[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44930-44931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21344]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. P-95-1W; Notice 2]


Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.; Transportation of Hazardous Liquid 
by Pipeline, Grant of Waiver

SUMMARY: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) is being granted a 
waiver by the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) which 
will amend 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) for buried pump station and terminal 
insulated piping.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 29, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 1995, RSPA published a notice in 
the Federal Register (60 FR 30153, June 7, 1995) proposing to issue a 
waiver to Alyeska amending the existing waiver covering procedures for 
thermally insulated pump station and terminal piping. Public comment on 
the proposal was requested. No comments were received. Therefore, RSPA 
is granting the waiver as proposed.

Background

    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) for 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 resistence. 49 CFR 
195.242(a) requires that a cathodic protection system be installed for 
all buried or submerged hazardous liquid facilities to mitigate 
corrosion that might result in structural failure.
    RSPA granted Alyeska this waiver on August 16, 1976, (Docket No. 
Pet. 75-13W) on the premise that the applied thermal insulation design 
would provide an equal level of corrosion protection. However, 
subsequent inspections of the insulated piping revealed that the 
annular insulation system has not been 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 
in areas with the greatest corrosion. For the remaining approximately 
3,500 feet of below-ground insulated piping, RSPA will prohibit any 
further use of the thermal insulation design installed during original 
construction of the pipeline and to amend the waiver on the existing 
insulated piping with the following stipulations:
    1. At Pump Station No. 1. Alyeska will install in 1995, an 
insulated box containing cathodic protection on approximately 450 feet 
of 48-inch mainline piping and will complete tie-in of the 2-inch fuel 
gas separator drain line. This will complete the installation of 
cathodic protection for 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 will repair as required until Pump Station No. 2 is removed from 
service.
    3. At Pump Station No. 5. The piping subject to this amendment is 
approximately 1,490 feet. 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, Alyeska will 
continue to perform annual sample inspections for corrosion and repair 
as required until Pump Station No. 5 is removed from service.
    4. At the North Pole Meter Station. 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. Alyeska will 
either:
    A. Conduct sample inspections for corrosion in 1995 and provide 
cathodic protection to the existing 8-inch crude supply and 6-inch 
residuum return piping by December 31, 1996; 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 at the 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 Stations No. 4 and Nos. 7-12) and the VMT. Typical 
repairs consist of removal of the below-ground insulation and coating, 
followed by replacement of the coating and the outer mechanical 
protective layer. Alyeska will repair and complete inspections of ten 
percent of the insulated transitions at each of the affected pump 
stations and at VMT by the end of 1995.
    Inspections of ten percent of the transitions were completed at 
Pump Stations 4, 9, and 12 in 1994 with the following results: At PS-4, 
two transitions inspected with no corrosion; at PS-9, three transitions 
inspected, two with no corrosion and one with slight corrosion with a 
.065 inch pit; and at PS-12, three transitions inspected with no 
corrosion at two locations and less than .030 inch 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 the VMT. Alyeska will continue an inspection and 
repair program based on the results of these and future inspections. 
Transition piping subject to this amendment is approximately 800 feet. 

[[Page 44931]]

    For the purpose of this amendment, sample inspect or sample 
inspection means to excavate and expose a portion of a line segment, 
typically 3 to 20 feet in length, for the purpose of visual examination 
and measurement of corrosion. Portions of pipe segments with no 
external inspection history will be given priority. The reinspection 
frequency will be based on the severity of the corrosion found, line 
service, and pipe accessibility. The maximum interval for sample 
inspection will not exceed five 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.
    In view of these reasons and those stated in the foregoing 
discussion, RSPA, by this order, finds that a waiver of compliance with 
49 CFR 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) is consistent with pipeline safety. 
Accordingly, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's petition from 
compliance with the above stipulations is hereby granted.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on August 23, 1995.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-21344 Filed 8-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P-M