Pipeline Safety: Weldable Compression Coupling Installation, 50272-50273 [E9-23527]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 30, 2009 / Notices
Thursday, October 29
ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special
Committee 217/EUROCAE WG 44
Plenary meeting: Airport Mapping
Databases.
• 9 a.m.—Terrain, Obstacle, and Airport
Mapping discussions
The FAA is issuing this notice
to advise the public of a meeting of
RTCA Special Committee 217/
EUROCAE WG 44.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
October 26–30, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Rockwell Collins Office, 3350 Monte
Villa Parkway, Suite 200, Bothell, WA
98021. Contact: Brian Gilbert, 425–492–
1309, 425–891–8219 (cell),
bdgilber@rockwellcollins.com
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
RTCA Secretariat, 1828 L Street, NW.,
Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036–5133;
telephone (202) 833–9339; fax (202)
833–9434; Web site https://www.rtca.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice is
hereby given for a Special Committee
217/EUROCAE WG 44 Plenary: Airport
Mapping Databases meeting. The agenda
will include:
Monday, October 26
• 9 a.m.—Opening Plenary
• Chairmen’s remarks and
introductions
• Approve minutes from previous
meeting
• Review and approve meeting
agenda
• Discussion
• Schedule for this week
• Schedule for next meetings
• Action Items
• 10 a.m.—Presentations
• FAA Airports GIS database—Mike
Burski
• Airport Resolution Standards—Lisa
Haskell
• Report on Connectivity Items—
Christian Pschierer
• 2 p.m.—Terrain, Obstacle, and
Airport Mapping discussions
• Discussion on AMDB and ICAO
Recommendations
CPrice-Sewell on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Tuesday, October 27
• 9 a.m.—Terrain, Obstacle, and Airport
Mapping discussions
• 1 p.m.—Address Outcome from
‘‘Roadmap Items’’ (outcome from
assigned actions)
Wednesday, October 28
• 9 a.m.—Joint Meeting with SC–214/
WG78
• 1 p.m.—Terrain, Obstacle, and
Airport Mapping discussions
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:56 Sep 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
Friday, October 30
• 9 a.m.—Terrain, Obstacle, and Airport
Mapping discussions
• 10:30 a.m.—Plenary Session
• Other Business, Determine and
agree on action plan, Meeting Plans
and Dates
Attendance is open to the interested
public but limited to space availability.
With the approval of the chairmen,
members of the public may present oral
statements at the meeting. Persons
wishing to present statements or obtain
information should contact the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section. Members of the public
may present a written statement to the
committee at any time.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September
24, 2009.
Kimberly Gill,
RTCA Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E9–23528 Filed 9–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA–2009–0158]
Pipeline Safety: Weldable
Compression Coupling Installation
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA); DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory
Bulletin.
SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) reminds pipeline owners and
operators of the importance of installing
weldable compression couplings in
accordance with manufacturer
procedures and following appropriate
safety and start-up procedures. The
failure to install weldable compression
couplings correctly, or the failure to
implement and follow appropriate
safety and start-up procedures, could
result in a catastrophic pipeline failure.
PHMSA strongly urges operators to
review, and incorporate where
appropriate into operators’ written
procedures, the manufacturer’s
installation procedures and take any
other necessary safety measures for safe
and reliable operation of pipeline
systems.
PO 00000
Frm 00111
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivan
Huntoon by phone at (816) 329–3829 or
by e-mail at ivan.huntoon@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In 2007, a crude oil release occurred
during maintenance activities on a
major oil pipeline. The escaping crude
oil ignited and resulting in two
fatalities. When this incident occurred
the operator was performing a pipe
replacement using pre-tested pipe and
weldable compression couplings. The
failure occurred during start-up
operations when the forces associated
with pipeline operations exceeded the
restraining capability of the unfinished
replacement assembly. As pressure
increased, movement of the piping
occurred resulting in the eventual
separation of the pipe from the weldable
compression coupling. There was
sufficient mechanical breakdown and
the escaping crude oil created a
flammable vapor-air mixture which
ignited a few seconds after the release
began. The pipeline was being re-started
to allow for welding of the compression
couplings to the pipe when the release
occurred. The failure occurred while
pressure and flow were increasing.
The weldable compression couplings
use radial bolts (clamp screws) to attach
the compression coupling to the surface
of the pipeline. Once attached,
longitudinal bolts apply pressure to a
steel ring and neoprene seal which
expands, providing a compressive seal
between the weldable compression
coupling and exterior surface of the
pipe. The compression couplings are
designed to be fillet welded to the pipe
surface after bolting and sealing, making
them a permanent welded repair.
