[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36093-36094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12356]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-21305; Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Use of Polyamide-11 Plastic Pipe in Gas 
Pipelines

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) seeks public comments on 
two petitions for rulemaking filed by Arkema, Inc. The petitions 
request changes to the gas pipeline safety regulations to increase the 
design factor for new polyamide--11 (PA-11) pipe and to allow use of 
PA-11 pipe for systems operating at up to 200 pounds per square inch 
gauge pressure (psig). These requested changes will allow the use of 
PA-11 pipe in gas pipelines in place of metal pipe.

[[Page 36094]]


DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
August 22, 2005. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments to the docket by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 20590-0001. Anyone wanting 
confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard.
     Hand delivery or courier: Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington DC. The Dockets Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov, click on ``Comments/
Submissions'' and follow the instructions at the site.
    All written comments should identify the docket number and notice 
number stated in the heading of this notice.
    Docket access: For copies of this notice or other material in the 
docket, you may contact the Dockets Facility by phone (202-366-9329) or 
visit the facility at the above street address. For Web access to the 
dockets to read and download filed material, go to http://dms.dot.gov/search. Then type in the last four digits of the docket number shown in 
the heading of this notice, and click on ``Search''.
    Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments filed in any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted for an association, business, labor 
union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in 
the April 11, 2000 issue of the Federal Register (65 FR 19477) or go to 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Sanders (tel: 405-954-7214; E-
mail: [email protected]). General information about our 
pipeline safety program is available at this Web address: http://ops.dot.gov.
    To view the petition, comments, and other material in the docket, 
go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time and conduct a simple search using 
the docket number. You may also visit the Dockets Facility at the 
address under ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 4, 2004, Arkema, Inc. submitted 
two petitions to the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety 
Administration's Office of Pipeline Safety. Arkema's petitions request 
that DOT revise 49 CFR 192.121 and 192.123 by increasing the design 
factor and the design pressure for PA-11 to allow the use of a PA-11 
piping system at pressures up to 200 psig. Under the proposal, the 
design factor for PA-11 would be raised from 0.32 to 0.40, which would 
allow for a greater operating pressure. The operating pressure limit 
for 2-inch diameter pipes of this material would also be raised from 
100 psig to 200 psig, to allow these pipe systems to be operated up to 
the pressure limit determined by the design factor.
    Arkema asserts that pipelines with the new PA-11 material will pose 
less risk to the public at a design factor of 0.40 than older 
thermoplastic piping materials used with a 0.32 design factor and that 
allowing an increased design pressure will allow gas companies to 
replace metal piping systems with 2-inch plastic pipe operating up to 
200 psig to avoid the risk of corrosion failure in steel pipes. A 
detailed technical justification, including performance test results 
for PA-11 pipe and a discussion of its history of use, is provided in 
the petition, which may be read in its entirety in the docket.
    With this notice, OPS is seeking further information and inviting 
public comment on the performance of the PA-11 pipe and a potential 
increase in the design factor and the design pressure for new 
thermoplastic piping. OPS will consider Arkema Inc.'s petition, any 
comments received by the public, and other information to determine 
whether or not to initiate rulemaking.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2005.
Joy Kadnar,
Director of Engineering and Emergency Support.
[FR Doc. 05-12356 Filed 6-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P