Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for Public Comment for the Longhorn Pipeline Reversal Project, 45417 [2012-18524]

Agencies

• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 45417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18524]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2012-0175]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Public Comment for the Longhorn Pipeline Reversal Project

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Public Comment for the Longhorn Pipeline Reversal Project.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, and the Council on Environmental Quality 
NEPA implementing regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is announcing the 
availability of and requesting comments on the Draft Environmental 
Assessment (Draft EA) for the Longhorn Pipeline Reversal Project 
(Proposed Project).

DATES: Submit any comments regarding the Draft EA no later than 
September 14, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number PHMSA-2012-0175 
at the beginning of the comment. Comments are posted without changes or 
edits to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. There is a privacy statement published on https://www.regulations.gov. Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
    E-Gov Web Site: https://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the 
public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any 
agency.
    Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. If you submit your 
comments by mail, please submit two copies. To receive confirmation 
that PHMSA has received your comments, please include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard.
    Hand Delivery: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Fax: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, 202-493-2251.
    PHMSA has posted the Draft EA at https://www.regulations.gov in 
docket number PHMSA-2012-0175.
    The Draft EA is also available for inspection at the following 
public libraries:
     Austin Public Library--Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 South 5th 
Street, Austin, TX 78704, 512-974-9980.
     Collier Regional Library, 6200 Pinemont Drive, Houston, 
TX, 77092, 832-393-1740.
     Abilene Public Library-South Branch, 1401 South Danville 
Drive, Abilene, TX 79605, 325-698-7565.
     El Paso Main Library, 501 North Oregon Street, El Paso, 
TX, 79901, 915-543-5433.
     Ector County Public Library, 321 West 5th Street, Odessa, 
TX, 79761, 432-332-0633.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amelia Samaras, Attorney, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; by phone at 202-366-
4362; or email at amelia.samaras@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Longhorn Pipeline runs from El Paso, 
Texas to Houston, Texas and is owned and operated by Magellan Pipeline 
Company, L.P. (Magellan). The Longhorn Pipeline currently transports 
refined petroleum products from east to west (Houston to El Paso). The 
Proposed Project would convert the segment of the Longhorn Pipeline 
from Crane, Texas to East Houston, Texas to crude oil service and 
reverse the flow so that crude oil would flow from west to east (Crane 
to Houston). At Crane, refined products would enter the pipeline and 
move west to El Paso. The refined products would enter the Longhorn 
Pipeline via an existing pipeline segment that connects the Longhorn 
Pipeline to the existing Orion West Pipeline located to the north of 
the Longhorn Pipeline. The Orion West Pipeline runs from Frost, Texas 
to El Paso and is also owned and operated by Magellan.
    PHMSA is responsible for regulating the transportation of hazardous 
liquids via pipeline. PHMSA issues and enforces pipeline safety 
regulations that dictate requirements for construction, design, 
testing, operation, and maintenance of natural gas and hazardous liquid 
(including crude oil, petroleum products, and anhydrous ammonia) 
pipelines. PHMSA does not typically serve as lead agency for pipeline 
construction projects, as it has no authority over pipeline siting and 
does not issue any approval or authorization to commence a pipeline 
construction project. However, a settlement agreement specific to this 
action titled: ``The Longhorn Mitigation Plan'' (LMP) resulted from 
litigation associated with changes to the Longhorn Pipeline in 1999. 
The LMP provides PHMSA with broader responsibility and oversight of the 
Longhorn Pipeline.
    The Proposed Project would require upgrades to the pipeline and 
would include construction of a six-mile pipeline segment in El Paso 
and a 2.5-mile pipeline segment in Houston. Modifications and upgrades 
to existing infrastructure to facilitate reversal and increased 
capacity, such as new pump stations and terminals, would occur at 
various locations along the Longhorn and Orion Pipelines' right-of-
ways. Although not originally included in the LMP, activities along the 
Orion West Pipeline and the segment from Odessa to Crane that would 
take place as a result of the Proposed Project are analyzed in this 
Draft EA as connected actions.
    This Draft EA analyzes the changes that would take place as a 
result of the Proposed Project and how the changes could impact the 
human environment during construction, normal operations, and in the 
unlikely event of a release. PHMSA has also analyzed the condition of 
the Longhorn Pipeline and how the change in product and direction would 
affect the pipeline.

Linda Daugherty,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-18524 Filed 7-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P