[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65477-65478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26086]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Pipeline Safety: Renewal Requests for Special Permit

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

ACTION: This Notice pertains to the renewal of special permits with the 
following docket numbers:

PHMSA-2007-29078 Kern River Gas Transmission Company
PHMSA-2009-0319 Kern River Gas Transmission Company
PHMSA-2008-0066 Columbia Gulf Transmission LLC
PHMSA-2008-0330 Columbia Gulf Transmission LLC
PHMSA-2008-0331 Columbia Gas Transmission LLC
PHMSA-2008-0345 Columbia Gas Transmission LLC
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is 
publishing this notice of special permit renewal requests that we have 
received from two natural gas transmission pipeline operators, seeking 
relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal 
pipeline safety regulations. This notice seeks public comments on these 
requests, including comments on any safety or environmental impacts the 
renewal of these permits would have. For each listed Special Permit 
renewal request, an Environmental Assessment is also available for 
review and comment. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, 
PHMSA will evaluate the comments and the technical analysis of the 
renewal requests, to determine whether to grant or deny the renewals.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
December 4, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the specific docket number for 
which the comment applies. Comments may be submitted in the following 
ways:
     At the 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.
     By 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.
     By Hand Delivery: DOT 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: At the beginning of your comments, please identify 
the docket number for the special permit renewal request you are 
commenting on. 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: Please read the privacy statement published on http://www.Regulations.gov. Comments, including any personal information 
provided, are posted without changes or edits to http://www.Regulations.gov.

Contacts for General or Technical Information

    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 the following special permit renewal requests 
from two pipeline operators who seek relief from compliance with 
certain federal pipeline safety regulations. Each request includes a 
technical analysis provided by the respective operator, and filed under 
the original issued special permit number in the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov. PHMSA invites 
interested persons to participate by reviewing these special permit 
renewal requests by submitting written comments, data or other views in 
the FDMS. Please include comments on any potential environmental 
impacts that may result if these special permit renewals are granted.
    Details of Special Permit renewals received:

[[Page 65478]]



