[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30154-30155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13931]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. P-95-1W; Notice 1]


Transportation of Hazardous Liquid by Pipeline Petition for 
Waiver; Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

SUMMARY: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) has petitioned the 
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) for an amendment to 
the August 16, 1975, waiver (Docket No. Pet. 75-13W) from compliance 
with the coating and cathodic protection requirements of 49 CFR 
195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) regarding buried pump station and terminal 
insulated piping. RSPA proposes to grant this amendment subject to the 
noted stipulations.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 24, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: L.E. Herrick, 202-366-5523 regarding 
the subject matter of this notice or the Dockets Branch, 202-366-5046, 
regarding copies of this notice or other material that is referenced 
herein.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Dockets Branch, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, Washington, DC 20590. 
All comments and Docket material may be reviewed in the Dockets Branch, 
room 8421, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated November 24, 1975, Alyeska 
requested a waiver from compliance with the coating and cathodic 
protection requirements of 49 CFR 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) with 
respect to thermally insulated pump station and terminal piping on the 
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). 49 CFR 195.238(a)(5) requires that 
each component in a hazardous liquid pipeline that is to be buried or 
submerged must have an external protective coating that supports any 
supplemental cathodic protection. In addition, if an insulating-type 
coating is used, it must have low moisture absorption and provide high 
electrical resistance. 49 CFR 195.242(a) requires a cathodic protection 
system be installed for all buried or submerged hazardous liquid 
facilities to mitigate corrosion that might result in structural 
failure. A test procedure must also be developed to determine whether 
adequate cathodic protection has been achieved.
    On August 16, 1976, RSPA granted Alyeska this waiver (Docket No. 
Pet. 75-13W) on the premise that the applied thermal insulation design 
would prevent corrosion from occurring on the piping. However, 
subsequent inspections of the insulated piping discovered that the 
annular insulation [[Page 30155]] system was not sufficiently effective 
in preventing external corrosion on portions of the buried piping.
    Alyeska estimates 14,500 linear feet of piping was originally 
installed subject to the 1976 waiver. To date, Alyeska has rerouted 
approximately 11,000 linear feet of above ground piping or installed 
cathodic protection with a design meeting the requirements of 
195.238(a)(5) and 195.2424(a). In general, this rerouting or repair was 
made on areas with the greatest corrosion. For the remaining 
approximately 3500 feet of below ground insulated piping, RSPA proposes 
to prohibit any further use of thermal insulation design installed 
during construction and to amend the waiver on the existing insulated 
piping subject to the following stipulations: 1. At Pump Station No. 1. 
In 1995, Alyeska will install an insulated box containing cathodic 
protection on approximately 450 feet of 48-inch mainline piping and 
will also complete tie-in of the 2-inch fuel gas separator drain line. 
This will complete the installation of cathodic protection to all 
active piping at Pump Station No. 1 that is subject to 49 CFR 195.
    2. At Pump Station No. 2. Alyeska will conduct annual sample 
inspections of approximately 220 feet of piping for injurious corrosion 
and repair as required until pump station No. 2 is removed from 
service.
    3. Pump Station No. 5 piping subject to this amendment is 
approximately 1490 feet. At Pump Station No. 5 Alyeska will either:
    A. Install insulated boxes containing cathodic protection or move 
the piping above ground by December 31, 1996; or,
    B. If Alyeska determines by September 1995 that Pump Station No. 5 
will be removed from service prior to December 31, 1999, continue to 
perform annual sample inspections for corrosion and repair as required 
until Pump Station No. 5 is removed from service.
    4. The North Pole Meter Station piping subject to this amendment 
and extension is approximately 560 feet between the 48-inch mainline 
and the meter building. At the North Pole Meter Station Alyeska will 
either:
    A. Provide cathodic protection to existing 8-inch crude supply and 
6-inch residuum return piping by December 31, 1996, and conduct sample 
inspections for corrosion in 1995, or
    B. Upgrade the meter station connection and replace with new larger 
diameter piping meeting 49 CFR Part 195 requirements by December 31, 
1996.
    5. At transition piping at pump stations and Valdez Marine Terminal 
(VMT), the above ground insulated piping that transitions to below 
ground non-insulated piping occurs at the seven non-permafrost stations 
(pump station No. 4 and Nos. 7-12) and the VMT. Typical repair consists 
of removal of the below ground insulation and coating, followed by 
coating replacement and an outer mechanical protective layer. Alyeska 
will repair and complete inspections of ten percent of the insulated 
transitions at each of the applicable pump stations and at VMT by the 
end of 1995.
    Inspections of ten percent of the transitions were completed at 
each of the pump stations 4, 9, and 12 in 1994 with the following 
results: PS-4, two transitions inspected with no corrosion; PS-9, three 
transitions inspected, two with no corrosion and one with slight 
corrosion with a 65 mil pit; and PS-12, three transitions inspected 
with no corrosion at two locations and less than 30 mils pitting at the 
other location. A total of five transitions were inspected at the VMT 
in 1994, a total of five per cent, with no corrosion found at any 
location.
    In 1995, Alyeska will conduct inspections of ten percent of the 
transitions at pump stations Nos. 7,8,10, and 11 and an additional five 
transitions at VMT. Alyeska will continue an inspection and repair 
program based upon the results of these and future inspections. 
Transition piping subject to this amendment and extension is 
approximately 800 feet.
    For the purpose of this amendment sample inspect/sample inspection 
means to excavate and expose a portion of a line segment, typically 3 
feet to 20 feet in length, for the purpose of visual examination and 
measurement of corrosion. Portions of pipe segments with no inspection 
information will be given priority, and reinspection frequency will be 
based upon the severity of corrosion found, line service, and pipe 
accessibility. The maximum interval for sample inspection will not 
exceed 5 years.
    Injurious corrosion means corrosion to the extent that replacement 
or repair is required as determined by 49 CFR 195.416(h). Repair means 
structural repair of piping and/or coating repairs.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed amendment 
to waiver by submitting in duplicate such data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. RSPA specifically requests comments on the adequacy of 
the proposed action regarding 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a). Comments 
should identify the Docket and Notice numbers, and be submitted to the 
Dockets Unit, Room 8421, Research and Special Programs Administration, 
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20590.
    All comments received before July 24, 1995 will be considered 
before final action is taken. Late filed comments will be considered as 
practicable. No public hearing is contemplated, but one may be held at 
a time and place set in a Notice in the Federal Register if requested 
by an interested person desiring to comment at a public hearing and 
raising a genuine issue.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 1995.
Cesar De Leon,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-13931 Filed 6-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P