In the above referenced incident, the
weldable compression couplings had
been modified prior to the installation
by cutting off approximately half of the
clamping bolts which reduced the
restraining capability of the replacement
assembly. The manufacturer’s
installation procedures did not
authorize this modification. In addition,
operators’ procedures specific to the
installation of compression couplings
must provide sufficient guidance for
their employees to determine whether a
pipeline is fully anchored prior to
welding. In the above referenced
incident, the manufacturer’s literature
described a pipeline in the anchored
condition as being ‘‘restricted from
movement in all directions’’ and the
operating pressure chosen by the
operator to be sustained for welding was
based on the manufacturer’s
recommendation for a fully anchored
installation. However, the physical
E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM
30SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 188 / Wednesday, September 30, 2009 / Notices
CPrice-Sewell on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
characteristics of the installation
indicated that it was not fully anchored
and that it needed to be limited to a
much lower maximum safe working
pressure. Operator personnel must be
specifically trained and qualified for the
installation of weldable compression
couplings including ensuring that the
extent to which the pipeline is not fully
anchored is taken into account when
determining the maximum safe working
pressure.
To ensure safety, pipeline operators
using weldable compression couplings
must ensure personnel are trained and
qualified to perform the installation.
Also, operators must ensure their
procedures accurately incorporate
manufacturers’ procedures and
limitations on the use of weldable
compression couplings and ensure that
the procedures are available, understood
and followed by personnel. PHMSA
believes that the risk of compromising
safety posed by unauthorized
modifications to weldable compression
couplings is unacceptable. PHMSA
strongly recommends that any field
changes in the installation process (i.e.,
modifications allowed by a component
manufacturer) that could affect
component performance and safety be
subject to a documented authorization
process, communicated to appropriate
personnel, and be reflected by allowable
working pressures. Allowable working
pressures vary greatly between anchored
and un-anchored installations. In order
to use the pressure rating for an
anchored installation, the operator must
verify the pipeline is anchored in all
directions in accordance with company
and manufacturer procedures prior to
pipeline start-up. To ensure safety for
personnel, property and the
environment, pipeline start-up
procedures must be available and
followed. Finally, any failure to identify
and restrict access to hazard zones
during pressurization of exposed
pipeline sections could compromise
safety.
II. Advisory Bulletin ADB–09–02
To: Owners and Operators of
Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas
Pipelines.
Subject: Weldable Compression
Couplings.
Advisory: The Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) advises
operators of hazardous liquid and
natural gas pipelines installing or
planning to install weldable
compression couplings and similar
repair devices to follow manufacturer
procedures to ensure correct
installation. In addition, PHMSA also
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:56 Sep 29, 2009
Jkt 217001
advises these operators to follow the
appropriate safety and start-up
procedures to ensure the safety of
personnel and property and protect the
environment. The failure to install a
weldable compression coupling
correctly, or the failure to implement
and follow appropriate safety and startup procedures, could result in a
catastrophic pipeline failure. PHMSA
strongly urges operators to review, and
incorporate where appropriate into
operators’ written procedures, the
manufacturer’s installation procedures
and any other necessary safety measures
for safe and reliable operation of
pipeline systems.
Issued in Washington, DC September 23,
2009.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E9–23527 Filed 9–29–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Docket No. FTA–2009–0010]
Urbanized Area Formula Program:
Proposed Circular
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of
Proposed Circular.
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) has placed in the
docket and on its Web site, proposed
guidance in the form of a circular to
assist grantees in implementing the
Urbanized Area Formula Program
(Section 5307). The Urbanized Area
Formula Program provides grants for
capital, planning, and some operating
projects in urbanized areas. By this
notice, FTA invites public comment on
the proposed circular 9030.1D,
Urbanized Area Formula Program:
Program Guidance and Application
Instructions for the program.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by
November 30, 2009. Late-filed
comments will be considered to the
extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by the docket number [FTA–
2009–0010] by any of the following
methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments
on the U.S. Government electronic
docket site.
2. Fax: 202–493–2251.
PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50273
3. Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., Docket Operations, M–30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., Docket Operations, M–30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Instructions: You must include the
agency name (Federal Transit
Administration) and Docket number
(FTA–2009–0010) for this notice at the
beginning of your comments. You
should submit two copies of your
comments if you submit them by mail.
