[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62516-62517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23882]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-19091; Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; Tuscarora Gas Transmission 
Company

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

ACTION: Notice; Petition for Waiver.

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SUMMARY: Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company has petitioned the Research 
and Special Programs Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety (RSPA/
OPS) for a waiver of the pipeline safety regulation that requires each 
onshore gas transmission pipeline in a Class 1 location to have 
sectionalizing block valves spaced at a maximum distance of 20 miles.

DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver 
request described in this notice must do so by November 26, 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. General information about 
the Federal 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, Office of Pipeline 
Safety, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The pipeline safety regulations at 49 CFR 
192.179 require that each point on an onshore gas pipeline in a Class 1 
location must be within 10 miles of a sectionalizing block valve, 
unless in a particular case the RSPA Administrator finds that 
alternative spacing would provide an equivalent level of safety. This 
means that the distance between valves in a Class 1 location may not 
exceed 20 miles. During a recent review of its records, Tuscarora Gas 
Transmission Company (Tuscarora) discovered that during construction 
the upstream portions of its pipeline in Lassen County, California, 
were slightly re-routed to avoid a sensitive environmental habitat. As 
a result, the spacing between main line valves MLV-

[[Page 62517]]

8 and MLV-9 exceeds the 20 mile maximum distance by 1,065 feet. 
Tuscarora requested a waiver of valve spacing requirement at Sec.  
192.179 for this line section.
    In support of its waiver request, Tuscarora submitted the 
following:
     The affected valve is located adjacent to an existing dirt 
roadway, providing ease of access.
     All mainline block valves on the Tuscarora system are 
equipped with automatic line break detection and automatic closure 
devices.
     The design, installation, and maintenance of the pipeline 
is in full compliance with 49 CFR part 192.
     The pipeline was constructed and placed in service in 1995 
and is protected by an impressed current cathodic protection system.
     The pipeline segment from MLV-8 to MLV-10 is designed, 
operated, and maintained to Class 1 requirements in accordance with 49 
CFR part 192.
     Tuscarora's Gas Control Center continuously monitors 
conditions on the pipeline.
     Operator response time to this area is less than one hour 
from the time of detection and notification.
    Tuscarora's waiver request is available for review in the docket. 
RSPA/OPS is seeking comments on the waiver request. After the comment 
period has ended, RSPA/OPS will consider Tuscarora's waiver request and 
any public comments on the issues raised in its waiver request. RSPA/
OPS' decision to grant or deny the waiver will be published in the 
Federal Register.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 19, 2004.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 04-23882 Filed 10-25-04; 8:45 am]
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