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              Docket No.                        Requesters           Regulations affected                      Nature of special permit
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PHMSA-2007-29078......................  Kern River Gas             49 49 CFR 192.111,        To reauthorize Kern River Gas Transmission Company to
                                         Transmission Company.      192.201, 192.505, and     continue its operation as defined in the original Special
                                                                    192.619.                  Permit issued on March 29, 2010, to operate up to a MAOP
                                                                                              based upon 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength
                                                                                              (SMYS) in Class 1 locations, 67 percent SMYS in Class 2
                                                                                              locations, and 56 percent of SMYS Class 3 locations of the
                                                                                              pipeline system. The Special Permit renewal request seeks
                                                                                              to waive compliance from certain Federal regulations found
                                                                                              in 49 CFR 192.111, 192.201, 192.505 and 192.619. For the
                                                                                              purposes of this Special Permit, the Kern River pipeline
                                                                                              system means pipeline facilities beginning at the
                                                                                              discharges of the Muddy Creek and Painter compressor
                                                                                              stations, and at the Anschutz meter in Lincoln County,
                                                                                              Wyoming, routed through Utah and Nevada, to the outlet
                                                                                              side of the Daggett meter station located in San
                                                                                              Bernardino County, California where it interconnects with
                                                                                              the Mojave Pipeline. The Kern River pipeline system
                                                                                              consists of 682 miles of a 36-inch diameter mainline, 635
                                                                                              miles of 36-inch diameter loop lines, 10 compressor
                                                                                              stations, 48 meter stations, six (6) receipt laterals, and
                                                                                              seven (7) delivery laterals.
PHMSA-2009-0319.......................  Kern River Gas             49 CFR 192.625(b).......  To reauthorize Kern River Gas Transmission Company to
                                         Transmission Company.                                continue its operation as defined in the original Special
                                                                                              Permit issued on March 19, 2010, for non-odorization of a
                                                                                              pipeline lateral. The Special Permit renewal request seeks
                                                                                              to waive compliance from certain Federal regulations found
                                                                                              in 49 CFR 192.625(b) for the continued non-odorized
                                                                                              operation of a 1,083 foot section of Kern River's
                                                                                              Centennial Lateral, a 12-inch natural gas pipeline which
                                                                                              operates at a MAOP of 1,333 psig. The Centennial Lateral
                                                                                              main line tap valve is located on a corner lot near the
                                                                                              intersection of Centennial Parkway and North 5th Street in
                                                                                              Clark County, Nevada.
PHMSA-2008-0066.......................  Columbia Gulf              49 CFR 192.611(a).......  To reauthorize Columbia Gulf to continue its operation as
                                         Transmission LLC, Owned                              defined in the original Special Permit issued on March 2,
                                         and operated by NiSource                             2010, for a Class 1 to Class 3 location change, where the
                                         Gas Transmission and                                 population density has increased along the pipeline route.
                                         Storage (NGT&S).                                     The Special Permit renewal request seeks to waive
                                                                                              compliance from certain Federal regulations found in 49
                                                                                              CFR 192.611(a) for three sections and nine total segments
                                                                                              of the 30-inch Mainline 100, the 30-inch Mainline 200, and
                                                                                              the 36-inch Mainline 300 pipelines located in Williamson
                                                                                              and Davidson Counties in the State of Tennessee. The
                                                                                              segments would continue to operate at their existing
                                                                                              Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) of 935 psig
                                                                                              for the 30-inch Mainline 100 and a MAOP of 1008 psig and
                                                                                              design factor of 0.72 in a Class 3 location for both of
                                                                                              the 30-inch Mainline 200 and the 36-inch Mainline 300
                                                                                              pipelines.
PHMSA-2008-0330.......................  Columbia Gulf              49 CFR 192.611(a).......  To reauthorize Columbia Gulf to continue its operation as
                                         Transmission LLC, Owned                              defined in the original Special Permit issued on April 13,
                                         and operated by NiSource                             2010, for a Class 1 to Class 3 location change where the
                                         Gas Transmission and                                 population density has increased along the pipeline route.
                                         Storage (NGT&S).                                     The Special Permit renewal request seeks to waive
                                                                                              compliance from certain Federal regulations found in 49
                                                                                              CFR 192.611(a) for two natural gas transmission pipeline
                                                                                              segments on the 30-inch Mainline 200 and the 36-inch
                                                                                              Mainline 300 pipelines located in the Mt. Juliet area, in
                                                                                              Wilson County, Tennessee. The Special Permit allows
                                                                                              Columbia Gulf to continue to operate each special permit
                                                                                              segment at its current MAOP of 1,008 psig and design
                                                                                              factor of 0.72 in a Class 3 location for the 30-inch
                                                                                              Mainline 200 and the 36-inch Mainline 300 pipelines.
PHMSA-2008-0331.......................  Columbia Gas Transmission  49 CFR 192.611(a).......  To reauthorize Columbia Gas to continue its operation as
                                         LLC, Owned and operated                              defined in the original Special Permit issued on April 13,
                                         by NiSource Gas                                      2010, for a Class 1 to Class 3 location change where the
                                         Transmission and Storage                             population density has increased along the pipeline route.
                                         (NGT&S)..                                            The Special Permit renewal request seeks to waive
                                                                                              compliance from certain Federal regulations found in 49
                                                                                              CFR 192.611(a) for six natural gas pipeline segments on
                                                                                              the 30-inch SM-80 and SM-80 Loop pipelines located in
                                                                                              Putnam and Cabell Counties of West Virginia. Granting a
                                                                                              renewal of the Special Permit would allow Columbia Gas to
                                                                                              continue to operate the Special Permit segments at the
                                                                                              current MAOP of 935 psig and design factor of 0.72 in a
                                                                                              Class 3 location for both of the pipelines.
PHMSA-2008-0345.......................  Columbia Gas Transmission  49 CFR 192.611(a).......  To reauthorize Columbia Gas to continue its operation as
                                         LLC, Owned and operated                              defined in the original Special Permit issued on April 13,
                                         by NiSource Gas                                      2010, for a Class 1 to Class 3 location change where the
                                         Transmission and Storage                             population density has increased along the pipeline route.
                                         (NGT&S)..                                            The Special Permit renewal request seeks to waive
                                                                                              compliance from certain Federal regulations found in 49
                                                                                              CFR 192.611(a) for three natural gas transmission pipeline
                                                                                              segments on the 24-inch R-701 pipeline located in Lawrence
                                                                                              County, Ohio. Renewal of the class change Special Permit
                                                                                              would allow Columbia Gas to continue to operate the
                                                                                              Special Permit segments at the current MAOP of 900 psig
                                                                                              and design factor of 0.72 in a Class 3 location.
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    Before acting on the special permit renewal requests, PHMSA will 
evaluate all comments received on or before the comments closing date. 
PHMSA will consider each relevant comment received in its decision to 
grant or deny the renewal requests. Comments will be evaluated after 
this date only if it is possible to do so without incurring additional 
expense or delay.

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2014.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2014-26086 Filed 11-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P