Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG, 56524-56525 [05-19198]

Download as PDF 56524 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 27, 2005 / Notices evaluate significant transportation, environmental, social, and economic impacts of the alternatives. Potential areas of impact include: support of state, regional, and local land use and transportation plans and policies, neighborhoods, land use and economics, cultural resources, environmental justice, and natural resources. All impacts will be evaluated for both the construction period and the long-term period of operation. Measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate any significant impacts will be developed. Scoping Process Agency Coordination: The project sponsors are working with the local, state and federal resource agencies to implement regular opportunities for coordination during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. This process will comply with SAFETEA–LU Section 6002. Tribal Coordination: The formal Tribal government consultation will occur through government-togovernment collaboration. Public Meetings: Three public information meetings will be held in October 2005, including: • Saturday, October 22, 2005, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Jantzen Beach Super Center (central mall area), 1405 Jantzen Beach Center, Portland, Oregon; • Tuesday, October 25, 2005, 4 p.m.– 8 p.m., at Clark College, Gaiser Hall, 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancover, Washington 98663; and • Thursday, October 27, 2005, 4 p.m.–8 p.m., at OAME (Oregon Association of Minority Enterpreneurs) Main Conference Room, 4134 N. Vancouver St. (at N. Skidmore St.), Portland, OR 97211. All public information meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, should contact Amy Echols, CRC Communications Manager at 360–737– 2726 or echolsa@columbiarivercrossing.org at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting in order for WSDOT or ODOT to make necessary arrangement. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposal will be accepted at the public meetings or can be sent to the Columbia River Crossing project office at 700 Washington Street, Suite 222, Vancouver, WA 98660 or to Heather VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:52 Sep 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 Gundersen at gundersenh@columbiarivercrossing.org (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: September 20, 2005. Steve Saxton, Area Engineer, Washington Division, Federal Highway Administration. Linda M. Gehre, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10, Federal Transit Administration. [FR Doc. 05–19230 Filed 9–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–05–21747; Notice 2] Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Southern LNG (SLNG) requested a waiver of compliance from the regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301, which requires each liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility constructed after March 31, 2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard NFPA 59A ‘‘Standard for Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background SLNG, an El Paso Company, requested a waiver from § 193.2301. This regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and Standard NFPA 59A. Standard NFPA 59A requires that welded containers designed for not more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge comply with the Eighth Edition, 1990, of American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard API 620, ‘‘Design and Construction of Large, Welded, LowPressure Storage Tanks (Appendix Q).’’ The Eighth Edition of API 620 requires inspection according to Appendix Q which calls for a full radiographic examination of all vertical and horizontal butt welds associated with the container. PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SLNG is proposing to use the current Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620, allows ultrasonic examination—in lieu of radiography—as an acceptable alternative non-destructive testing method. SLNG proposes to use ultrasonic examination on its project, which consists of full semi-automated and manual ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. SLNG also proposes to use a volumetric ultrasonic examination which combines creep wave probes and focused angled longitudinal waive probes. Findings PHMSA considered SLNG’s waiver request and published a notice inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be granted (70 FR 40781; July 14, 2005). There were two comments from the public in response to the notice; both were in support of the waiver. One commenter, a member of the API Committee on Refinery Equipment, Subcommittee on Pressure Vessels and Tanks, said that the use of ultrasonic examination in lieu of radiographic examination for large LNG tanks improves jobsite safety because it eliminates the hazards of radiation exposure. This commenter also said that ultrasonic examination is more capable than radiographic examination for detecting crack-like weld defects. The other commenter provided a copy of NFPA 59A Report on Comments, dated May 2005 and stated that the NFPA 59A Committee approved the latest edition of API 620. The 2006 edition of NFPA 59A was approved as an American National Standard on August 18, 2005. Grant of Waiver In its Report on Comments, dated May 2005, the NFPA 59A Committee accepted in principle the latest edition of API 620, Tenth Edition, Addendum 1. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 adds ultrasonic examination as an acceptable method of examination. