[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77127-77128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31542]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT

[Docket No. RSPA-98-4034]


Pipeline Safety: Project Modifications Approved for the Natural 
Gas Pipeline Company of America Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration 
Project

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Research and Special Programs 
Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of risk management project modification 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 amended the Risk Management 
Demonstration Project Order issued to Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (NGPL) to allow NGPL to conduct alternative risk control 
activities on five of its pipeline segments in lieu of compliance with 
certain pipeline safety regulations. OPS has also made a finding that 
this amendment 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. You 
may send comments to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0991, or you may submit your comments electronically by logging 
on to the following Internet Web address: http://dms.dot.gov, and then 
clicking on ``Help & Information'' for instructions on how to file a 
document electronically. Comments should identify the docket number 
RSPA-1998-4034. 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 a.m. to 5 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. Comments may also be 
reviewed on line at the DOT Docket Management System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Project Order Amendment

    On December 31, 1998, OPS issued Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (NGPL) \1\ a Risk Management Demonstration Project Order 
authorizing NGPL to conduct a risk management project on its interstate 
natural gas transmission pipeline system. The project was one of 
several demonstration projects in a risk demonstration program 
authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60126. Since that Order was issued, NGPL 
identified five segments in its pipeline system where it proposed to 
perform alternative risk control activities in lieu of compliance with 
the regulations addressing class location changes. In a Notice dated 
August 17, 2001 (66 FR 43295), OPS described in detail the five 
segments and the proposed alternative activities. OPS stated that its 
analysis of the proposed activities had found them likely to provide 
superior protection. OPS announced its intent to amend the 
Demonstration Project Order and allow the alternative activities, after 
consideration of public comment. OPS did not receive any public comment 
in response to that Notice.
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    \1\ In 1998, NGPL was acquired by KN Energy, Inc. In October, 
1999, KN Energy merged with Kinder Morgan, Inc. The merged company 
is named Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI). NGPL now operates its pipeline 
system as a subsidiary of KMI. The scope of the Risk Management 
Demonstration Project remains limited to the NGPL system.
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    This Notice announces OPS's issuance of an amendment to NGPL's 
Demonstration Project Order to exempt the five pipeline segments from 
compliance with 49 CFR 192.611 conditioned on NGPL performing the 
alternative activities. The decision to amend the Demonstration Project 
Order to allow the exemption is based on the conclusion that the 
alternative activities will provide superior safety to that provided by 
compliance with 49 CFR 192.611.
    More detailed descriptions of all aspects of the NGPL demonstration 
project are available in the following documents:
    (1) 66 FR 43295, ``Pipeline Safety: Intent to Approve Project 
Modifications and Environmental Assessment of Modifications for the 
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America Risk Management Demonstration 
Project,''August 17, 2001.
    (2) Docket Number RSPA-1998-4034-5, ``Appendix A: Environmental 
Assessment,'' August 14, 2001.
    (3) 63 FR 46497, ``Pipeline Safety: Intent to Approve Project and 
Environmental Assessment for the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America Risk Management Demonstration Project,'' September 1, 1998.
    (4) 64 FR 1067, ``Pipeline Safety: Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America; Approved for Risk Management Demonstration Program,'' January 
7, 1999.
    (5) ``Demonstration Project Prospectus: Natural Gas Pipeline 
Company,'' available via the Pipeline Risk Management Information 
System (PRIMIS) on the OPS Web page at http://ops.dot.gov, and 
following the links to ``Initiatives'' and ``Risk Management 
Initiative.''
    (6) ``Risk Management Demonstration Project Order,'' RMD 98-4, 
December 31, 1998.
    (7) ``Amendment to Risk Management Demonstration Project Order,'' 
RMD 98-4, Amendment 1, November 18, 2002.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

    In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332), the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and Department of Transportation (DOT) 
Order 5610.1c, Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, OPS 
conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the alternative 
activities NGPL proposed

[[Page 77128]]

on the five pipeline segments (Docket RSPA-1998-4034-5, 
``Appendix A: Environmental Assessment'', August 14, 2001). In that EA, 
OPS concluded that the alternative activities would not have 
significant environmental impacts.
    OPS received no public comment on the Environmental Assessment. 
Based on the analysis and conclusions reached in the Environmental 
Assessment and the analysis conducted in the above-listed documents, 
OPS has determined 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, OPS has concluded that the risk control 
alternatives on the five pipeline segments will provide superior 
protection for people living near the NGPL pipeline system when 
compared to current regulatory requirements. Although the alternative 
activities are expected to provide environmental benefits, due to the 
minimal environmental impact associated with gas pipeline failures, 
these benefits are not expected to be significant. The additional 
environmental protection results primarily from reducing the likelihood 
that pipeline failures will occur.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 9, 2002.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-31542 Filed 12-13-02; 8:45 am]
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