[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5449]



[[Page 11177]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket RSPA-03-14455; Notice 1]


Cost-Benefit Study of Excess Flow Valve Installation on Gas 
Service Lines

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

ACTION: Notice of study availability and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice seeks comments from the public on a cost-benefit 
study of mandatory installation of excess flow valves (EFVs) on all new 
and renewed gas distribution service lines. This study was performed by 
the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) at the request 
of RSPA's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) in response to a 
recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 6, 2003 to 
ensure consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments in 
duplicate to the Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Dockets Facility, Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or by e-mail to http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov. 
Comments must identify the docket number of this notice. Persons 
wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments must 
include a stamped, self-addressed postcard.
    A copy of the report and all comments in Docket No. RSPA-03-14455 
may be reviewed at the Dockets Facility between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. The docket may also 
be accessed electronically over the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov">dms.dot.gov.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin Fell, U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), RSPA/OPS, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20950, telephone (202) 366-6205, or by e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal pipeline safety regulations do not 
require the installation of Excess Flow Valves (EFVs) on service lines. 
However, if an EFV is installed on a single residence service line, the 
regulations set minimum performance standards for these valves. These 
performance standards provide that an EFV must function properly up to 
the maximum operating pressure at which the valve is rated and at all 
temperatures reasonably expected in the operating environment of the 
service line. Furthermore, the EFV must not close when the pressure is 
less than the manufacturer's minimum specified operating pressure and 
the flow rate is below the manufacturer's minimum specified closure 
rate. The performance standards are found at 49 CFR 192.381.
    The Federal pipeline safety regulations also require operators of 
gas distribution pipelines to notify certain service line customers of 
the availability of EFVs for installation at the customer's expense. 
The notification requirements only apply for newly installed or 
replaced single-family residential gas service lines operating at not 
less than 10 pounds per square inch gauge (psig). The notification 
requirements are found at 49 CFR 192.383.
    The written notification must include information on the safety 
benefits of EFVs and on the costs associated with the installation, 
maintenance, and operation of EFVs. An operator is not required to 
notify its customers about EFV installation when (1) EFVs meeting the 
performance standards in 49 CFR 192.381 are not commercially available 
to the gas distribution pipeline operator, (2) prior experience 
indicates that contaminants in the service lines could interfere with 
the proper operation of an EFV, or (3) special situations make it 
impractical for the operator to notify a service line customer before 
replacing a service line. The notification requirements do not apply if 
an operator voluntarily installs EFVs in new and renewed gas service 
lines.
    On July 7, 1998, leakage from a natural gas distribution service 
line caused a gas explosion and fire in the South Riding subdivision, 
Loudoun County, Virginia. The accident resulted in one death, three 
injuries, destruction of one house, and damage to five houses. The NTSB 
accident investigation revealed that gas had accumulated in the 
basement of a house, where it probably was ignited by a water heater 
pilot light. A hole in the ``-inch polyethylene gas service line to the 
house was the most likely source of the gas. The NTSB determined that 
the flow rate per hour from the hole in the gas service line was more 
than adequate to activate an EFV. The NTSB concluded that the explosion 
and fire would not have occurred had an EFV been installed in the 
service line to interrupt gas flow.
    As a result of its investigation, the NTSB issued Recommendation P-
01-2. It urges RSPA to require the installation of EFVs in all new and 
renewed services serving any type of customer--residential, commercial, 
or industrial. This includes installation of EFVs in new and renewed 
gas services operating at less than 10 psig, if appropriate EFVs are 
commercially available.
    OPS engaged Volpe to conduct a study that estimates the benefits 
and costs associated with implementation of NTSB Safety Recommendation 
P-01-2. This study examined whether the benefits resulting from 
mandatory installation of EFVs on all new and renewed gas distribution 
service lines would exceed the costs. The full study is available in 
Docket Number RSPA-03-14455 or on the OPS Web page at ops.dot.gov.
    OPS invites comments on all aspects of the Volpe study, and in 
particular, would like comments on the following questions:
    (1) Are the assumptions used in performing this study clear and 
correct?
    (2) Is the data used in the study adequate to support the 
conclusions of the report?
    (3) Are the uncertainties of this study clearly explained?
    (4) Are the conclusions drawn from this study reasonable?
    (5) Are the sensitivity analyses adequate?
    (6) Are there other issues regarding EFVs and EFV installation not 
considered in the study?
    (7) Are there regulatory or non-regulatory alternatives to 
mandatory EFV installation on new and renewed service lines that are as 
effective in reducing risks to the public?

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 4, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-5449 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P