[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52871-52873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14826]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA--2006-24058; Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Petition for Waiver; TransCanada Pipelines 
Limited

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

ACTION: Notice; petition for waiver.

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SUMMARY: TransCanada Pipelines Limited, operator of the Portland 
Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS), requests a waiver of 
compliance from PHMSA regulations for selected gas transmission 
pipeline segments in Windham, Maine. These

[[Page 52872]]

regulations require pipeline operators to confirm or revise the maximum 
allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of a pipeline after a class 
location change.

DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on the waiver 
proposed in this notice must do so by October 10, 2006. Comments filed 
late will be considered 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, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. The dockets facility is open from 10 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 number 
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 at http://dms.dot.gov. 
General information about our pipeline safety program is available at 
http://phmsa.dot.gov.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received in 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 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Reynolds by phone at 202-366-
2786, by fax at 202-366-4566, by mail at DOT, PHMSA, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Room 2103, Washington, DC, 20590, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PNGTS requests a waiver from compliance with 
49 CFR 192.611 for selected gas transmission pipeline segments in 
Windham, Maine. Specifically, PNGTS requests a waiver from the 
requirement to revise the MAOP or upgrade the pipeline segments after a 
class location change. If this waiver is granted, PNGTS will conduct 
risk control activities that include: (1) Internal pipeline inspection 
using geometry and magnetic flux leakage in-line inspection tools; (2) 
annual close interval cathodic protection surveys; (3) direct current 
voltage gradient (DCVG) surveys; (4) direct assessment on anomalies; 
(5) additional aerial patrols; and (6) installation of buried 
excavation warning tape over the pipeline. PNGTS asserts that these 
alternative risk control activities will provide an equal or higher 
level of safety than currently provided by the pipeline safety 
regulations.
    Federal pipeline safety regulations at Sec.  192.611 require a gas 
pipeline operator to confirm or revise the MAOP of its pipeline if the 
hoop stress corresponding to the established MAOP of a segment of 
pipeline is not commensurate with the present class location and the 
segment is in satisfactory physical condition.
    PNGTS's waiver request involves two locations on its 24-inch 
pipeline in Windham, Maine. Both locations were hydrotested to 1846 
pounds per square inch gauge (psig) in December of 1998:
    Location 1: Consists of 785 feet of Class 1 pipe, 24-inch outside 
diameter, 0.343-inch wall, American Petroleum Institute (API) 5L/Grade 
X70 steel pipe, and 2128 feet of Class 3 pipe, 24-inch outside 
diameter, 0.494-inch wall, API 5L/Grade X70 steel pipe, for a total 
length of 2913 feet of pipe.
    Location 2: Consists of 4766 feet of Class 1 pipe, 24-inch outside 
diameter, 0.343-inch wall, and API 5L/Grade X70 steel pipe.
    With regard to location 1, PNGTS requests this waiver because the 
development or conversion of an active gravel pit in an industrial park 
will change the 785 feet of Class 1 to Class 3 pipe. With regard to 
location 2, PNGTS requests the waiver because the development of a 
residential subdivision is expected to change the entire 4766 feet of 
Class 1 to Class 3 pipe. Therefore, both locations will change from 
Class 1 to Class 3. The pipelines were constructed during 1998 and 1999 
and began operating on March 10, 1999; according to PNGTS, these 
pipelines are in excellent condition.
    PNGTS performs an annual close interval survey (CIS) on 15% to 20% 
of its pipeline system and in the summer of 2000, PNGTS performed a 
base line CIS of its entire pipeline system. This CIS revealed zero low 
potentials or anomalies at the requested waiver locations. PNGTS also 
performed a baseline high-resolution magnetic flux leakage internal 
inspection (smart pig) on its mainline in November of 2002. Two minor 
anomalies were identified during the inspection and were later 
excavated and investigated during the summer of 2005.
    PNGTS's mainline valves (MLV) are equipped with remote controlled 
valve actuators. Each valve assembly contains an upstream and 
downstream pressure transmitter that communicates with PNGTS's 
supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and Gas Control 
Center. The primary communication method is through a satellite link 
with a backup modem system. If PNGTS's SCADA system detects operating 
pressures outside the pre-established pressure limits, the system 
activates an alarm which notifies the gas control operator. The gas 
control operator has the capability of operating the MLV remotely or 
isolating the pipeline completely.
    PNGTS proposes to perform alternative risk control activities 
rather than lowering the MAOP of the system or replacing the two 
segments of Class 1 pipe (totaling 5551 feet). PNGTS believes that the 
following alternative risk control activities are consistent with 
pipeline safety and will maintain or exceed the margin of safety and 
environmental protection provided by 49 CFR Sec.  192.611:
    1. Perform a cathodic protection CIS on the requested waiver 
segments. The cathodic protection CIS will be performed annually and 
include 1000 feet upstream and downstream of the requested waiver 
segments.
    2. Perform a DCVG survey on the requested waiver segments of the 
pipeline. PNGTS proposes to include an additional 1000 feet of pipeline 
in its survey. The additional 1000 feet of pipeline is located upstream 
and downstream of the requested waiver segments.
    3. Perform a direct assessment on all anomalies or corrosion 
indications identified by the internal inspection survey or the 
cathodic protection CIS. The direct assessment will be performed on the 
requested waiver segments regardless of size or depth of anomaly 
indication, and include an additional 1000 feet of pipe upstream and 
downstream of the requested waiver segments.
    4. Perform weekly aerial patrols over the entire PNGTS 24-inch 
mainline and 12-inch lateral pipeline. Aerial patrols will also observe 
pipeline surface conditions for indications of construction activity 
that could affect the safe operation of the pipeline. In addition, and 
at a minimum, PNGTS will also perform quarterly road crossing patrols 
and leak surveys using leak detection equipment at all road crossings 
located within the requested waiver segments and all corresponding

[[Page 52873]]

Class 3 locations over the entire length of the requested waiver 
segments.
    5. Install buried excavation warning tape over the pipelines, and 
throughout the entire requested waiver segments, to further alert 
excavators of the existence of PNGTS's pipelines.
    Finally, PNGTS believes the additional cathodic protection CIS will 
insure the integrity of the cathodic protection and fusion bond epoxy 
coating systems, thereby minimizing the risk of future corrosion and 
maximizing the opportunity for prompt identification of corrosion-
related deficiencies.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118(c) and 2015; and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 30, 2006.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E6-14826 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P