[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 41 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10474-10475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. RSPA-04-18757; Notice 2]


Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Columbia Gas Transmission

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice; grant of waiver.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is granting Columbia Gas 
Transmission's (Columbia) petition for a waiver of the pipeline safety 
regulations to install fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe in its 
high pressure natural gas storage field operations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Columbia has petitioned 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 is 
proposing to install approximately 4,200 feet of 4-inch Fiber[supreg] 
spooled, non-metallic composite line pipe in its Dundee Storage Field.
    On September 8, 2004, OPS published a notice in the Federal 
Register requesting public comment on Columbia's waiver request (69 FR 
054345). The cities of Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia (jointly 
referred to as ``Cities'') submitted several comments in response to 
the Notice.
    As Columbia customers, the Cities are concerned that granting this 
waiver may diminish Columbia's ability to provide reliable firm storage 
and natural gas transportation service. The Cities contends that if 
Columbia's ability is diminished, then, the Cities reliability to 
deliver natural gas to its customers may be diminished as well.
    The following are the Cities comments regarding Columbia's petition 
for waiver:
    (1) Fiberspar's[supreg] fiberglass reinforced polyethylene plastic 
pipe has no track record thus it is difficult to determine whether or 
not the proposed material is reliable over the long term.
    This waiver requires Columbia to schedule five inspections to 
perform both non-destructive and destructive testing on this pipe 
material after installation. The inspections and tests will be 
performed 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 years after installation. This waiver 
requires Columbia to remove a minimum ten foot pipe segment for 
inspection during each inspection; non-destructive testing will focus 
on the composition and degradation of the pipe material and destructive 
testing will be a hydrotest to burst pressure.
    (2) The Cities commented that the Fiber[supreg] pipe material has 
not been tested by an independent research authority.
    Columbia and Fibers[supreg] have been engaged in meetings and 
discussion regarding the research involved in the development of this 
pipe material. OPS is aware that Fiber[supreg] has not had this pipe 
material tested and rated before the American Society for Testing and 
Materials (ASTM)--an independent research authority recognized by OPS--
OPS also believes that vendors like Fiberspar's[supreg] should submit 
their product(s) for proper testing and development and meet ASTM 
standards. For this reason and as a condition of this waiver, OPS will 
limit Columbia's use of this pipe material to five years unless 
Fiber[reg]rdquo; submits this pipe material to ASTM for testing and 
have this material listed as an acceptable material meeting ASTM 
requirement for new materials and have a listing with the plastics pipe 
institute (PPI) within five years of the pipe's original installation. 
If Fiber[reg]rdquo; fails to submit this pipe material to ASTM for 
testing, Columbia will be required to discontinue use of this pipe 
material at the end of the 5th year following installation and conform 
to the regulatory requirements of 49 CFR Sec. Sec.  192.53(c), 192.121, 
192.123, and 192.619(a). If it is determined that the commodity 
transported in this pipeline is not compatible with, and proves 
detrimental to, this pipe material, OPS reserves the right, as a 
condition of this waiver, to curtail or discontinue the use of this 
pipe material.
     (3)The Cities commented that it will be unable to deliver firm 
storage service to its customers if Columbia determines this pipe 
material to be unreliable.
    Columbia's responsibility to provide reliable gas service to its 
customers is not diminished by this waiver or its use of this pipe 
material. By issuing this waiver, OPS believes Columbia will continue 
to provide reliable service to its customers. If it is determined that 
the commodity transported in this pipeline is not compatible with, and 
proves detrimental to, this pipe material, OPS reserves the right, as a 
condition of this waiver, to curtail or discontinue the use of this 
pipe material.
    (4) The Cities commented that the 0.67 service (design) factor 
contained in the design formula results in a lower safety factor than 
the 0.32 design factor contained in the design formula under Sec.  
192.121.
    Columbia seeks approval to use the following design formula from 
API 15HR:

