[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54345-54346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20331]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-18757]


Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; Columbia Gas Transmission

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

ACTION: Notice; petition for waiver to install fiberglass reinforced 
polyethylene pipe.

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SUMMARY: Columbia Gas Transmission (Columbia) has petitioned the 
Research and Special Programs Administration's Office of Pipeline 
Safety (RSPA/OPS) for a waiver of the pipeline safety regulations to 
install fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe in its high pressure 
natural gas storage field operations.

DATE: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver 
proposed in this notice must do so by October 8, 2004. Late-filed 
comments will be considered so far as practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by mailing or delivering an 
original and two copies to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. The Dockets Facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays when the facility is closed. 
Alternatively, you may submit written comments to the docket 
electronically at the following Web address: http://dms.dot.gov.
    All written comments should identify the docket and notice numbers 
stated in the heading of this notice. Anyone who wants confirmation of 
mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. To file 
written comments electronically, after logging on to http://dms.dot.gov, click on ``Comment/Submissions.'' You can also read 
comments and other material in the docket at http://dms.dot.gov. 
General information about our pipeline safety program is available at 
http://ops.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: James Reynolds by phone at (202) 366-
2786, by fax at (202) 366-4566, by mail at DOT, RSPA, OPS, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Columbia has petitioned RSPA/OPS for a 
waiver from compliance with 49 CFR 192.53(c), 192.121, 192.123, and 
192.619(a) to allow for installation and operation of fiberglass 
reinforced polyethylene pipe in its high pressure natural gas storage 
field operations. Columbia believes that fiberglass reinforced 
polyethylene pipe represents both a technological and economical 
alternative to conventional steel pipe currently used in high pressure 
gas storage fields. Columbia's petition and supporting materials are 
available in the docket.
    Columbia seeks to demonstrate the viability of spooled composite 
products in regulated, high--pressure gas service and proposes to 
install approximately 4,200 feet of 4-inch Fiberspar[reg] 
spooled, non-metallic composite line pipe in its Dundee Storage Field.
    Columbia seeks approval to use the following design formula from 
API 15HR:

Pr = Ss x Sfx 
(R02--Ri2)/
(R02 + Ri2)
Where:

Pr = Design Pressure Rating, psig
Ss = 95 percent Lower Confidence Limit (LCL) of the Long-
Term Hydrostatic Strength (LTHS) @ 20 years per ASTM D 2992, Procedure 
B, psig
Sf = 0.67 service (design) factor per API 15 HR.
R0 = radius of the pipe at the outside of the minimum 
reinforced wall thickness, inches
Ri = radius of the pipe at the inside of the minimum 
reinforced wall thickness, inches

    Columbia's Dundee Storage Field is located in Schulyer County, New 
York. The storage field covers approximately 15,130 acres and includes 
135 wells and 26.8 miles of 4-inch through 16-inch diameter pipeline 
operating at a maximum allowable operating (MAOP) pressure of 825 psig.
    Within the storage field, Columbia has identified a group of five 
storage wells and six pipelines to serve as installation sites for the 
fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe. Because the five wells have a 
history of producing low levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), 
Columbia is proposing to replace the existing steel pipelines with 
Fiberspar[reg] spooled line pipe.
    The current location of the Dundee Storage Field is predominately 
abandoned hay fields with no dwellings or High Consequence Areas (HCA)

[[Page 54346]]

within the defined class location. Future construction near the storage 
field includes a proposed road crossing and two stream crossings. The 
storage facility impacts four parcels of land and two individual 
landowners. The new pipe installation will also include a location for 
cleaning ball launchers and receivers, alcohol injection points, blow 
offs valves, fittings, and line valves.
    Within the Dundee Storage Field, Columbia is proposing to identify 
five locations for installation of Fiberspar[reg] pipe and 
inspection. The inspections will include non-destructive and 
destructive testing. Non-destructive testing will focus on material 
composition and degradation of the fiberglass matrix, while destructive 
testing will be a hydrotest to burst. The burst pressure will be 
compared to the manufacturer's burst test and to 95 percent of the LCL 
of the LTHS.
    The five inspections will be scheduled for 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 
years post installation of the fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe. 
Each inspection will involve, at a minimum, the removal of a ten foot 
segment. The segment will be replaced using mechanical couplings and 
fiberglass reinforced polyethylene line pipe. Columbia will select the 
exact locations of the inspections based on previous sampling data, 
including elevation, leak history, and H2S concentration. 
Based on the results of the five inspections, Columbia intends to 
schedule future inspections beyond the ten year inspection period. 
Specifically, Columbia intends to seek validation of the product life 
cycle and LTHS basis beyond the 20 year rating per ASTM D 2992 
procedure.
    Fiberspar[reg] will offer training and certification to 
Columbia's Dundee field operations staff, training center staff, 
engineers, and technical staff on the qualification of joining methods 
unique to that application and installation of 
Fiberspar[reg] spooled fiberglass pipe. 
Fiberspar[reg] will also develop a written installation 
procedure for Columbia's staff and oversee staff members performing 
covered tasks during the initial installations.
    Columbia is requesting a waiver from Sec. Sec.  192.53(c), 192.121, 
192.123, and 192.619(a) for its high pressure natural gas pipeline 
because it believes that fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe is:
     well suited for storage well line applications;
     non-metallic to eliminate internal corrosion; and
     impervious to acid gas corrosion caused by H2S.
    Columbia also contends that fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe 
will:
     Eliminate the need for cathodic protection equipment such 
as rectifiers, ground beds, insulation joints, test stations, and 
anodes;
     eliminate coating repairs; and
     reduce the need for pipe joining.
    Columbia believes fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe is both a 
technological and economical alternative to conventional steel well 
lines and deserves a closer examination for use within the pipeline 
industry. RSPA/OPS is publishing this notice in the Federal Register to 
provide an opportunity for public comment. At the conclusion of the 
comment period, RSPA/OPS will make a determination on the proposed 
waiver and publish its decision in the Federal Register.

    Authority: 49 App. U.S.C. 60118(c) and 2015; and 49 CFR 1.53

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 1, 2004.
William H. Gute,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-20331 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P