[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 53273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Pipeline Safety Advisory: Potential for Damage to Natural Gas 
Distribution Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricane 
Katrina

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and 
operators of natural gas distribution pipeline facilities to 
communicate the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by 
the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: This document can be viewed on the Office of Pipeline Safety 
(OPS) Home page at: http://ops.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joy Kadnar, (202) 366-0568, or by e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The purpose of this advisory bulletin is to warn all operators of 
natural gas distribution pipeline facilities that safety problems may 
have been caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 
2005.
    Past instances of flooding have resulted in significant pipeline 
system damage including exposed pipes, failure of pipelines crossing 
rivers and streams, damage to meter sets, pipeline leaks from soil 
movement, and water leaking into pipeline systems. Due to the storm 
surge and extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, extensive 
damage to facilities may be expected.
    The Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR part 192) require 
operators to shut down and start up pipeline facilities in a safe 
manner and to conduct periodic pipeline patrols to detect unusual 
operating and maintenance conditions and to take corrective action if 
conditions are unsafe.
    Gas pipeline safety regulations require that operators mitigate the 
safety condition if a pipeline facility is damaged. The regulations 
require damaged pipeline facilities be repaired or replaced as 
necessary to eliminate the hazard, and that damage resulting in a death 
or injury or exceeding $50,000 must be promptly reported to the 
National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-05-07)

    To: Owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities.
    Subject: Potential for damage to natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina.
    Advisory: All operators of natural gas distribution pipeline 
facilities in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and 
Florida are warned that pipeline safety problems may have been caused 
by the passage of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Likely problems 
include but are not limited to damage of above ground equipment due to 
flooding and flying debris, damage to buried pipelines from soil 
movement, and water leaking into low pressure pipelines.
    Pipeline operators are urged to take the following actions to 
ensure personal and environmental safety and the integrity of natural 
gas distribution pipeline facilities located in areas impacted by 
Hurricane Katrina:
    1. Conduct additional leak surveys and inspection of above ground 
equipment as necessary to detect any damage which may have occurred.
    2. For distribution systems or portions of systems that have been 
shut down, check for damage to piping, valves, emergency shutdown 
systems, risers and meter sets prior to restoring system operation and 
relighting customers.
    3. Check for water that may have leaked into low pressure systems.
    4. Identify and correct any conditions on the pipeline as required 
by the Federal pipeline safety regulations. (49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; 49 
CFR 1.53).

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 31, 2005.
Joy Kadnar,
Director of Engineering and Engineering Support.
[FR Doc. 05-17653 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P