[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65429-65430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25838]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0041]


Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is 
publishing this notice of a special permit request received from a 
pipeline operator seeking relief from compliance with certain 
requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This notice 
seeks public comments on this request, including comments on any safety 
or environmental impacts. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment 
period, PHMSA will evaluate the request and determine whether to grant 
or deny a special permit.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding this special permit request by 
December 2, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the specific 
special permit request and may be submitted in the following ways:
     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.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Docket Management System: U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590 between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the special 
permit request you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. 
If you submit your comments by mail, please submit two copies. To 
receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, please 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit 
comments at http://www.Regulations.gov.

    Note: Comments are posted without changes or edits to http://www.Regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
There is a privacy statement published on http://www.Regulations.gov.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    General: Kay McIver by telephone at 202-366-0113, or email at 
[email protected].
    Technical: Steve Nanney by telephone at 713-272-2855, or email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA has received a request for a special 
permit from a pipeline operator seeking relief from compliance with 
certain pipeline safety regulations. The request includes a technical 
analysis provided by the operator. The request has been filed at 
www.Regulations.gov and assigned a docket number. We invite interested 
persons to participate by reviewing this special permit request at 
http://www.Regulations.gov, and by submitting written comments, data or 
other views. Please include any comments on potential environmental 
impacts that may result if this special permit is granted.
    Before acting on this special permit request, PHMSA will evaluate 
all comments received on or before the comments closing date. Comments 
will be evaluated after this date if it is possible to do so without 
incurring additional expense or delay. PHMSA will consider each 
relevant comment we receive in making our decision to grant or deny a 
request.
    PHMSA has received the following special permit request:

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             Docket No.                     Requester        Regulation(s) affected    Nature of special permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2010-0041....................  Williams Gas Pipeline   49 CFR 192.150........  To authorize the extension
                                      Company, LLC (WGP).                             of a special permit issued
                                                                                      to WGP on June 10, 2011,
                                                                                      from its current
                                                                                      expiration date of June
                                                                                      10, 2014 to December 31,
                                                                                      2014.
                                                                                     PHMSA issued the June 10,
                                                                                      2011 special permit to WGP
                                                                                      to waive compliance from
                                                                                      Federal Regulations in 49
                                                                                      CFR 192.150 for one (1)
                                                                                      segment of natural gas
                                                                                      transmission pipeline, the
                                                                                      Transcontinental Gas Pipe
                                                                                      Line (Transco) Mainline
                                                                                      ``A'' located in Chester
                                                                                      County, Pennsylvania. The
                                                                                      Federal pipeline safety
                                                                                      regulations in 49 CFR
                                                                                      192.150 require that new
                                                                                      transmission pipelines or
                                                                                      replacement components of
                                                                                      a transmission line be
                                                                                      designed and constructed
                                                                                      to accommodate the passage
                                                                                      of instrumented internal
                                                                                      inspection devices. This
                                                                                      includes the replacement
                                                                                      of line pipe, valves,
                                                                                      fittings, or other
                                                                                      pipeline components.
                                                                                     The current configuration
                                                                                      of the pipeline does not
                                                                                      allow passage of
                                                                                      commercially available
                                                                                      internal inspection
                                                                                      devices and, as a result,
                                                                                      the pipeline is not in
                                                                                      compliance with PHMSA
                                                                                      regulations. The special
                                                                                      permit would allow WGP to
                                                                                      replace an approximate
                                                                                      2,100-foot segment of 30-
                                                                                      inch pipeline with a 42-
                                                                                      inch diameter pipeline at
                                                                                      the Brandywine Creek, in
                                                                                      Chester County,
                                                                                      Pennsylvania. The 42-inch
                                                                                      replacement pipeline would
                                                                                      accommodate internal
                                                                                      inspection devices.

[[Page 65430]]

 
                                                                                     On August 8, 2012, WGP
                                                                                      submitted an application
                                                                                      to the Federal Energy
                                                                                      Regulatory Committee
                                                                                      (FERC) for a Certificate
                                                                                      of Public Convenience and
                                                                                      Necessity. WGP experienced
                                                                                      delays during this project
                                                                                      with approvals from FERC
                                                                                      and the Pennsylvania
                                                                                      Department of
                                                                                      Environmental Protection
                                                                                      (PADEP). FERC issued the
                                                                                      requested certificate on
                                                                                      July 18, 2013.
                                                                                     On August 8, 2013, PADEP
                                                                                      granted WGP an extension
                                                                                      valid through December 31,
                                                                                      2015. With the other
                                                                                      extensions in place WGP
                                                                                      requested that PHMSA
                                                                                      extend its special permit
                                                                                      date to December 31, 2014.
                                                                                      PHMSA's extension would
                                                                                      allow the revised
                                                                                      construction project
                                                                                      schedule to begin on March
                                                                                      3, 2014, with a targeted
                                                                                      completion date of
                                                                                      December 31, 2014.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2013.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-25838 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
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