the tank had two Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) alarms to alert controllers when the volume was nearing the level at which the roof would no longer float. The alarm set points were based on the landed height of the floating roof assumed in the operator’s strapping table. NTSB determined that based on the height measurement of the floating roof documented on the construction inspection report, and based on measurements investigators made after the accident, the strapping table was incorrect. Specifically, the distance from the bottom of the pontoon to the datum plate was found to be higher than indicated on the pre-accident strapping table. The surface of the charged diesel was within approximately two inches of the pontoons at the time of the explosion. This, according to NTSB, is the most likely time for a static discharge to occur. Based on this finding, as well as other contributing factors, the NTSB determined that an incorrect measurement on the strapping table contributed to the cause(s) of the accident. II. Advisory Bulletin ADB–05–02 To: Owners and Operators of All Pipeline Facilities Who Rely on Strapping Tables to Determine Volume Based on Measured Height For Product Level. Subject: Validation of Strapping Tables to Reduce the Likelihood of Errors That May Lead to Dangerous Conditions in Breakout Tanks. Purpose: To advise owners and operators of all hazardous liquid pipeline facilities about the need to validate strapping tables. Advisory: Strapping Tables are commonly used to determine the commodity volume based on product level within breakout tanks. If the strapping table is incorrect, operators may expose themselves and the community to unnecessary risks. OPS seeks to advise operators that they should review and, if necessary, revise their breakout tank operating procedures to minimize risk. The strapping tables should be validated to reduce the potential for errors that may lead to dangerous conditions, such as static discharge inside a tank after a floating roof has been either intentionally or unintentionally landed. Pipeline operators, therefore, may need PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17509 to adjust the measurements on their strapping tables to ensure accuracy. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2005. Theodore L. Willke, Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 05–6729 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. RSPA–04–19914; Notice 1] Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; Enstar Natural Gas Company Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice; Petition for Waiver. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar) has petitioned the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) for a waiver of the pipeline safety regulation that prohibits tracer wire from being wrapped around the pipe. DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver request described in this Notice must do so by May 6, 2005. Late filed comments will be considered so far as practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mailing or delivering an original and two copies to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL–401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. The Dockets Facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays when the facility is closed. Alternatively, you may submit written comments to the docket electronically at the following Web address: https:// dms.dot.gov. All written comments should identify the docket and notice numbers stated in the heading of this notice. Anyone who wants confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. To file written comments electronically, after logging on to https://dms.dot.gov, click on ‘‘Comment/ Submissions.’’ You can also read comments and other material in the docket. General information about the Federal pipeline safety program is available at https://ops.dot.gov. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1 17510 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 6, 2005 / Notices comment (or signing the comment if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (volume 65, number 70; pages 19477–78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Reynolds by phone at 202–3662786, by fax at 202–366–4566, by mail at DOT, PHMSA, Office of Pipeline Safety, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or by e-mail at james.reynolds@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The pipeline safety regulation at 49 CFR 192.321(e), Installation of plastic pipe, requires plastic pipe that is not encased to have an electrically conducting wire or other means of locating the pipe while it is underground. Tracer wire may not be wrapped around the pipe and contact with the pipe must be minimized but is not prohibited. Tracer wire or other metallic elements installed for pipe locating purposes must be resistant to corrosion damage, either by use of coated copper wire or by other means. Enstar is requesting a waiver from § 192.321(e) because lightning strikes are rare in their service area, and Enstar believes there will be more, not fewer, incidents on their pipeline if they are forced to discontinue the practice of wrapping tracer wire around their plastic pipe. According to Enstar, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) tracks occurrences of lightning strikes to monitor forest fire activity. BLM has lightning detection systems throughout Alaska in locations were lightning strikes are frequent, mainly north and west of the Alaska Range. Lightning strikes are recorded by electrical sensors at nine stations in Alaska. Where lightning strikes are not common, such as south and east of the Alaska Range, lightning detection systems are not installed. Enstar’s service area is in south central Alaska, an area without lightning detection systems. Since 1972, Enstar’s standard practice has been to wrap tracer wire around their plastic pipe. Because of the unique geographical and climatic conditions of the area, lightning strikes on their plastic pipe system are extremely rare. In 32 years, Enstar has recorded only one confirmed incident due to lightning strikes. Enstar contends that their pipeline will suffer more damages if they are not allowed to wrap tracer wire around their pipeline. Enstar performs approximately 500 excavations per year due to third VerDate jul<14>2003 18:17 Apr 05, 2005 Jkt 205001 party damages and 17,000 to 18,000 line locates each year. Enstar contends that this regulation is designed to redress a problem that does not exist within the Enstar pipeline service area. For the reasons cited above, Enstar is requesting a waiver from the pipeline requirements at § 192.321(e). Enstar’s waiver request is available for review in the docket. OPS is seeking comments on the Enstar’s waiver request. After the comments have been received and the comment period has ended, OPS will consider each comment and make a decision whether to grant or deny Enstar’s waiver request. OPS’ decision will be published in the Federal Register. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118 (c) and 49 CFR 1.53. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2005. Theodore L. Willke, Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 05–6730 Filed 4–5–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8878–A Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 8878–A, IRS e-file Electronic Funds Withdrawal Authorization for Form 7004. DATES: Written comments should be received on or before June 6, 2005 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Glenn Kirkland, Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Allan Hopkins, at (202) 622–6665, or at Internal Revenue Service, room 6516, 1111 Constitution PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or through the Internet, at Allan.M.Hopkins@irs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: IRS e-file Electronic funds Withdrawal Authorization for Form 7004. OMB Number: 1545–1927. Form Number: 8878–A. Abstract: Form 8878–A is used by a corporate officer or agent and an electronic return originator (ERO) to use a personal identification number (PIN) to authorize an electronic funds withdrawal for a tax payment made with a request to extend the filing due date for a corporate income tax return. Current Actions: There are no changes being made to the form at this time. Type of Review: This is a new collection. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 140,000. Estimated Time Per Respondent: 3 hours, 37 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 505,400. The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of information covered by this notice: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103. Request For Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17509-17510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6730]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-19914; Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; Enstar Natural Gas Company

