[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16641-16642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8745]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-97-2236; Notice 1]
Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities Petition for Waiver; Pine Needle
LNG Company
Pine Needle LNG Company (Pine Needle) has petitioned the Research
and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) for a waiver from compliance
with 49 CFR 193.2155(c), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tank
impounding system. Section 193.2155(c) requires a Class 1 impounding
system whenever an LNG storage tank is located within 20,000 feet from
the nearest runway serving large aircraft. The petition applies to the
Pine Needle's proposed LNG storage facility in the northwest Guilford
County, North Carolina.
The petitioner's rationale for the waiver from compliance rests on
the following reasons:
1. A horizontal distance between the nearest Pine Needle LNG tank
and the nearest point of the Landmark Airpark runway is approximately
19,500 feet. This is 500 feet less than the 20,000 foot offset required
for compliance with Sec. 193.2155(c).
2. A vertical clearance of an aircraft over the top of the Pine
Needle earthen containment dikes would be 1023 feet, after factoring in
a minimum airport approach/departure ratio of 20:1 to/from Landmark
Airpark and the elevation differences between the Landmark Airpark
runway and the Pine Needle location. This exceeds the minimum
requirements under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulations.
3. Correspondence between FAA and the Landmark Airpark developer
describes operation of the Landmark Airpark as being limited to private
aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
4. The turf runway surface and 2600-foot runway length would likely
preclude large aircraft, as defined by 14 CFR Part 1.1, from using the
Landmark Airpark.
5. Pine Needle owns, leases or controls all properties within the
exclusion zones required under 49 CFR 193.2057 and 193.2059. There is
presently no development within the prescribed exclusion zones. Pine
Needle will allow no development within the required exclusion zones
which would be inconsistent with the requirements of Secs. 193.2057 and
193.2059.
6. The Class 2 impounding system proposed for the Pine Needle LNG
storage tanks would remain intact in the event of a large aircraft
impact, and with a design volume of 150% of tank capacity would meet
the volumetric requirements of Sec. 193.2181(a).
7. The earthen dikes, in combination with hilly terrain and the
undeveloped safety exclusion zones around the facility would adequately
provide for hazard containment.
Because of the unusual circumstances described above at Pine
Needle's proposed LNG facility, located 19,500 feet from the nearest
point of the Landmark Airpark runway, suitable for landing smaller
aircrafts and any larger aircrafts that could reasonably use this
facility, relatively low risk to the public safety due to combination
of Class 2 earthen dikes in a hilly terrain with 150% volumetric
capacity, and undeveloped safety exclusion zones around facility owned
and controlled by the Pine Needle, RSPA believes that granting a waiver
from the requirements of 49 CFR 193.2155(c) would not be inconsistent
with pipeline safety, nor would it lessen public safety in this case.
The operator must comply with all other requirements of Part 193.
Therefore, RSPA proposes to grant the waiver.
Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed waiver by
submitting in duplicate such data, views, or arguments as they may
desire. Comments should identify the docket number and the RSPA
rulemaking number. Comments should be addressed to the Docket Facility,
U.S. Department Of Transportation, plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
All comments received before May 7, 1997 will be considered before
final action is taken. Late filed comments will be considered so far 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 required by
an interested person desiring to comment at a public hearing and
raising a genuine issue. All comments and other docketed material will
be available for inspection and copying in room 401 Plaza between the
[[Page 16642]]
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Authority: 49 App. U.S.C. 2002(h) and 2015; and 49 CFR 1.53.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 1, 1997.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-8745 Filed 4-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P