If you wish to receive confirmation that
FTA received your comments, you must
include a self-addressed stamped
postcard. Note that all comments
received will be posted without change
to www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided and will
be available to internet users. You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477). Docket: For access to the docket
to read background documents and
comments received, go to
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
the U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Docket
Operations, M–30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Henrika Buchanan-Smith, Office of
Program Management, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., East Building, Fourth Floor,
Washington, DC 20590, phone: (202)
366–5080, fax: (202) 366–7951, or email, Henrika.BuchananSmith@dot.gov; or Richard Wong, Office
of Chief Counsel, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., East Building, Fifth Floor,
Washington, DC 20590, phone: (202)
366–0675, fax: (202) 366–3809, or email, Richard.Wong@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Overview
II. Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis
A. Chapter I—Introduction and
Background
B. Chapter II—Program Overview
C. Chapter III—General Program
Information
D. Chapter IV—Program Development
E. Chapter V—Coordinated Planning
E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM
30SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50272-50273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23527]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0158]
Pipeline Safety: Weldable Compression Coupling Installation
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) reminds pipeline owners and operators of the importance of
installing weldable compression couplings in accordance with
manufacturer procedures and following appropriate safety and start-up
procedures. The failure to install weldable compression couplings
correctly, or the failure to implement and follow appropriate safety
and start-up procedures, could result in a catastrophic pipeline
failure. PHMSA strongly urges operators to review, and incorporate
where appropriate into operators' written procedures, the
manufacturer's installation procedures and take any other necessary
safety measures for safe and reliable operation of pipeline systems.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivan Huntoon by phone at (816) 329-
3829 or by e-mail at ivan.huntoon@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In 2007, a crude oil release occurred during maintenance activities
on a major oil pipeline. The escaping crude oil ignited and resulting
in two fatalities. When this incident occurred the operator was
performing a pipe replacement using pre-tested pipe and weldable
compression couplings. The failure occurred during start-up operations
when the forces associated with pipeline operations exceeded the
restraining capability of the unfinished replacement assembly. As
pressure increased, movement of the piping occurred resulting in the
eventual separation of the pipe from the weldable compression coupling.
There was sufficient mechanical breakdown and the escaping crude oil
created a flammable vapor-air mixture which ignited a few seconds after
the release began. The pipeline was being re-started to allow for
welding of the compression couplings to the pipe when the release
occurred. The failure occurred while pressure and flow were increasing.
The weldable compression couplings use radial bolts (clamp screws)
to attach the compression coupling to the surface of the pipeline. Once
attached, longitudinal bolts apply pressure to a steel ring and
neoprene seal which expands, providing a compressive seal between the
weldable compression coupling and exterior surface of the pipe. The
compression couplings are designed to be fillet welded to the pipe
surface after bolting and sealing, making them a permanent welded
repair.
In the above referenced incident, the weldable compression
couplings had been modified prior to the installation by cutting off
approximately half of the clamping bolts which reduced the restraining
capability of the replacement assembly. The manufacturer's installation
procedures did not authorize this modification. In addition, operators'
procedures specific to the installation of compression couplings must
provide sufficient guidance for their employees to determine whether a
pipeline is fully anchored prior to welding. In the above referenced
incident, the manufacturer's literature described a pipeline in the
anchored condition as being ``restricted from movement in all
directions'' and the operating pressure chosen by the operator to be
sustained for welding was based on the manufacturer's recommendation
for a fully anchored installation. However, the physical
[[Page 50273]]
characteristics of the installation indicated that it was not fully
anchored and that it needed to be limited to a much lower maximum safe
working pressure. Operator personnel must be specifically trained and
qualified for the installation of weldable compression couplings
including ensuring that the extent to which the pipeline is not fully
anchored is taken into account when determining the maximum safe
working pressure.
To ensure safety, pipeline operators using weldable compression
couplings must ensure personnel are trained and qualified to perform
the installation. Also, operators must ensure their procedures
accurately incorporate manufacturers' procedures and limitations on the
use of weldable compression couplings and ensure that the procedures
are available, understood and followed by personnel. PHMSA believes
that the risk of compromising safety posed by unauthorized
modifications to weldable compression couplings is unacceptable. PHMSA
strongly recommends that any field changes in the installation process
(i.e., modifications allowed by a component manufacturer) that could
affect component performance and safety be subject to a documented
authorization process, communicated to appropriate personnel, and be
reflected by allowable working pressures. Allowable working pressures
vary greatly between anchored and un-anchored installations. In order
to use the pressure rating for an anchored installation, the operator
must verify the pipeline is anchored in all directions in accordance
with company and manufacturer procedures prior to pipeline start-up. To
ensure safety for personnel, property and the environment, pipeline
start-up procedures must be available and followed. Finally, any
failure to identify and restrict access to hazard zones during
pressurization of exposed pipeline sections could compromise safety.
II. Advisory Bulletin ADB-09-02
To: Owners and Operators of Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas
Pipelines.
Subject: Weldable Compression Couplings.
Advisory: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) advises operators of hazardous liquid and
natural gas pipelines installing or planning to install weldable
compression couplings and similar repair devices to follow manufacturer
procedures to ensure correct installation. In addition, PHMSA also
advises these operators to follow the appropriate safety and start-up
procedures to ensure the safety of personnel and property and protect
the environment. The failure to install a weldable compression coupling
correctly, or the failure to implement and follow appropriate safety
and start-up procedures, could result in a catastrophic pipeline
failure. PHMSA strongly urges operators to review, and incorporate
where appropriate into operators' written procedures, the
manufacturer's installation procedures and any other necessary safety
measures for safe and reliable operation of pipeline systems.
Issued in Washington, DC September 23, 2009.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-23527 Filed 9-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