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; Petition for Waiver.

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

SUMMARY: Enstar Natural Gas Company (Enstar) has petitioned the Office 
of Pipeline Safety (OPS) for a waiver of the pipeline safety regulation 
that prohibits tracer wire from being wrapped around the pipe.

DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver 
request described in this Notice must do so by May 6, 2005. Late filed 
comments will be considered so far as practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mailing or delivering an 
original and two copies to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. The Dockets Facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays when the facility is closed. 
Alternatively, you may submit written comments to the docket 
electronically at the following Web address: https://dms.dot.gov.
    All written comments should identify the docket and notice numbers 
stated in the heading of this notice. Anyone who wants confirmation of 
mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. To file 
written comments electronically, after logging on to https://
dms.dot.gov, click on ``Comment/Submissions.'' You can also read 
comments and other material in the docket. General information about 
the Federal pipeline safety program is available at https://ops.dot.gov.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the

[[Page 17510]]

comment (or signing the comment if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (volume 65, number 70; pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
https://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Reynolds by phone at 202-366-
2786, by fax at 202-366-4566, by mail at DOT, PHMSA, Office of Pipeline 
Safety, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or by e-mail at 
james.reynolds@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The pipeline safety regulation at 49 CFR 
192.321(e), Installation of plastic pipe, requires plastic pipe that is 
not encased to have an electrically conducting wire or other means of 
locating the pipe while it is underground. Tracer wire may not be 
wrapped around the pipe and contact with the pipe must be minimized but 
is not prohibited. Tracer wire or other metallic elements installed for 
pipe locating purposes must be resistant to corrosion damage, either by 
use of coated copper wire or by other means.
    Enstar is requesting a waiver from Sec.  192.321(e) because 
lightning strikes are rare in their service area, and Enstar believes 
there will be more, not fewer, incidents on their pipeline if they are 
forced to discontinue the practice of wrapping tracer wire around their 
plastic pipe.
    According to Enstar, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) tracks 
occurrences of lightning strikes to monitor forest fire activity. BLM 
has lightning detection systems throughout Alaska in locations were 
lightning strikes are frequent, mainly north and west of the Alaska 
Range. Lightning strikes are recorded by electrical sensors at nine 
stations in Alaska. Where lightning strikes are not common, such as 
south and east of the Alaska Range, lightning detection systems are not 
installed. Enstar's service area is in south central Alaska, an area 
without lightning detection systems. Since 1972, Enstar's standard 
practice has been to wrap tracer wire around their plastic pipe. 
Because of the unique geographical and climatic conditions of the area, 
lightning strikes on their plastic pipe system are extremely rare. In 
32 years, Enstar has recorded only one confirmed incident due to 
lightning strikes.
    Enstar contends that their pipeline will suffer more damages if 
they are not allowed to wrap tracer wire around their pipeline. Enstar 
performs approximately 500 excavations per year due to third party 
damages and 17,000 to 18,000 line locates each year. Enstar contends 
that this regulation is designed to redress a problem that does not 
exist within the Enstar pipeline service area.
    For the reasons cited above, Enstar is requesting a waiver from the 
pipeline requirements at Sec.  192.321(e). Enstar's waiver request is 
available for review in the docket. OPS is seeking comments on the 
Enstar's waiver request. After the comments have been received and the 
comment period has ended, OPS will consider each comment and make a 
decision whether to grant or deny Enstar's waiver request. OPS' 
decision will be published in the Federal Register.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-6730 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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