[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42889-42890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17229]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0097]


Pipeline Safety: Reminder of Requirements for Utility LP-Gas and 
LPG Pipeline Systems

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

ACTION: Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing an Advisory Bulletin to remind owners and 
operators of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and utility liquefied 
petroleum gas (utility LP-Gas) plants that although they must follow 
the American National Standards Institute/National Fire Protection 
Association (ANSI/NFPA) standards 58 or 59, they must also follow 
certain sections and requirements of Part 192.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd DelVecchio by phone at 727-213-
1575 or by email at [email protected], or Mike Israni at 202-366-
4571 or by email at [email protected]. Information about PHMSA may be 
found at http://phmsa.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    49 CFR 192.11 requires that each plant that supplies petroleum gas 
by pipeline to a natural gas distribution system must meet the 
requirements of Part 192 and ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004) (192.11(a)). It 
also states that each pipeline system subject to Part 192 that 
transports only petroleum gas or petroleum gas/air mixtures must meet 
the requirements of Part 192 and of ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (192.11(b)). 
Finally, the regulation lays out a primacy provision stating that in 
the event of a conflict between the regulation and the standard, ANSI/
NFPA 58 and 59 prevail (192.11(c)). However, this primacy provision 
does not excuse operators from following Part 192 requirements. For 
instance, when ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004) does not address a specific 
subject, then no conflict has occurred and the operator must follow 
Part 192 requirements.
    At the time the primacy provision was added to the regulations in 
1996, the standards took advantage of more current petroleum gas 
transportation technology and safety practices. In a July 22, 2009, (74 
FR 36139) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), PHMSA proposed changing 
this primacy provision. PHMSA proposed changing this provision because 
the new NFPA standards issued in 2008 had many conflicts with Part 192 
and PHMSA had noticed that operators were misinterpreting Sec.  
192.11(c). In response to the NPRM, commenters objected to the change 
suggesting it would result in unanticipated safety consequences. PHMSA 
did not take any action at the final rule stage, but in the future, 
PHMSA may undertake a rulemaking to address this issue. This Advisory 
Bulletin serves to remind owners and operators of petroleum gas systems 
that they must continue to comply with certain requirements of Part 
192.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2013-03)

    To: Owners and operators of LPG and utility LP-gas plants.
    Subject: Applicability of Part 192 to owners and operators of LPG 
and utility LP-gas plants.
    Advisory: When ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004) does not address a 
specific subject, then a conflict has not occurred and the operator 
must follow Part 192 requirements. Part 192 covers areas that are not 
addressed in ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004). These areas include:
     Inspection requirements for distribution mains (Sec. Sec.  
192.305 and 192.307).
     Backfill requirements for installing pipe in a ditch 
(Sec.  192.319).
     Underground pipe clearance requirements (Sec.  192.325).
     Valve requirements for service lines (Sec. Sec.  192.363 
and 192.365).
     Continuing surveillance (Sec.  192.613).
     Public awareness (except for small LP-gas systems) (Sec.  
192.614).
     Operator qualification (except for small utility LP-Gas 
systems) (Subpart N).
     Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management (Subpart P).
    While not intended to be an exhaustive list, the following table 
highlights various requirements of Part 192 that are not addressed by 
ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004). Because ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004) do not 
have specific language on these topics, there is no conflict, and 
therefore Part 192 applies in these areas.

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              Section                               Title
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Subpart G--General Construction Requirements for Transmission Lines and
 Mains
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192.305...........................  Inspection: General.
192.307...........................  Inspection of materials.
192.319...........................  Installation of pipe in a ditch.
192.323...........................  Casing.
192.325...........................  Underground clearance.
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    Subpart H--Customer Meters, Service Regulators, and Service Lines
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192.363...........................  Service lines: Valve requirements.
192.365...........................  Service lines: Location of valves.
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                          Subpart L--Operations
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192.613...........................  Continuing Surveillance.
192.614...........................  Damage Prevention Program.
192.615...........................  Emergency Plans.
192.616...........................  Public Awareness.
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             Subpart N--Qualification of Pipeline Personnel
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This Part 192 subpart would apply in its entirety; NFPA 58 does not
 address any requirements of this subpart.
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       Subpart P--Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management (IM)
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This Part 192 subpart would apply in its entirety; NFPA 58 does not
 address any requirements of this subpart.
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[[Page 42890]]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2013.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2013-17229 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P