[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14255-14256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5824]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration


Pipeline Safety: Closure of Gas Shut-Off Valves Serving 
Permanently Moored Vessels (PMV) During High-Water Conditions

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an advisory bulletin.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is issuing this advisory 
to gas distribution pipeline system operators. Operators should examine 
the shut-off valves controlling gas service to permanently moored 
vessels (PMV) and ensure that gas service can be quickly shut down, if 
necessary, even during high-water conditions. In addition, operators 
should review their operations and maintenance manual and their 
emergency response manual to ensure that procedures are in place to 
successfully shut down the flow of gas to PMVs when necessary, 
including during high-water conditions.

ADDRESSES: This document can be viewed at the OPS home page at: http://ops.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Huriaux, (202) 366-4565, or by 
e-mail, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On September 27, 2000, the National Transportation Safety Board 
(NTSB) recommended that the Research and Special Programs 
Administration ``require corrective action as appropriate to ensure 
that pipeline operators have the means to shut off the flow of natural 
gas to permanently moored vessels in a timely manner, even during 
periods of high-water conditions'' (Safety Recommendation P-00-14).
    This recommendation resulted from NTSB's investigation of a natural 
gas leak on a permanently moored vessel (PMV), the President Casino on 
the Admiral (Admiral), on April 4, 1998. The Admiral was struck by 
barges that detached from a tow during high-water conditions on the 
Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The Admiral lost 
most of its mooring lines, causing the barge to rotate away from the 
quay, severing the gas service line. The natural gas did not ignite, 
but an emergency repair crew was unable to shut off the gas supply 
because the flooded regulator pit made it impossible to reach the shut-
off valve. After three hours the crew was able to clamp-off the line 
and stop the flow of gas.
    The local gas distribution company has taken action to ensure that 
all service line shut-off valves controlling gas flow to PMVs are 
provided with a means to stop the flow of gas, even during high-water 
conditions. It will either locate gas service line valves where they 
will not be affected by flooding or install equipment, such as extra-
height operators or valve key guides, that will allow service valves to 
be readily operated during flood conditions.
    There are hundreds of PMVs in U.S. waters. This incident highlights 
the need to evaluate the accessibility and operability of gas service 
line valves serving PMVs. Although not all these valves are subject to 
potential high-water conditions, gas distribution pipeline system 
operators serving PMVs should ensure that they can promptly shut down 
the flow of natural gas to PMVs, even during high-water conditions.
    The Federal pipeline safety regulations require that ``each service 
line must have a shut-off valve in a readily accessible location * * 
*'' (49 CFR 192.365(b)). This implies that the valve must be operable 
under all reasonably anticipated conditions. For PMVs, it is reasonable 
to anticipate that high-water and flooding might occur. Operators 
should review their operations and maintenance manual and their 
emergency response manual to ensure that procedures are in place to 
successfully shut down the gas to PMVs when necessary, including during 
high-water conditions. (49 CFR 192.605).

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-01-01)

    To: Owners and Operators of Gas Distribution Systems.
    Subject: Closure of Gas Shut-Off Valves Serving Permanently Moored 
Vessels (PMV) During High-Water Conditions
    Purpose: To advise gas distribution pipeline system owners and 
operators of the need to examine the location and functionality of 
shut-off valves to make sure they can promptly shut down the flow of 
gas, even in the event of high-water conditions.
    Advisory: Owners and operators of gas distribution pipeline systems 
should examine the location of gas shut-off valves serving PMVs to 
ensure that they can be located and used, even during high-water 
conditions. If not, the valves should be moved to a location above the 
reasonably anticipated high-water mark or equipped to be readily 
accessible during high-water events. In addition, operators should 
review their operations

[[Page 14256]]

and maintenance manual and their emergency response manual to ensure 
that procedures are in place to successfully shut down the gas to PMVs, 
when necessary, including during high-water conditions.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 20, 2001.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 01-5824 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P