Pr = Ss x Sf x (Ri\2\-R0\2\) / (R0\2\ 
+ Ri\2\)

Where:

Pr = Fiber[supreg] Line Pipe Standard 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

    Fiberspar[supreg] uses a service factor in its calculation of the 
Standard Pressure Rating, Pr, which is 25% less than the 
maximum service factor required by API 15HR. API 15HR requires a 
service factor of 0.67. By using a service factor which is 25% less, 
the result is an increase in the long-term reliability of this pipe 
material.
    (5) The Cities commented that Columbia's choice to use plastic pipe 
increases the risk of pipe damage by a backhoe.
    This waiver does not waive Columbia's responsibility to meet the 
excavation requirements of the Federal pipeline safety standards. 
Columbia is required to have excavation procedures in their Operations 
and Maintenance manual and their personnel are expected to be familiar 
with and follow those procedures whenever construction near the 
pipeline is being performed.
    (6) The Cities commented that Columbia did not specify how they 
intend to comply with the requirements of one-call notification.
    Columbia is required to have a damage prevention program in place 
and documented in their Operations and Maintenance manual. Columbia's 
personnel are expected to be familiar with and follow that program 
whenever events required them to do so. The waiver does not relieve 
Columbia from its responsibility to meet the one-call notification 
requirements of the Federal pipeline safety standards.

Grant of Waiver

    Based on the above information, OPS hereby grants Columbia's 
request for waiver from the requirements of 49 CFR Sec. Sec.  
192.53(c), 192.121, 192.123, and 192.619(a). The waiver allows Columbia

[[Page 10475]]

to install and operate approximately 4,200 feet of four inch 
Fiberspar[supreg] fiberglass reinforced polyethylene plastic pipe in 
its Dundee Storage Field located in Schulyer County, New York.
    As a condition of the grant of this waiver, Columbia must--
     Apply this waiver only to piping within its Dundee Storage 
Field;
     Apply this waiver in non High Consequence Area(s);
     Apply this waiver in Class 1 location(s) only;
     Develop qualifications on joining methods through 
Fiberspar[supreg] installation training courses and field training; 
qualifications and joining methods must be available to OPS Eastern 
Region upon request;
     Apply this waiver to five storage wells and six lines as 
stated in the waiver request;
     Perform initial pipeline installation with qualified 
Fiberspar[supreg] personnel present and overseeing the installation; 
notify OPS Eastern Region of the date, time, and location of initial 
installation and provide opportunity for OPS Eastern Region to witness 
installation;
     Schedule five inspections for 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 years 
after installation; remove a minimum ten foot pipe segment for 
inspection and perform both non-destructive and destructive testing on 
the pipe material. Non-destructive testing shall focus on the 
composition and degradation of the fiberglass reinforced polyethylene 
plastic pipe material and the destructive testing shall be a hydrotest 
to burst pressure. The results of the inspections and tests must be 
available to OPS Eastern Region upon request; and
     Submit Fiberspar[supreg] fiberglass reinforced 
polyethylene plastic pipe to ASTM for testing. If Fiberspar[reg] fails 
to submit this pipe material to ASTM for testing and have this material 
listed as an acceptable material meeting ASTM requirement for new 
materials and have a listing with the plastics pipe institute (PPI) 
within five years of the pipe's original installation, Columbia must 
discontinue use of this pipe material at the end of the 5th year 
following initial installation and comply with the regulatory 
requirements of 49 CFR Sec. Sec.  192.53(c), 192.121, 192.123, and 
192.619(a). If it is determined that the commodity transported in this 
pipeline is not compatible with, and proves detrimental to, this pipe 
material, OPS reserves the right, as a condition of this waiver, to 
curtail or discontinue the use of this pipe material.
    If Columbia does not comply with any of these requirements, or if 
circumstances indicate that the waiver compromises the safety of the 
pipeline, people or property, OPS reserves the right to terminate this 
waiver.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 25, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-4121 Filed 3-2-05; 8:45 am]
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