[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14172-14173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7605]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT
[Docket No. RSPA-97-3224; Notice 12]


Pipeline Safety: Shell Pipe Line Corporation Approved for 
Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of risk demonstration project approval and finding of no 
significant impact.

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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has issued a Risk Management 
Demonstration Project Order authorizing Shell Pipe Line Corporation 
(SPLC) to participate in the Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration 
Program. OPS has also made a finding that SPLC's demonstration project 
will have no significant impacts on the environment.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this or any other demonstration project will be 
accepted in the Docket throughout the 4-year demonstration period. 
Comments should be sent to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590-0001, or you can E-Mail your comments to 
[email protected]. Comments should identify the docket number 
RSPA-97-3224. Persons should submit the original comment document and 
one (1) copy. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of 
their comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. The 
Dockets Facility is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building 
in Room 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC. The Dockets 
Facility is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Callsen, OPS, (202) 366-
4572, regarding the subject matter of this document. Contact the 
Dockets Unit, (202) 366-5046, for docket material.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Project Authorization

    On March 18, 1998, OPS, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60126, issued SPLC a 
Risk Management Demonstration Project Order authorizing SPLC to conduct 
a risk management project on two segments of the SPLC-operated pipeline 
system. OPS has determined, after a comprehensive review of SPLC's 
demonstration project, that the project is expected to provide superior 
safety.
    More detailed descriptions of all aspects of the SPLC demonstration 
project, including the OPS rationale for approving the project, are 
available in the following documents:
    (1) 62 FR 67932, ``Pipeline Safety: Intent To Approve Shell Pipe 
Line Corporation for the Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration 
Program'', December 30, 1997.
    (2) ``Demonstration Project Prospectus: Shell Pipe Line 
Corporation'', available by contacting Elizabeth M. Callsen at 202-366-
4572. Includes maps of the demonstration segments.
    (3) ``Shell Pipe Line Corporation--Application for DOT-OPS Risk 
Management Demonstration Program'', available in Docket No. RSPA-97-
3224 at the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Plaza 
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-5046.
    (4) 63 FR 7500, ``Pipeline Safety: Environmental Assessment for 
Risk Management Demonstration Project--Shell Pipe Line Corporation'', 
February 13, 1998.
    (5) ``OPS Project Review Team Evaluation of Shell Demonstration 
Project''.
    (6) ``Risk Management Demonstration Project Order'' for Shell Pipe 
Line Corporation, March 18, 1998.
    These documents and other information pertaining to the SPLC 
project are accessible to the public via the Pipeline Risk Management 
Information System (PRIMIS), at http://www.cycla.com/opsdemo.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

    OPS has reviewed SPLC's project for conformity with section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332), 
the Council on Environmental Quality implementing regulations (40 CFR 
1500-1508), and Department of Transportation Order 5610.1c, Procedures 
for Considering Environmental Impacts. OPS conducted an Environmental 
Assessment of SPLC's project (63 FR 7500, ``Pipeline Safety: 
Environmental Assessment for Risk Management Demonstration Project--
Shell Pipe Line Corporation,'' February 13, 1998).
    OPS received no public comment on the Environmental Assessment.
    Based on the analysis and conclusions reached in the Environmental 
Assessment and the analyses conducted in the above-listed documents, 
OPS has found that there are no significant impacts on the environment 
associated with this action. The Environmental Assessment and the other 
above-listed documents are incorporated by reference into this FONSI. 
To summarize, the reasons that the project will not have a significant 
effect on the human environment are:
    (1) The portfolio of activities SPLC will undertake to prevent 
pipeline releases from the demonstration segments provide superior 
protection by appropriately addressing the greatest risks. The company 
will conduct state-of-the-art inspections to decide if there is past, 
unknown third party damage, while simultaneously carrying out an 
aggressive damage prevention program to prevent future damage. Also 
included are community involvement activities which include spill 
modeling and emergency response drills.
    (2) The commodities transported by the two

[[Page 14173]]

demonstration segments (carbon dioxide and ethylene) can have little 
impact on the human environment, should a release occur. These reasons 
are further discussed in the Environmental Assessment referenced above.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 19, 1998.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-7605 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
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