[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 26 (Thursday, February 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6042-6044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2094]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Pipeline Safety: Requests for Waivers of Compliance (Special 
Permits)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The federal pipeline safety laws allow a pipeline operator to 
request PHMSA to waive compliance with any part of the federal pipeline 
safety regulations. We are publishing this notice to provide a list of 
requests we have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from 
compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. This notice seeks 
public

[[Page 6043]]

comment on these requests, including comments on any environmental 
impacts. In addition, this notice informs the public that we are 
changing what we will call a decision granting such a request to a 
special permit. At the conclusion of the comment period, PHMSA will 
evaluate each request individually to determine whether to grant a 
special permit or deny the request.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding any of these requests for special 
permit by March 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the request 
and may be submitted in the following ways:
     DOT Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. To submit comments on 
the DOT electronic docket site, click ``Comment/Submissions,'' click 
``Continue,'' fill in the requested information, click ``Continue,'' 
enter your comment, then click ``Submit.''
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room PL-401 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
     E-Gov Web Site: http://www.Regulations.gov. This site 
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice 
issued by any agency.
    Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the request 
you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. If you submit 
your comments by mail, you should submit two copies. If you wish to 
receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, you should 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit 
comments at http://www.Regulations.gov, and may access all comments 
received by DOT at http://dms.dot.gov by performing a simple search for 
the docket number.


    Note: All comments will be posted without changes or edits to 
http://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided.


    Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any of our dockets. 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: Wayne Lemoi by telephone at (404) 832-
1160; or, e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Change in Nomenclature

    PHMSA is changing the name of a decision we make granting a request 
for waiver of compliance from ``decision granting waiver'' to ``special 
permit'' to reflect that granting the request will not reduce safety. 
We commonly add safety conditions to decisions granting waivers to 
ensure that waiving compliance with an existing pipeline safety 
standard is consistent with pipeline safety. This is simply a name 
change for a decision granting waiver under 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1). To 
avoid confusion, we will continue to process requests for waiver on 
which we have already begun work under the old nomenclature.

Comments Invited on Requests for Waiver

    PHMSA has filed in DOT's Docket Management System (DMS) requests 
for waiver we have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from 
compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. Each request has 
been assigned a separate docket number in the DMS. We invite interested 
persons to participate by reviewing these requests and by submitting 
written comments, data or other views. Please include any comments on 
environmental impacts granting the requests may have.
    Before acting on any request, PHMSA will evaluate all comments 
received on or before the comment closing date. We will consider 
comments received after this date if it is possible to do so without 
incurring additional expense or delay. We may grant or deny these 
requests based on the comments we receive.
    PHMSA has received the following requests for waivers of compliance 
with pipeline safety regulations.

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           Docket Number                    Requester             Regulation(s)            Nature of Waiver
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PHMSA-2006-25802...................  CenterPoint Energy as   49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR  To authorize operation of a
                                      Transmission.           192.201, 49 CFR         172-mile gas transmission
                                                              192.619.                pipeline from Carthage, TX
                                                                                      to Perryville, LA at a
                                                                                      maximum allowable
                                                                                      operating pressure (MAOP)
                                                                                      of 80% of the specified
                                                                                      minimum yield strength
                                                                                      (SMYS).
PHMSA-2006-26533...................  Gulf South Pipeline...  49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR  To authorize operation of
                                                              192.201, 49 CFR         certain segments of a
                                                              192.619.                proposed gas transmission
                                                                                      pipeline from Carthage, TX
                                                                                      to Harrisville, MS at a
                                                                                      MAOP of 80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26616...................  Ozark Gas Transmission  49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR  To authorize operation of
                                                              192.201, 49 CFR         certain segments of a 233-
                                                              192.619.                mile gas transmission
                                                                                      pipeline (East End
                                                                                      Expansion Project) in
                                                                                      Arkansas and Mississippi
                                                                                      at a MAOP of 80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2007-27121...................  Transwestern Pipeline   49 CFR 192.111, 49 CFR  To authorize operation of a
                                      Company, L.L.C.         192.201, 49 CFR         205-mile gas transmission
                                                              192.505, 49 CFR         pipeline from La Plata, CO
                                                              192.619.                to Gallup, NM at a MAOP of
                                                                                      80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26530...................  Alyeska Pipeline        49 CFR 192.463,         To authorize operation of a
                                      Service Company.        192.465 & Appendix D    148-mile gas pipeline from
                                                              of Part 192.            Prudhoe Bay, AK to a pump
                                                                                      station in the Brooks
                                                                                      Mountain range, AK without
                                                                                      applying and monitoring
                                                                                      external cathodic
                                                                                      protection.
PHMSA-2006-26528...................  Dominion Transmission,  49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of
                                      Inc.                                            5,722 ft of a gas
                                                                                      transmission pipeline
                                                                                      between Loudon and
                                                                                      Quantico, VA without
                                                                                      reducing operating
                                                                                      pressure as a result of a
                                                                                      change from a Class 1 to a
                                                                                      Class 3 location.
PHMSA-2007-27122...................  Spectra Energy          49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of 2
                                      Transmission                                    parallel gas lines in
                                      (formerly Duke Energy                           Westmoreland County, PA
                                      Gas Transmission).                              without reducing operating
                                                                                      pressure as a result of
                                                                                      changes from Class 1 to
                                                                                      Class 2 locations.

