[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2387-2388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00621]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0041]


DNV's Petition for Phast Version 8.4 as an Alternative Model for 
Calculating the Vapor-Gas Dispersion Exclusion Zone

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is publishing this notice, a draft letter of decision, 
and a draft environmental assessment (DEA) to solicit public comment on 
a petition to authorize the use of an alternate flammable vapor-gas 
dispersion model. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA 
will review the comments received from this notice as part of its 
evaluation to grant or deny the petition.

DATES: Submit any comments regarding the petition by February 13, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments should reference the docket number for the petition 
request and may be submitted in one of the following ways:
     E-Gov Web: www.regulations.gov. This site allows the 
public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any 
agency. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System: West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9:00 
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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,

[[Page 2388]]

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 www.regulations.gov.
     Note: There is a privacy statement published, go to 
www.regulations.gov, scroll down to the bottom left to click ``Privacy 
& Security Notice'' to review the statement. Comments, including any 
personal information provided are posted without changes or edits to 
www.regulations.gov.
     Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both 
customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments in response to this notice contain 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate 
the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to provide confidential 
treatment to information you give to the agency by taking the following 
steps: (1) mark each page of the original document submission 
containing CBI as ``Confidential;'' (2) send PHMSA a copy of the 
original document with the CBI deleted along with the original, 
unaltered document; and (3) explain why the information you are 
submitting is CBI. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Ms. Kay 
McIver, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, DOT: PHMSA--PHP-80, Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically 
designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket.
     Privacy Act: DOT may solicit comments from the public 
regarding certain general notices. DOT posts these comments, without 
edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.
     Docket: For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
online instructions for accessing the dockets. Alternatively, you may 
review the documents in person at the street address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General: Ms. Kay McIver by telephone 
at 202-366-0113, or by email at [email protected]. Technical: Mr. 
Thach Nguyen by telephone at 909-262-4464, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PHMSA is evaluating a petition from DNV GL 
Digital Solutions (DNV) requesting approval, pursuant to 49 CFR 190.9, 
authorizing use of its Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool version 
8.4 (Phast v8.4) as an alternate model for calculating, pursuant to 
Sec.  193.2059, the flammable vapor-gas dispersion exclusion zones for 
part 193-regulated LNG facilities.
    PHMSA's safety standards for the siting of LNG facilities are found 
in subpart B of part 193. Section 193.2059 in particular requires that 
each LNG container and LNG transfer system must have a flammable vapor-
gas dispersion exclusion zone, defined as the area surrounding an LNG 
facility in which an operator or government agency legally controls all 
activities. The exclusion zone is intended to protect the public from 
the flammable vapor gas and unsafe levels of thermal radiation in the 
event of a release or ignition, respectively. In accordance with Sec.  
193.2059(a), an LNG operator must calculate vapor-gas dispersion 
exclusion zones using either the Dense Gas Dispersion model or FEM3A 
model. Section 193.2059 also states that the Administrator (or his 
delegate) may, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Sec.  190.9, 
approve the use of alternative vapor-gas dispersion models that take 
into account the same physical factors and have been validated by 
experimental test data.
    On May 18, 2020, DNV petitioned PHMSA for approval of its Phast 
version 8.23 as an alternate model for calculating the LNG flammable 
vapor-gas dispersion exclusion zones. PHMSA had previously approved 
DNV's Phast versions 6.6 and 6.7 as alternate models for LNG flammable 
vapor-gas dispersion on October 7, 2011. On September 4, 2020, DNV 
submitted an updated petition requesting approval of Phast v8.4, 
instead of version 8.23.
    The petition request, draft letter of decision, and DEA for Phast 
v8.4 are available for review and public comment in Docket No. PHMSA-
2021-0041. We invite interested persons to review and submit comments 
on the draft letter of decision and the DEA in the docket. Please 
include any comments on potential safety and environmental impacts that 
may result if Phast v8.4 is approved. Comments may also include 
relevant data.
    Before issuing a final decision on DNV's petition, PHMSA will 
evaluate all comments received on or before the comment 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 final 
decision to grant or deny this request.

    Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 
1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2023-00621 Filed 1-12-23; 8:45 am]
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