[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40781-40782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13867]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-21747; Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Request for Waiver; Southern LNG

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to consider waiver request.

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SUMMARY: Southern LNG (SLNG), requested a waiver of compliance from the 
regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301, which requires each LNG 
facility constructed after March 31, 2000 to comply with 49 CFR 193 and 
ANSI/NFPA 59A.

DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver 
request described in this Notice must do so by August 15, 2005. Late 
filed comments will be considered as 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 (DOT), Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590-0001. The Dockets Facility is open from 9 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 telephone at 202-
366-2786, by fax at 202-366-4566, by mail at DOT, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline 
Safety (OPS), 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or by e-mail 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Southern LNG (SLNG), an El Paso Company, requests a waiver of 
compliance from the regulatory requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301. This 
regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 2000 
to comply with 49 CFR 193 and ANSI/NFPA 59A.

[[Page 40782]]

    NFPA 59A requires that welded containers designed for not more than 
15 psig comply with the Eighth Edition, 1990, of API 620, Design and 
Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks (Appendix Q). 
The Eighth Edition of API 620 requires inspection according to Appendix 
Q which calls for the full radiographic examination of all vertical and 
horizontal butt welds associated with the container.
    SLNG is proposing to use the current Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of 
API 620. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620, allows ultrasonic 
examination--in lieu of radiography--as an acceptable alternative non-
destructive testing method. SLNG proposes to use ultrasonic examination 
on its project, which consist of full semi-automated and manual 
ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. The examination will 
also consist of a volumetric ultrasonic examination using a combination 
of creep wave probes and focused angled longitudinal waive probes.
    SLNG stated that the NFPA 59A Technical Committee recently approved 
and recommended the acceptance of the Tenth Edition, 2002 of API 620. 
PHMSA has not adopted the Tenth Edition, 2002 of API 620, and has not 
incorporated it by reference in Appendix A to Part 193; therefore, a 
waiver is required.
    SLNG asserts that ultrasonic examination is more sensitive than 
radiographic examination to detect the type of flaws most susceptible 
in the design and construction of large welded low pressure storage 
tanks. SLNG further asserts that any potentially detrimental weld 
defect in the container walls will be identifiable using the ultrasonic 
examination method.
    SLNG concludes that the alternative method of inspection allowed by 
the current Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620, will not reduce the 
integrity of the installation, and will in fact enhance the quality of 
the inspection by using modern inspection technology while improving 
personnel safety and information sharing.
    For the reasons stated, SLNG is requesting a waiver from 49 CFR 
193.2301 and is asking that it be allowed to use the ultrasonic 
examination method according to the Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 
620, in lieu of the radiographic examination method as specified by the 
Eighth Edition of API 620.

System Description

    SLNG's Elba Island Expansion Project consists of one tank with a 
volume of approximately one million barrels. The tank is located at the 
Southern LNG Receiving Terminal at Elba Island in Savanna, Georgia. The 
outer wall of the container is constructed of Carbon Steel and the 
inner wall of 9% Nickel Steel. This project received approval from the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 10, 2003.
    OPS will consider SLNG's waiver request and whether SLNG's proposal 
will yield an equivalent or greater degree of safety than that 
currently provided by the regulations. This Notice is OPS' only request 
for public comment before making a decision. After considering any 
comments received, OPS may grant SLNG's waiver request as proposed or 
with modifications and conditions or deny SLNG's request. If the waiver 
is granted and OPS subsequently determines that the effect of the 
waiver is inconsistent with pipeline safety, OPS may revoke the waiver 
at its sole discretion.

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 7, 2005.
Joy Kadnar,
Director of Engineering and Emergency Support.
[FR Doc. 05-13867 Filed 7-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P