[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21298-21300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09050]



[[Page 21298]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[PHMSA-2016-0158,Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (TGP); PHMSA-2016-
0159, Southern Natural Gas Company, LLC (SNG); PHMSA-2016-0160, El Paso 
Natural Gas Company, LLC (EPNG)]


Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, PHMSA is 
publishing this notice of three special permit requests for Class 
Location 1 to Class Location 3 changes that PHMSA received from three 
natural gas pipeline operators, seeking relief from compliance with 
certain requirements in the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations. This 
notice seeks public comments on the requests, including comments on any 
safety or environmental impacts that would result from the granting of 
these permits. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA 
will evaluate the requests and determine whether to grant or deny a 
special permit.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding these special permit requests by 
June 5, 2017.

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: 1-202-366-4566.
     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: 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, you should 
identify the docket number for the special permit 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 in the respective docket located at http://www.Regulations.gov.

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


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    General: Ms. Kay McIver by telephone at (202) 366-0113 or email at 
[email protected].
    Technical: Mr. Steve Nanney by telephone at (713) 628-7479 or email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA received the following Class 1 to 
Class 3 Location special permit requests. Each request includes a 
technical analysis and a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) provided 
by the respective operator. Each request has been assigned a separate 
docket number and is filed in the Federal Docket Management System at 
www.Regulations.gov. We invite interested persons to participate by 
reviewing these special permit requests and DEAs by submitting written 
comments, data, or other views. Please include any comments on 
potential safety or environmental impacts that may result, if the 
special permits are granted.
    Before issuing a decision on the special permit requests, PHMSA 
will evaluate all comments received on or before the comments closing 
date. Comments received after the closing date will be evaluated, 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 the requests.

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                                                                                            Nature of special
              Docket No.                      Requester              Regulation(s)                permit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHMSA-2016-0158......................  Tennessee Gas Pipeline   49 CFR 192.611(a) and    To authorize the TGP
                                        Company, L.L.C. (TGP).   (d), and 192.619(a).     relief from Sec.  Sec.
                                                                                            192.611(a) and (d),
                                                                                          and Sec.   192.619(a),
                                                                                          for 25 pipeline
                                                                                          segments totaling 10.2
                                                                                          miles, where the area
                                                                                          has changed from a
                                                                                          Class 1 Location to a
                                                                                          Class 3 Location.
                                                                                         Instead of replacing
                                                                                          the pipe, TGP proposes
                                                                                          to establish enhanced
                                                                                          integrity management
                                                                                          (IM) procedures for
                                                                                          threats such as
                                                                                          corrosion, dents,
                                                                                          cracking, coating
                                                                                          damage, and third
                                                                                          party damage, to
                                                                                          maintain pipe
                                                                                          integrity and protect
                                                                                          both the public and
                                                                                          the environment.
                                                                                         All the proposed
                                                                                          special permit
                                                                                          segments would be
                                                                                          treated as high
                                                                                          consequence areas with
                                                                                          the implementation of
                                                                                          IM. All the pipeline
                                                                                          segments were
                                                                                          installed prior to
                                                                                          1980. The proposed
                                                                                          special permit area
                                                                                          covers multiple TGP
                                                                                          interstate pipeline
                                                                                          segments as follows:
                                                                                         In the State of
                                                                                          Louisiana, there are
                                                                                          nine (9) segments of
                                                                                          24-inch, 30-inch, or
                                                                                          31-inch diameter
                                                                                          pipelines located in
                                                                                          the Parish of Sabine.
                                                                                          All the segments
                                                                                          operate at a maximum
                                                                                          allowable operating
                                                                                          pressure (MAOP) of 750
                                                                                          psig.

[[Page 21299]]

