Regulatory Review; Gas Pipeline Safety Standards; Correction

Passage 1[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 130 (Friday, July 5, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 35139] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-17111] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Research and Special Programs Administration [Docket PS-124; Amdt. 192-78] RIN 2137-AC25 Regulatory Review; Gas Pipeline Safety Standards; Correction AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document corrects a final regulation published June 6, 1996 (61 FR 28770). The final regulation clarified the circumstances in which pipeline operators may adjust the boundaries of Class 2 and 3 locations that involve clusters of buildings. Because the regulation could have a significant, unintended economic impact on the gas pipeline industry, it is corrected to remove any substantive change to the rules governing boundary adjustment. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: L.M. Furrow, (202) 366-4559.#

Passage 2SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RSPA revised the class location definitions (Sec. 192.5) to provide clarity and minimize the possibility of needless design and construction expenditures (61 FR 28783; June 6, 1996). One revision concerned the boundary adjustment of Class 2 and 3 locations that involve a cluster of buildings intended for human occupancy (old Secs. 192.5(f)(2) and (f)(3)). With this adjustment, a Class 2 or 3 location on a pipeline ends 220 yards from the nearest building in the cluster. As revised, the adjustment applies only when all buildings in a 1-mile class location unit (the basis for classification under Sec. 192.5) are in a single cluster (new Sec. 192.5(c)(2)). Since the revision was published, RSPA has learned that many operators customarily apply the cluster adjustment irrespective of buildings outside the cluster. We also learned this practice has been tacitly accepted by RSPA enforcement personnel and may be consistent with instruction at RSPA's Transportation Safety Institute. Under these circumstances, the revised regulation could have a significant, unintended economic impact on the pipeline industry. Also, because this pipeline classification practice reflects the adjoining population density, the practice is consistent with pipeline safety. Therefore, we are correcting new Sec. 192.5(c)(2) so there is no substantive change from old Secs. 192.5(f)(2) and (f)(3). Accordingly, the publication on June 6, 1996, of the final regulations in FR Doc. 96-13787 is corrected as follows: On page 28783, in the 2nd column, in Sec. 192.5, paragraph (c)(2) is corrected to read as follows: * * * * * (c) * * * (2) When a cluster of buildings intended for human occupancy requires a Class 2 or 3 location, the class location ends 220 yards from the nearest building in the cluster. Issued in Washington DC, on June 28, 1996. Richard B. Felder, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. 96-17111 Filed 7-3-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P#