# Texaco Pipeline, Inc. — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-95-053  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1995-11-30

PI-95-053 response to Texaco Pipeline, Inc. concerning 195.302.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department 400 Seventh Street, SW
of Transportation Washington, DC 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
November 30, 1995
Mr. David R. Seaton
District Manager, Wichita Falls District
Texaco Pipeline, Inc.
P. O. Box 600
Wichita Falls, TX 76307
Dear Mr. Seaton:
This is in response to your request for the Research and Special Programs Administration’ s (RSPA)
Office of Pipeline Safety approval of a waiver of compliance with the June 7, 1994, rule (59 FR 29379) -
Pressure Testing Older Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines. Specifically, you requested that
the Basin Pipeline System, an interstate pipeline that transports crude oil from Jal, New Mexico, to
Cushing, Oklahoma, be permitted to operate at its maximum operating pressures (MOPs).
In support of the waiver request, you noted that the line was hydrostatically tested at the time of
construction, that an enormous economic burden (estimated at $15 million) will be incurred by shutting
down the line for testing (resulting in a negative impact on the crude oil industry in the region), that no
seam failures have occurred in the last six years since MOPs were reduced to about 50% specified
maximum yield strength, that only 10% of the Basin Pipeline System traverses sensitive areas, and that no
external corrosion problems have been observed on the system.
RSPA recently published a notice of proposed rulemaking (60 FR 54328; October 23, 1995) extending
by one year the time for compliance with the requirements to plan and schedule pressure testing of older
hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines. This extension of time for compliance is in response to a
petition from the American Petroleum Institute to apply a risk-based alternative to the required pressure
testing of older pipelines. The extension of time will allow RSPA time to consider the petition. RSPA
will announce its decision on the risk-based petition in the Federal Register.
Since the outcome of RSPA’ s decision on the risk-based alternatives to pressure testing will apply to the
Basin Pipeline System, no action is being taken on your waiver request at this time.
Sincerely,
Richard B. Felder
Associate Administrator for
Pipeline Safety
95-11-30.doc 195.302

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1995/PI95053.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `392286ad92376ac3ba1683dd465f19d582b6d570e69a1c1482eb4fab5e28bfba`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T20:17:35.487Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-95-053`

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