{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, Issuance of Advisory Bulletin","title":"Issuance of Advisory Bulletin","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1998-11-12","effective_on":"1998-11-12","summary":"Issuance of Advisory Bulletin Document 98-30279.pdf (105.54 KB) We are issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and operators of Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas Pipelines. The bulletin advises the industry about the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Georges. Issued Date: Thursday, November 12, 1998","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-issuance-advisory-bulletin-4a48902c.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-issuance-advisory-bulletin-4a48902c.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-issuance-advisory-bulletin-4a48902c","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory-compliance/phmsa-guidance/issuance-advisory-bulletin","body":"Issuance of Advisory Bulletin\n\nDocument\n\n 98-30279.pdf (105.54 KB)\n\n        We are issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and operators of Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas Pipelines. The bulletin advises the industry about the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by the passage of Hurricane Georges. \n\n          Issued Date: Thursday, November 12, 1998\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nFederal Register / Vol. 63, No. 218 / Thursday, November 12, 1998 / Notices\n63355\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nResearch and Special Programs\nAdministration\nIssuance of Advisory Bulletin\nAGENCY: Research and Special Programs\nAdministration, (RSPA), DOT.\nACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory\nbulletin.\nSUMMARY: We are issuing this advisory\nbulletin to owners and operators of\nHazardous Liquid and Natural Gas\nPipelines. The bulletin advises the\nindustry about the potential for damage\nto pipeline facilities caused by the\npassage of Hurricane Georges.\nADDRESSES: This document can be\nviewed on our home page at: http//\nops.dot.gov.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:\nLinda Daugherty, (202) 366–4577.\nSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:\nI. Background\nThe purpose of this Notice is to advise\nall operators of natural gas and\nhazardous liquid pipelines located in\noffshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico of\nrecurring safety problems that may be\nresulting from the passage of Hurricane\nGeorges. Operators should be advised\nthat we have received several reports of\ndamage to pipeline facilities,\nparticularly in the area bounded, East of\nthe Mississippi River and West of Mobil\nBay.\nSeveral mudslides in this area may\nhave exposed pipelines which could\npose a safety threat to the crews of\nfishing vessels in shallow coastal waters\nand to other marine operations in\nshipping lanes and deeper offshore\nwaters. Extensive onshore flooding may\nalso have exposed or weakened\nfacilities. We are working with the\nMinerals Management Service, the Coast\nGuard, and the Army Corps of Engineers\nto address the potential hazards of\nexposed or weakened pipeline facilities\nin areas affected by Hurricane Georges.\nThis Notice reminds operators of\noffshore pipelines that may have been\naffected by flooding of Federal pipeline\nsafety requirements. We are advising\npipeline operators of similar problems\nthat may occur in inland navigable\nwaterways. Also, we are advising the\ncommercial fishing industry of the\npotential of unburied offshore pipelines\nby sending this Notice to Louisiana\nShrimp Association, Texas Shrimp\nAssociation, Southeastern Fisheries\nAssociation, National Fish Meal & Oil\nAssociation, and Concerned Shrimpers\nof America. Pipeline operators or\nmariners aware of any damage or\nexposure to a portion of a submerged\npipeline should report that information\nto the appropriate US Coast Guard\nDistrict. The Coast Guard has issued a\nradio advisory to vessel operators\noperating in or near the mouth of the\nMississippi and an advisory in its\nNotice to Mariners.\nII. Advisory Bulletin (ADB–98–3)\nTo: Owners and Operators of\nHazardous Liquid and Natural Gas\nPipelines.\nSubject: Recurring safety problems\nwhich may be resulting from the\npassage of Hurricane Georges.\nPurpose: We are advising all operators\nof natural gas and hazardous liquid\npipelines located in offshore waters and\nother areas that may have been\nimpacted by flooding due to the passage\nof Hurricane Georges. The recent\npassage of Hurricane Georges and major\nstorms may have contributed to the\nexposure or instability of pipelines in\nthe vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico.\nAdvisory: On October 1, 1998, a 10-\ninch pipeline located in the Gulf of\nMexico south of the Mississippi River;\nin an unstable mudslide area with a\nwater depth of 108 feet, ruptured and\nreleased an estimated 3,700 barrels of\ncrude oil. Other reported incidents\ninclude pipeline exposures and natural\ngas and hazardous liquid releases.\nOur pipeline regulations require\noperators to patrol their lines\nperiodically for the presence of unusual\noperating and maintenance conditions\nand to take corrective action if\nconditions are unsafe. Because this\npatrolling is generally done using\naircraft, pipelines exposed or damaged\non the seafloor can not be visually\ndetected. It is likely that some pipelines\nlocated in the area of Hurricane Georges’\nimpact are exposed or damaged. It is\nimportant to note that if a pipeline\noperator has knowledge that its pipeline\nis exposed or otherwise presenting a\ndanger to the public or the environment,\n49 CFR sections 192.613 and 192.703\napplicable to gas pipeline operators, and\n49 CFR section 195.401 applicable to\nhazardous liquid pipeline operators\nwould require the operator to take steps\nto mitigate the hazard. Additionally, 49\nCFR sections 192.612(b) and 195.413(b)\nrequire that, if upon notification by any\nperson, an operator discovers that a\npipeline it operates is exposed on the\nseabed or constitutes a hazard to\nnavigation, it shall promptly notify the\nNational Response Center (1–800–424–\n8802) with the geographic coordinates\nof that pipeline, mark the location of the\npipeline in accordance with 64 CFR,\nand within six months of discovery,\nplace the pipeline so that the top of the\npipe is 36 inches below the seabed for\nnormal excavation or 18 inches for rock\nexcavation.\nIn view of the above, pipeline\noperators should consider taking the\nfollowing actions regarding the natural\ngas and hazardous liquid pipelines\nlocated in areas impacted by Hurricane\nGeorges.\n1. Identify and caution persons who\nnormally engage in commercial fishing,\nshrimping, and other marine vessel\noperations in shallow coastal waters\nwhere Hurricane Georges may have\naffected a pipeline. Submerged offshore\npipelines may have become unprotected\non the ocean floor. Marine vessels\noperating in water depths comparable to\na vessel’s draft or when operating\nbottom dragging equipment can be\ndamaged and their crews endangered by\nan encounter with a submerged\npipeline. The pipeline company’s\npublic education and damage\nprevention programs may be used to\nfacilitate this notification process.\nPipeline operators may want to consider\na joint public education effort in areas\nof common concern.\n2. Identify and caution marine vessel\noperators in offshore shipping lanes and\nother offshore areas where Hurricane\nGeorges may have affected a pipeline\nthat deploying fishing nets or anchors,\nand dredging operations may damage\nthe pipeline, their vessels, and endanger\ntheir crews. The pipeline company’s\npublic education and damage\nprevention programs may be used to\nfacilitate this notification process.\nPipeline operators may want to consider\na joint public education effort in areas\nof common concern.\n3. Identify and correct any conditions\non the pipeline that could violate\npipeline safety requirements, and the\nterms and conditions of the pipeline’s\nCorps of Engineers permit.\nIssued in Washington, D.C. on November 6,\n1998.\nRichard B. Felder,\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.\n[FR Doc. 98–30279 Filed 11–10–98; 8:45 am]\nBILLING CODE 4910–60–P\nDEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY\nSubmission for OMB Review;\nComment Request\nNovember 4, 1998.\nThe Department of the Treasury has\nsubmitted the following public\ninformation collection requirement(s) to\nOMB for review and clearance under the\nPaperwork Reduction Act of 1995,\nPublic Law 104–13. Copies of the","truncated":false,"body_characters":7276}