Pipeline Safety Advisory: Potential for Damage to Natural Gas Distribution Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricane Katrina, 53273 [05-17653]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Notices crews endangered by an encounter with a underwater pipeline. 2. Identify and caution marine vessel operators in offshore shipping lanes and other offshore areas where Hurricane Katrina may have affected a pipeline that deploying fishing nets or anchors, and dredging operations may damage the pipeline, their vessels, and endanger their crews. 3. In the process of bringing offshore and inland transmission facilities back online, check for structural damage to piping, valves, emergency shutdown systems, risers and supporting systems. Aerial inspections of pipeline routes should be conducted to check for leaks in the transmission systems. In areas where floating and jack-up rigs have moved and their path could have been over the pipelines, review possible routes and check for sub-sea pipeline damage where required. 4. Identify and correct any conditions on the pipeline as required by the Federal pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA would appreciate receiving information about all damage to pipeline facilities in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent State waters caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Federal pipeline safety regulations require that operators report certain incidents and accidents to PHMSA by specific methods. Damage not reported by these methods may be reported to Joy Kadnar at (202) 366– 0568 or joy.kadnar@dot.gov. (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; 49 CFR 1.53). Issued in Washington, DC on August 31, 2005. Joy Kadnar, Director of Engineering and Engineering Support. [FR Doc. 05–17652 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. ADDRESSES: This document can be viewed on the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) Home page at: https://ops.dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy Kadnar, (202) 366–0568, or by e-mail at Joy.Kadnar@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The purpose of this advisory bulletin is to warn all operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities that safety problems may have been caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Past instances of flooding have resulted in significant pipeline system damage including exposed pipes, failure of pipelines crossing rivers and streams, damage to meter sets, pipeline leaks from soil movement, and water leaking into pipeline systems. Due to the storm surge and extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, extensive damage to facilities may be expected. The Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR part 192) require operators to shut down and start up pipeline facilities in a safe manner and to conduct periodic pipeline patrols to detect unusual operating and maintenance conditions and to take corrective action if conditions are unsafe. Gas pipeline safety regulations require that operators mitigate the safety condition if a pipeline facility is damaged. The regulations require damaged pipeline facilities be repaired or replaced as necessary to eliminate the hazard, and that damage resulting in a death or injury or exceeding $50,000 must be promptly reported to the National Response Center (NRC) at 1– 800–424–8802. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB–05–07) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration To: Owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities. Subject: Potential for damage to natural gas distribution pipeline facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina. Advisory: All operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are warned that pipeline safety problems may have been caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Likely problems include but are not limited to damage of above ground equipment due to flooding and flying debris, damage to buried pipelines from soil movement, and water leaking into low pressure pipelines. Pipeline Safety Advisory: Potential for Damage to Natural Gas Distribution Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricane Katrina Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin. AGENCY: SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities to communicate the potential for damage to pipeline VerDate Aug<18>2005 15:05 Sep 06, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53273 Pipeline operators are urged to take the following actions to ensure personal and environmental safety and the integrity of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities located in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina: 1. Conduct additional leak surveys and inspection of above ground equipment as necessary to detect any damage which may have occurred. 2. For distribution systems or portions of systems that have been shut down, check for damage to piping, valves, emergency shutdown systems, risers and meter sets prior to restoring system operation and relighting customers. 3. Check for water that may have leaked into low pressure systems. 4. Identify and correct any conditions on the pipeline as required by the Federal pipeline safety regulations. (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; 49 CFR 1.53). Issued in Washington, DC on August 31, 2005. Joy Kadnar, Director of Engineering and Engineering Support. [FR Doc. 05–17653 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 34742] Murray-Calloway Economic Development Corporation— Acquisition Exemption—Hardin Southern Railroad, Inc. Murray-Calloway Economic Development Corporation (EDC), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire by purchase from Hardin Southern Railroad, Inc., a rail line between milepost 38.34, near Murray, in Calloway County, KY, and milepost 30, near Hardin, in Marshall County, KY, a total distance of 8.34 miles.1 EDC states that it does not intend to operate the line or to hold itself out to provide common carrier service.2 1 This transaction is related to STB Finance Docket No. 34741, KWT Railway, Inc.—Lease and Operate—Murray-Calloway Economic Development Corporation, wherein KWT Railway, Inc. (KWT), has filed a notice of exemption to lease and operate the portion of rail line between milepost 38.34 and approximately milepost 37.34. 2 EDC states that, ‘‘* * * [t]o the extent that the line is considered a ‘‘line of railroad’’ the EDC intends to embargo or discontinue service over the rest of the line.’’ Because EDC is acquiring the 8.34mile line pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10901, the entire line is a line of railroad, and EDC is acquiring a common carrier obligation to either provide service over all of it or assure that service is provided by another carrier. Should EDC seek to terminate that E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM Continued 07SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 53273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Pipeline Safety Advisory: Potential for Damage to Natural Gas 
Distribution Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricane 
Katrina

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin.

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

SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and 
operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities to 
communicate the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by 
the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: This document can be viewed on the Office of Pipeline Safety 
(OPS) Home page at: https://ops.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy Kadnar, (202) 366-0568, or by e-
mail at Joy.Kadnar@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The purpose of this advisory bulletin is to warn all operators of 
natural gas distribution pipeline facilities that safety problems may 
have been caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 
2005.
    Past instances of flooding have resulted in significant pipeline 
system damage including exposed pipes, failure of pipelines crossing 
rivers and streams, damage to meter sets, pipeline leaks from soil 
movement, and water leaking into pipeline systems. Due to the storm 
surge and extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, extensive 
damage to facilities may be expected.
    The Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR part 192) require 
operators to shut down and start up pipeline facilities in a safe 
manner and to conduct periodic pipeline patrols to detect unusual 
operating and maintenance conditions and to take corrective action if 
conditions are unsafe.
    Gas pipeline safety regulations require that operators mitigate the 
safety condition if a pipeline facility is damaged. The regulations 
require damaged pipeline facilities be repaired or replaced as 
necessary to eliminate the hazard, and that damage resulting in a death 
or injury or exceeding $50,000 must be promptly reported to the 
National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-05-07)

    To: Owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities.
    Subject: Potential for damage to natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina.
    Advisory: All operators of natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and 
Florida are warned that pipeline safety problems may have been caused 
by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Likely problems 
include but are not limited to damage of above ground equipment due to 
flooding and flying debris, damage to buried pipelines from soil 
movement, and water leaking into low pressure pipelines.
    Pipeline operators are urged to take the following actions to 
ensure personal and environmental safety and the integrity of natural 
gas distribution pipeline facilities located in areas impacted by 
Hurricane Katrina:
    1. Conduct additional leak surveys and inspection of above ground 
equipment as necessary to detect any damage which may have occurred.
    2. For distribution systems or portions of systems that have been 
shut down, check for damage to piping, valves, emergency shutdown 
systems, risers and meter sets prior to restoring system operation and 
relighting customers.
    3. Check for water that may have leaked into low pressure systems.
    4. Identify and correct any conditions on the pipeline as required 
by the Federal pipeline safety regulations. (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; 49 
CFR 1.53).

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 31, 2005.
Joy Kadnar,
Director of Engineering and Engineering Support.
[FR Doc. 05-17653 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

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