[[Page 6044]]

 
PHMSA-2006-26612...................  Tennessee Gas Pipeline  49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of 2
                                                                                      parallel gas lines in
                                                                                      Jasper and Lowndes
                                                                                      Counties, MS without
                                                                                      reducing operating
                                                                                      pressure as a result of
                                                                                      changes from Class 2 to
                                                                                      Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26618...................  Tennessee Gas Pipeline  49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of
                                                                                      one pipeline valve section
                                                                                      on the Niagara Spur Loop
                                                                                      Line, a gas transmission
                                                                                      pipeline in upstate New
                                                                                      York, without reducing
                                                                                      operating pressure
                                                                                      required as a result of a
                                                                                      change from a Class 1 to a
                                                                                      Class 3 location.
PHMSA-2006-26611...................  Texas Gas               49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of 3
                                      Transmission, LLC.                              parallel gas lines near
                                                                                      Lafayette, LA and 2
                                                                                      parallel gas lines near
                                                                                      Louisville, KY without
                                                                                      reducing operating
                                                                                      pressure as a result of
                                                                                      changes from Class 1 to
                                                                                      Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26531...................  Williams Gas Pipeline.  49 CFR 192.611........  To authorize operation of 2
                                                                                      segments of gas pipelines
                                                                                      in Coweta, Fayette and
                                                                                      Oconee Counties Georgia
                                                                                      without reducing operating
                                                                                      pressure as a result of
                                                                                      changes from Class 2 to
                                                                                      Class 3 locations.
PHMSA-2006-26615...................  Texas Gas               49 CFR 192.612........  To extend the required
                                      Transmission, LLC.                              completion date of repairs
                                                                                      to 5 areas of gas
                                                                                      transmission pipeline with
                                                                                      depths-of-cover less than
                                                                                      12-inches in Terrebonne
                                                                                      Parish, LA and federal
                                                                                      offshore waters from
                                                                                      November 1, 2006 to March
                                                                                      31, 2007.
PHMSA-2006-26532...................  Chesapeake Appalachia,  49 CFR 192.619........  To authorize Chesapeake to
                                      L.L.C. (formerly                                establish the MAOP of
                                      Columbia Natural                                various segments of its
                                      Resources).                                     gas gathering pipeline
                                                                                      system in Kentucky and
                                                                                      West Virginia using a 5
                                                                                      year operating history.
PHMSA-2006-26614...................  Northern Natural Gas    49 CFR 192.625........  To authorize operation of
                                      Company.                                        the St. Joseph, MN
                                                                                      distribution pipeline
                                                                                      without injecting odorant
                                                                                      into the gas stream.
PHMSA-2006-26617...................  TransCanada Keystone    49 CFR 195.106, 49 CFR  To authorize operation of a
                                      Pipeline, LP.           195.406.                1,369-mile crude oil
                                                                                      pipeline from the Canadian
                                                                                      border near Cavalier
                                                                                      County, ND to Payne
                                                                                      County, OK at a MAOP of
                                                                                      80% of SMYS.
PHMSA-2006-26613...................  BP Exploration          49 CFR 195.424........  To authorize movement of
                                      (Alaska) Inc.                                   certain above ground
                                                                                      hazardous liquid pipeline
                                                                                      sections during routine
                                                                                      inspection and maintenance
                                                                                      activities without
                                                                                      reducing the operating
                                                                                      pressure on approximately
                                                                                      150 miles of hazardous
                                                                                      liquid pipelines in the
                                                                                      North Slope of Alaska.
PHMSA-2006-26529...................  ConocoPhillips Alaska   49 CFR 195.424........  To authorize movement of
                                      Pipeline.                                       certain above ground
                                                                                      hazardous liquid pipeline
                                                                                      sections during routine
                                                                                      inspection and maintenance
                                                                                      activities without
                                                                                      reducing the operating
                                                                                      pressure on approximately
                                                                                      100 miles of hazardous
                                                                                      liquid pipelines in the
                                                                                      North Slope of Alaska.
PHMSA-2007-27120...................  ExxonMobil Pipeline     49 CFR 195.452(h).....  To authorize operation of a
                                      Company.                                        36.3-mile crude oil
                                                                                      pipeline from South Bend
                                                                                      to New Iberia, LA at a
                                                                                      reduced operating pressure
                                                                                      in lieu of repairing
                                                                                      certain anomalies
                                                                                      discovered during an in-
                                                                                      line inspection.
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    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118 (c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 2, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-2094 Filed 2-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P