[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56524-56525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-05-21747; Notice 2]


Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG

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

ACTION: Grant of Waiver; Southern LNG.

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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 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility constructed after March 31, 2000, 
to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA) Standard NFPA 59A ``Standard for Production, 
Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    SLNG, an El Paso Company, requested a waiver from Sec.  193.2301. 
This regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 
2000, to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and Standard NFPA 59A.
    Standard NFPA 59A requires that welded containers designed for not 
more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge comply with the Eighth 
Edition, 1990, of American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 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 a 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 consists of full semi-automated and manual 
ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. SLNG also proposes to 
use a volumetric ultrasonic examination which combines creep wave 
probes and focused angled longitudinal waive probes.

Findings

    PHMSA considered SLNG's waiver request and published a notice 
inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be 
granted (70 FR 40781; July 14, 2005). There were two comments from the 
public in response to the notice; both were in support of the waiver.
    One commenter, a member of the API Committee on Refinery Equipment, 
Subcommittee on Pressure Vessels and Tanks, said that the use of 
ultrasonic examination in lieu of radiographic examination for large 
LNG tanks improves jobsite safety because it eliminates the hazards of 
radiation exposure. This commenter also said that ultrasonic 
examination is more capable than radiographic examination for detecting 
crack-like weld defects.
    The other commenter provided a copy of NFPA 59A Report on Comments, 
dated May 2005 and stated that the NFPA 59A Committee approved the 
latest edition of API 620.
    The 2006 edition of NFPA 59A was approved as an American National 
Standard on August 18, 2005.

Grant of Waiver

    In its Report on Comments, dated May 2005, the NFPA 59A Committee 
accepted in principle the latest edition of API 620, Tenth Edition, 
Addendum 1. The Tenth Edition, Addendum 1, of API 620 adds ultrasonic 
examination as an acceptable method of examination. The Tenth Edition, 
Addendum 1, of API 620 indicates that both radiographic and ultrasonic 
examination are acceptable means of testing.
    For the reasons explained above and in the Notice dated July 14, 
2005, PHMSA finds that the requested waiver is consistent with pipeline 
safety and that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved. 
Therefore, SLNG's request for waiver of compliance with Sec.  193.2301 
is granted.


[[Page 56525]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-19198 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P