[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4676]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration

 

Pipeline Safety Advisory Bulletin ADB-94-03 Railroad-Pipeline 
Emergency Plans Coordination

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Advisory to gas and hazardous liquids pipeline operators 
concerning pipelines (1) in a common right-of-way with a railroad, (2) 
in a parallel right-of-way, or (3) that cross a railroad right-of-way.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this advisory is to inform pipeline operators 
and state pipeline safety program managers of a special notice issued 
by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to railroad operators, and 
a safety recommendation issued by the National Transportation Board 
(NTSB).

Advisory

    The presence of pipelines carrying natural gas or hazardous liquids 
on or near railroad rights-of-way creates a need for pipeline and 
railroad operators to coordinate emergency response planning and 
actions. Accordingly, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), in its 
manual ``Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan Guidance Document 
for Railroads'' (DOT/FRA/ORD-93/09, March 1993 revision), issued the 
following special notice on coordination between railroad and pipeline 
operators:

Special Notice

    After the Association of American Railroads had completed their 
work on this guidelines document, it became evident that additional 
information should be included regarding pipelines that might be 
affected by a railroad accident. This ``Special Notice'' was developed 
by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Research and Special 
Programs Administration to respond to this need.

Pipelines in Railroad Rights-of-Way

    Many railroad rights-of-way contain underground pipelines which 
carry hazardous materials.
    These pipelines may be in a common right-of-way with the railroad, 
in a parallel right-of-way, or cross the railroad right-of-way. 
Pipelines may carry natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products 
including highly volatile liquids such as propane. These materials are 
often under high pressure.
    A railroad incident which results in derailment, heavy equipment 
operations in the right-of-way, or any other disturbance of the right-
of-way, has the potential of damaging underground pipelines. Derailed 
cars and engines can directly impinge on a pipeline. Loads imposed on a 
pipeline from a derailed train or cleanup equipment, or striking the 
pipeline with digging equipment can result in immediate or future 
failure. Therefore, the presence of underground pipelines carrying 
hazardous material must always be considered in responding to a rail 
incident. Railroads must actively coordinate their emergency response 
activities with pipeline operators to assess possible damage due to the 
incident and to prevent damage during response and cleanup operations.
    Railroad emergency response plans should include information on 
underground pipelines which could be damaged by a rail incident. This 
information should include location, materials carried, and emergency 
numbers for the pipeline operator. Natural gas pipelines are operated 
under Federal Regulations 49 CFR part 192; hazardous liquid pipelines 
are operated under 49 CFR part 195.
    In accordance with a safety recommendation from NTSB, pipeline 
operators having pipelines on or adjacent to railroad rights-of-way 
should discuss this ``Special Notice'' with those railroad operators to 
whom it applies, and mutually undertake development of plans for 
handling emergencies involving both rail and pipeline systems. 
Discussion should include information on how a pipeline can be damaged, 
how denting, gouging and even surface damage that appears to be minor 
can lead to future failure, the serious consequences that can result 
from coating damage, and information to suggest possibilities for one-
call systems to be a help on incidents involving both railroad and 
pipeline facilities. RSPA policy for Federal inspectors responding to a 
derailment that may impact a pipeline is to examine the condition of 
the right-of-way for indications of possible damage to the pipeline, 
including visual examination of the pipe and, if needed, excavation to 
expose it. Where warranted, RSPA policy also requires integrity testing 
(i.e., pigging with an instrumented internal inspection device or 
hydrostatic testing).
    This notice will be discussed with state pipeline safety program 
managers at upcoming Federal/state pipeline safety meetings.

Background

    National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Recommendation 
P-90-25 (issued in conjunction with NTSB Accident Report number NTSB/
RAR-90/02 on the San Bernardino, CA train derailment and petroleum 
pipeline rupture in May 1989) urges that operators of pipelines located 
on or adjacent to railroad rights-of-way coordinate with railroad 
operators in the development of plans for handling transportation 
emergencies that may impact both the rail and pipeline systems. In 
addition, P-90-25 recommends that the plan be discussed with affected 
state and local emergency response agencies.
    In initial response to this recommendation, representatives of RSPA 
met with FRA representatives. The foregoing ``Special Notice'' was 
developed in the course of their discussions.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 23, 1994.
George W. Tenley, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 94-4676 Filed 3-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P