[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 76 (Friday, April 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20008-20009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7482]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-97-3001]


Pipeline Safety: Notice of Availability of a Study on Burial of 
Submerged Pipelines

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of study and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of PHMSA's study titled 
``Burial of Submerged Pipelines'', which addresses the hazards to 
navigation from offshore submerged pipelines. PHMSA requests comments 
on the study to assist in evaluating the need for further analysis due 
to anticipated changes in the offshore environment.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 21, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The study is located in docket number PHMSA-97-3001. To 
submit comments, reference the docket number and use one of the 
following:
     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: Identify the docket number, PHMSA-97-3001, at the 
beginning of your comments. If you mail your comments, send two copies. 
If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Online 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: PHMSA posts all comments without changes or edits to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form for comments received in 
response to 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.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement is published in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477), and on the Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In July 1987, a fishing vessel struck and ruptured an eight-inch 
natural gas liquid pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting 
explosion killed two crewmembers. In October 1989, a similar accident 
occurred in the Gulf of Mexico when a vessel struck a 16-inch gas 
pipeline. The resulting fire caused 11 fatalities.
    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated these 
incidents and in 1990 issued safety recommendation number PS-90-29 to 
PHMSA, in 1990. The NTSB recommended PHMSA ``develop and implement 
effective methods and requirements to bury, protect, and inspect the 
burial depth of, and maintain, all submerged pipelines in areas subject 
to damage by surface vessels and their operations.''
    PHMSA took immediate actions in response to this recommendation. In 
April 1990, PHMSA issued an Alert Notice to warn pipeline operators and 
the commercial fishing industry about the dangers of submerged 
pipelines. After completing extensive research, PHMSA developed a risk 
management profile for submerged pipelines. PHMSA also issued 
regulations requiring operators to develop and follow a procedure to 
identify and conduct periodic inspections of submerged pipelines in the 
Gulf of Mexico that pose a hazard to navigation (69 FR 48400; August 
17, 2004).
    The NTSB expressed concern that the 2004 final rule did not address 
offshore submerged pipelines outside the Gulf of Mexico, and requested 
that PHMSA further study these submerged pipelines. PHMSA recently 
completed the study to address the NTSB's concern. The study found that 
since

[[Page 20009]]

1990 there have been 58 reported instances of a vessel or its equipment 
striking a submerged pipeline offshore, and 64 reported instances where 
a submerged pipeline was either uncovered or presented a hazard to 
navigation. No incidents were found outside of the Gulf of Mexico.
    The study addresses the impact of pipeline depth of burial and 
vessels in waters less than 15 feet of depth. PHMSA anticipates there 
will be changes in the offshore environment, such as liquefied natural 
gas import facilities. PHMSA is working with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to ensure adequate protection of LNG lines. PHMSA 
provides FERC with findings from our safety analysis for consideration 
of conditional terms for granting permits. Therefore, PHMSA has the 
ability to get safety concerns addressed through FERC by adding them as 
conditions of a permit. In addition, climate change may adversely 
affect offshore pipeline infrastructure by causing shifts in weather 
patterns, water depth or vessel traffic. PHMSA requests comments on the 
study to assist in evaluating the need for further analysis due to 
these anticipated changes in the offshore environment.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 16, 2007.
Joy Kadnar,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E7-7482 Filed 4-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P