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 indicates that both radiographic and ultrasonic examination are acceptable means of testing. For the reasons explained above and in the Notice dated July 14, 2005, PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is consistent with pipeline safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. Therefore, SLNG’s request for waiver of compliance with § 193.2301 is granted. E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 27, 2005 / Notices Issued in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2005. Theodore L. Willke, Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 05–19198 Filed 9–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–05–21314; Notice 2] Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; BOC Gases Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Grant of Waiver; BOC Gases. AGENCY: SUMMARY: BOC Gases (BOC) petitioned PHMSA for a waiver from the pipeline safety standards at 49 CFR 195.306(c)(5) to allow the use of inert gas or carbon dioxide as the test medium for pressure testing its existing carbon dioxide pipeline. The hazardous liquid pipeline safety regulation at 49 CFR 195.306(c)(5) allows an operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline to use inert gas or carbon dioxide as the test medium if the pipe involved is new pipe having a longitudinal joint factor of 1.00. BOC is requesting the waiver to use carbon dioxide as the test medium in its carbon dioxide pipeline system. The BOC carbon dioxide pipeline system is approximately 14 miles northwest of Green River, Wyoming and located in Sweetwater County. (The County is a remote, uninhabited area that does not lie within any city or other populated limits.) The pipeline was constructed in February 1995 and is 7 miles in length. The line is constructed of 3.5-inch diameter, American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5L, Grade B seamless pipe, and has a wall thickness of 0.300inches. BOC calculated the pipe’s internal design pressure to be 4,320 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) using the formula in § 195.106 and pressure tested the pipe after construction. The minimum pressure was 3,575 psig and the pipe was tested for 2 hours. The pipeline is effectively coated and has had a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system since its construction. In justification for this waiver, BOC proposed the following testing procedure: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:52 Sep 26, 2005 Jkt 205001 • BOC will use liquid carbon dioxide to pressure test the entire 7 mile pipeline; • BOC will maintain a minimum test pressure of 3,575 psig or 60% of the pipeline’s specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) for at least 4 hours; • BOC will test the pipeline for an additional 4 hours at a minimum pressure of 3,146 psig or 48% of SMYS; • BOC will station personnel along the pipeline to observe any conditions which might indicate leakage during the test; • BOC personnel will be in constant communication with its personnel who will supervise and conduct the pressure test; and • BOC’s building facilities will be unoccupied and its personnel will be stationed along the pipeline where it parallels the State highway whenever the test pressure exceeds 50% SMYS during the pressure test. BOC asserts that this pipeline does not pose a risk to the public or the environment because it is in a remote location, in excellent condition, and will be tested and operated at a low percentage of SMYS. After reviewing the waiver request, PHMSA published a notice inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be granted (70 FR 40780; July 14, 2005). No comments were received from the public in response to the notice. For the reasons explained above and in the July 14, 2005 Notice, PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is not inconsistent with pipeline safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. Therefore, BOC’s request for waiver of compliance from 49 CFR 195.306(c)(5) is granted on the condition that BOC follow its proposed testing procedure for testing its carbon dioxide pipeline system. Issued in Washington, DC on September 21, 2005. Theodore L. Willke, Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 05–19199 Filed 9–26–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 34729] Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Company—Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Rail Line of CSX Transportation, Inc. Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Company (SBS), a noncarrier, has filed PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56525 a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire and operate approximately 67 miles of rail line owned by CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) in Bay, Saginaw, Genesee, and Midland Counties, MI, as follows: (1) From milepost CC 0.0 at the Saginaw Station to milepost CC 26.2 at the Mt. Morris Station; (2) from milepost CB 0.0 at the Saginaw Station to milepost CB 17.37 at the Midland Station; (3) from milepost CBB 0.0 at the Saginaw Station to milepost CBB 16.7 at the Essexville Station; (4) from milepost CBC 0.0 to milepost CBC 2.0 both at the Saginaw Station; (5) from milepost CBD 2.2 to milepost CBD 4.5 both at the Saginaw Station; (6) from milepost CSF 0.0 to milepost CSF 0.82 both at the Saginaw Station; and (7) from milepost CBE 7.72 to milepost CBE 10.09 both at the Paines Station. Under this transaction, SBS will purchase the track along the line from CSXT and will lease the underlying right-of-way. SBS plans to provide service over the line through the use of a contract operator, Lake State Railway Company, although only SBS will hold responsibility for providing common carrier rail service over the line. SBS certifies that its projected revenues will not exceed those that would qualify it as a Class III carrier. However, because the projected annual revenues of the rail line to be operated will exceed $5 million following consummation of this transaction, SBS has certified to the Board, on August 19, 2005, as amended August 26, 2005, that it posted the required notice of its rail line acquisition at the workplace of the employees of CSXT and served the notice on the national offices of all labor unions with employees on the affected line. See 49 CFR 1150.32(e). The transaction is expected to be consummated on or after October 28, 2005 (which is 60 days or more after SBS’ certification to the Board that it had complied with the Board’s regulation at 49 CFR 1150.32(e)). This transaction is related to STB Finance Docket No. 34730, James George and J&JG Holding Company, Inc.—Continuance in Control Exemption—Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Company, wherein James George and J&JG Holding Company, Inc. seek authorization through a petition for exemption, to continue in control of SBS upon SBS’ becoming a Class III rail carrier. If the notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM 27SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56524-56525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-21747; Notice 2]


Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG

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

ACTION: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG.

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

SUMMARY: Southern LNG (SLNG) requested a waiver of compliance from the 
regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301, which requires each 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility constructed after March 31, 2000, 
to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA) Standard NFPA 59A ``Standard for Production, 
Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    SLNG, an El Paso Company, requested a waiver from Sec.  193.2301. 
This regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 
2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and Standard NFPA 59A.
    Standard NFPA 59A requires that welded containers designed for not 
more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge comply with the Eighth 
Edition, 1990, of American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard API 620, 
``Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks 
(Appendix Q).'' The Eighth Edition of API 620 requires inspection 
according to Appendix Q which calls for a full radiographic examination 
of all vertical and horizontal butt welds associated with the 
container.
    SLNG is proposing to use the current Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of 
API 620. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620, allows ultrasonic 
examination--in lieu of radiography--as an acceptable alternative non-
destructive testing method. SLNG proposes to use ultrasonic examination 
on its project, which consists of full semi-automated and manual 
ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. SLNG also proposes to 
use a volumetric ultrasonic examination which combines creep wave 
probes and focused angled longitudinal waive probes.

Findings

    PHMSA considered SLNG's waiver request and published a notice 
inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be 
granted (70 FR 40781; July 14, 2005). There were two comments from the 
public in response to the notice; both were in support of the waiver.
    One commenter, a member of the API Committee on Refinery Equipment, 
Subcommittee on Pressure Vessels and Tanks, said that the use of 
ultrasonic examination in lieu of radiographic examination for large 
LNG tanks improves jobsite safety because it eliminates the hazards of 
radiation exposure. This commenter also said that ultrasonic 
examination is more capable than radiographic examination for detecting 
crack-like weld defects.
    The other commenter provided a copy of NFPA 59A Report on Comments, 
dated May 2005 and stated that the NFPA 59A Committee approved the 
latest edition of API 620.
    The 2006 edition of NFPA 59A was approved as an American National 
Standard on August 18, 2005.

Grant of Waiver

    In its Report on Comments, dated May 2005, the NFPA 59A Committee 
accepted in principle the latest edition of API 620, Tenth Edition, 
Addendum 1. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 adds ultrasonic 
examination as an acceptable method of examination. The Tenth Edition, 
Addendum 1, of API 620 indicates that both radiographic and ultrasonic 
examination are acceptable means of testing.
    For the reasons explained above and in the Notice dated July 14, 
2005, PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is consistent with pipeline 
safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. 
Therefore, SLNG's request for waiver of compliance with Sec.  193.2301 
is granted.


[[Page 56525]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-19198 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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