[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17119-17121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7080]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0039]


Pipeline Safety: Cast Iron Pipe (Supplementary Advisory Bulletin)

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing an advisory bulletin to owners and operators 
of natural gas cast iron distribution pipelines and state pipeline 
safety representatives. Recent deadly explosions in Philadelphia and 
Allentown, Pennsylvania involving cast iron pipelines installed in 1942 
and 1928, respectively, gained national attention and highlight the 
need for continued safety improvements to aging gas pipeline systems. 
This bulletin is an update of two prior Alert Notices (ALN-91-02; 
October 11, 1991 and ALN-92-02; June 26, 1992) covering the continued 
use of cast iron pipe in natural gas distribution pipeline systems. 
This advisory bulletin reiterates two prior Alert Notices which remain 
relevant, urges owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review 
of their cast iron distribution pipelines and replacement programs and 
accelerate pipeline repair, rehabilitation and replacement of high-risk 
pipelines, requests state agencies to consider enhancements to cast 
iron replacement plans and programs, and alerts owners and operators of 
the pipeline safety requirements for the investigation of failures. In 
addition, the latest survey and reporting requirements of cast iron 
pipelines required by the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and 
Job Creation Act of 2011 are included for information.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gilliam, Director, Engineering 
and Research, 202-366-0568 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On January 18, 2011, an explosion and fire caused the death of one 
gas utility employee and injuries to several other people while gas 
utility crews were responding to a natural gas leak in Philadelphia, 
PA. A preliminary investigation found a circumferential

[[Page 17120]]

break on a 12-inch cast iron distribution main that was installed in 
1942, and was operating at 17 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) 
pressure at the time of incident. An investigation continues toward 
finding the cause.
    On February 9, 2011, five people lost their lives and a number of 
homes were destroyed and other properties impacted by an explosion and 
subsequent fire in Allentown, PA. A preliminary investigation found a 
crack in a 12-inch cast iron natural gas distribution main that was 
installed in 1928, and was operating at less than 1 psig at the time of 
incident. The crack was located below grade near the destroyed homes. 
An investigation continues toward finding the cause.

Alert Notice (ALN-91-02)

    On October 11, 1991, PHMSA's predecessor agency, the Research and 
Special Programs Administration (RSPA), issued Pipeline Safety Alert 
Notice (ALN-91-02) alerting pipeline operators of National 
Transportation Safety Board recommendation P-91-12 in response to the 
August 1990 explosion and fire in Allentown, PA, caused by a crack in a 
4-inch cast iron gas main. The recommendation stated:

    ``Require each gas operator to implement a program, based on 
factors such as age, pipe diameter, operating pressure, soil 
corrosiveness, existing graphitic damage, leak history, burial 
depth, and external loading, to identify and replace in a planned, 
timely manner cast iron piping systems that may threaten public 
safety.''

    The Alert Notice informed distribution pipeline operators with cast 
iron pipe of the following:

--The Gas Piping Technology Committee developed guide material to 
assist them in developing procedures for determining the serviceability 
of the cast iron pipe and to identify the cast iron pipe segments that 
may need replacement.
--Computer programs are commercially available that can be used to 
develop a systematic replacement program for cast iron pipe.
--Pipeline safety regulations require that cast iron pipe on which 
general graphitization is found to a degree where a fracture might 
result must be replaced. In addition, the regulations require that cast 
iron pipe that is excavated must be protected against damage. An 
operator's compliance with the above guidelines and code requirements 
can be enhanced by incorporating all of the operator's cast iron 
responsibilities in an effective cast iron management program that is 
designed to identify and replace or remove from service cast iron pipe 
that may threaten the public.