 
                                                                                         One (1) segment of 26-
                                                                                          inch diameter
                                                                                          pipeline, located in
                                                                                          the Parish of
                                                                                          Ouachita, operates at
                                                                                          a MAOP of 750 psig.
                                                                                         One (1) segment of 24-
                                                                                          inch diameter
                                                                                          pipeline, located in
                                                                                          the Parish of Iberia,
                                                                                          operates at a MAOP of
                                                                                          973 psig.
                                                                                         One (1) segment of 20-
                                                                                          inch diameter
                                                                                          pipeline, located in
                                                                                          the Parish of
                                                                                          Natchitoches, operates
                                                                                          at a MAOP of 986.
                                                                                         One (1) segment of 30-
                                                                                          inch diameter
                                                                                          pipeline, located in
                                                                                          the Parish of
                                                                                          Calcasieu, operates at
                                                                                          a MAOP of 936 psig.
                                                                                         In the State of Texas,
                                                                                          there are three (3)
                                                                                          segments of 30-inch or
                                                                                          31-inch diameter
                                                                                          pipelines located in
                                                                                          Harris County. All of
                                                                                          these segments operate
                                                                                          at a MAOP of 750 psig.
                                                                                         In the State of
                                                                                          Kentucky, there are
                                                                                          two (2) segments of 26-
                                                                                          inch diameter
                                                                                          pipelines located in
                                                                                          Montgomery County and
                                                                                          one (1) segment of 30-
                                                                                          inch diameter pipeline
                                                                                          in Rowan County. All
                                                                                          of these segments
                                                                                          operate at a MAOP of
                                                                                          750 psig.
                                                                                         In the State of New
                                                                                          York, there are six
                                                                                          (6) segments of 24-
                                                                                          inch or 30-inch
                                                                                          diameter pipelines
                                                                                          located in Wyoming
                                                                                          County. All of these
                                                                                          segments operate at a
                                                                                          MAOP of 878 psig.
                                                                                         TGP is owned and
                                                                                          operated by the Kinder
                                                                                          Morgan Company.
PHMSA-2016-0159......................  Southern Natural Gas     49 CFR 192.611(a) and    To authorize the SNG
                                        Company, L.L.C. (SNG).   (d), and 192.619(a).     relief from Sec.  Sec.
                                                                                            192.611(a) and (d),
                                                                                          and Sec.   192.619(a),
                                                                                          for three (3) pipeline
                                                                                          segments totaling 0.23
                                                                                          miles, where the area
                                                                                          has changed from a
                                                                                          Class 1 Location to a
                                                                                          Class 3 Location.
                                                                                         Instead of replacing
                                                                                          the pipe, SNG proposes
                                                                                          to establish enhanced
                                                                                          integrity management
                                                                                          (IM) procedures for
                                                                                          threats such as
                                                                                          corrosion, dents,
                                                                                          cracking, coating
                                                                                          damage, and third
                                                                                          party damage, to
                                                                                          maintain pipe
                                                                                          integrity and protect
                                                                                          both the public and
                                                                                          the environment.
                                                                                         All the proposed
                                                                                          special permit
                                                                                          segments would be
                                                                                          treated as high
                                                                                          consequence areas with
                                                                                          the implementation of
                                                                                          IM. All of the
                                                                                          pipeline segments were
                                                                                          installed prior to
                                                                                          1980.
                                                                                         The proposed special
                                                                                          permit area includes
                                                                                          multiple SNG
                                                                                          interstate pipeline
                                                                                          segments of 20-inch,
                                                                                          24-inch, or 26-inch
                                                                                          diameter pipelines
                                                                                          located in St. Tammany
                                                                                          Parish in the State of
                                                                                          Louisiana. All of
                                                                                          these segments operate
                                                                                          at a MAOP of 1200
                                                                                          psig.
                                                                                         SNG is owned and
                                                                                          operated by the Kinder
                                                                                          Morgan Company.
PHMSA-2016-0160......................  El Paso Natural Gas      49 CFR 192.611(a) and    To authorize the EPNG
                                        Company, L.L.C. (EPNG).  (d), and 192.619(a).     relief from Sec.  Sec.
                                                                                            192.611(a) and (d),
                                                                                          and Sec.   192.619(a),
                                                                                          for one (1) pipeline
                                                                                          segment totaling 0.18
                                                                                          miles, where the area
                                                                                          has changed from a
                                                                                          Class 1 Location to a
                                                                                          Class 3 Location.
                                                                                         Instead of replacing
                                                                                          the pipe, EPNG
                                                                                          proposes to establish
                                                                                          enhanced integrity
                                                                                          management (IM)
                                                                                          procedures for threats
                                                                                          such as corrosion,
                                                                                          dents, cracking,
                                                                                          coating damage, and
                                                                                          third party damage, to
                                                                                          maintain pipe
                                                                                          integrity and protect
                                                                                          both the public and
                                                                                          the environment.

[[Page 21300]]

 
                                                                                         The proposed special
                                                                                          permit segment would
                                                                                          be treated as a high
                                                                                          consequence area with
                                                                                          the implementation of
                                                                                          IM. The pipeline
                                                                                          segment was installed
                                                                                          prior to 1980.
                                                                                         The proposed special
                                                                                          permit area includes
                                                                                          one (1) EPNG
                                                                                          interstate pipeline
                                                                                          segment of 20-inch
                                                                                          diameter pipeline
                                                                                          located in San Juan
                                                                                          County in New Mexico.
                                                                                          The pipeline operates
                                                                                          at a MAOP of 894 psig.
                                                                                         EPNG is owned and
                                                                                          operated by the Kinder
                                                                                          Morgan Company.
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    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 60118 (c)(1) and 49 CFR 1.97.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 01, 2017, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2017-09050 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P