Alert Notice (ALN-92-02)

    On June 26, 1992, RSPA issued a Pipeline Safety Alert Notice (ALN-
92-02) as a Supplementary Alert Notice to the 1991 Alert Notice. The 
Supplementary Alert Notice reminded pipeline operators of the 
requirement at 49 CFR 192.613 that each operator have a procedure for 
continuing surveillance of its pipeline facilities to identify problems 
and take appropriate action concerning failures, leakage, history, 
corrosion, and other unusual operating and maintenance conditions. This 
procedure should also include surveillance of cast iron to identify 
problems and to take appropriate action concerning graphitization.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2012-05)

    To: Each Owner and Operator of a Natural Gas Cast Iron 
Distribution Pipeline Facility and State Pipeline Safety 
Representatives.
    Subject: Cast Iron Pipe (Supplementary Advisory Bulletin).
    Purpose: To Address Continued Concerns Rising Out of Recent Cast 
Iron Incidents.
    Advisory:
    On October 11, 1991, Alert Notice (ALN-91-02) was issued 
reminding all operators of natural gas distribution systems to have 
a program to identify and replace cast iron piping systems that may 
threaten public safety. RSPA also informed operators of guidelines 
and computer programs that were available to help operators 
determine the serviceability of cast iron pipe and schedule its 
replacement or retirement. On June 26, 1992, Alert Notice (ALN-92-
02) was issued informing pipeline operators that Sec.  192.613 
required each operator to have a procedure for continuing 
surveillance of its pipeline facilities to identify problems and 
take appropriate action concerning failures, leakage, history, 
corrosion, and other unusual operating and maintenance conditions. 
This procedure should also include surveillance of cast iron to 
identify problems and to take appropriate action concerning 
graphitization. The two Alert Notices remain relevant, and reaffirm 
the need for operators of gas cast iron distribution systems to 
maintain an effective cast iron management program.
    PHMSA urges owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive 
review of their cast iron distribution pipeline systems and 
replacement programs and to accelerate pipeline repair, 
rehabilitation, and replacement of aging and high-risk pipe. Recent 
incidents, such as the deadly explosions in Philadelphia and 
Allentown, Pennsylvania involving cast iron pipe failures, have 
focused attention on our Nation's aging pipeline infrastructure and 
underline the importance of having valid methods for evaluating the 
integrity of pipelines to better ensure public safety. PHMSA 
recommends owners and operators of natural gas cast iron pipelines 
assure their replacement program models are based on relevant risk 
factors.
    In addition, PHMSA reminds owners and operators of cast iron 
distribution pipelines of their responsibility for the investigation 
of all failures and that each operator must establish procedures for 
analyzing incidents and failures, including laboratory examination 
of failed pipe segments and equipment, where appropriate, for the 
purpose of determining the causes of the failure and minimizing the 
possibility of a recurrence [192.617]. Owners and operators are 
required to review pipeline records, validate safe pipeline 
operating pressure levels and accelerate repairs and replacement 
where improvements in safety are necessary. The Distribution 
Integrity Management Program (DIMP) requires natural gas 
distribution companies to develop and implement DIMP for the 
pipelines they own, operate or maintain.
    PHMSA is asking owners and operators of cast iron distribution 
pipelines and state pipeline safety representatives to consider the 
following where improvements in safety are necessary:

--Request, review and monitor operator cast iron replacement plans 
and programs, actively encourage operators to develop and 
continually update and follow their plans, and consider 
establishment of mandated replacement programs.
--Establish accelerated leakage survey frequencies or leak testing 
considering results from failure investigations and environmental 
risk factors.
--Focus pipeline safety efforts on identifying the highest risk 
pipe.
--Use rate adjustments and flexible rate recovery mechanisms to 
incentivize pipeline rehabilitation, repair and replacement 
programs.
--Strengthen pipeline safety inspections, accident investigations 
and enforcement actions.
--Install interior/home methane gas alarms.

    The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act 
of 2011, was signed into law (Pub. L. 112-90) on January 3, 2012. 
Section 7 of the new law requires the U.S. Department of 
Transportation to measure every two years the progress that owners 
and operators of pipeline facilities have made in adopting and 
implementing their plans for the safe management and replacement of 
cast iron gas pipelines. Additionally, not later than December 31, 
2013, the Secretary of Transportation must submit to Congress a 
report that -- (1) Identifies the total mileage of cast iron gas 
pipelines in the United States; and (2) evaluates the progress that 
owners and operators of pipeline facilities have made in 
implementing their plans for the safe management and replacement of 
cast iron gas pipelines.
    PHMSA is committed to working with owners and operators of 
natural gas cast iron distribution pipelines and state pipeline 
safety representatives to ensure our Nation's pipeline 
infrastructure is safe and well-maintained.


[[Page 17121]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2012.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-7080 Filed 3-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P