{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding","title":"Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":null,"summary":"Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding Document 2011-19029_1.pdf (249.93 KB) PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to communicate the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding. This advisory includes actions that operators should consider taking to ensure the integrity of pipelines ","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-potential-damage-pipeline-facilities-caused-by-flooding-02a4dc42.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-potential-damage-pipeline-facilities-caused-by-flooding-02a4dc42.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-potential-damage-pipeline-facilities-caused-by-flooding-02a4dc42","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory-compliance/phmsa-guidance/pipeline-safety-potential-damage-pipeline-facilities-caused-by-flooding","body":"Pipeline Safety: Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding\n\nDocument\n\n 2011-19029_1.pdf (249.93 KB)\n\n        PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to communicate the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding. This advisory includes actions that operators should consider taking to ensure the integrity of pipelines in case of flooding.\n\n          Effective Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nFederal Register / Vol. 76, No. 144 / Wednesday, July 27, 2011 / Notices\n44985\nAPPENDIX—FTA REGIONAL AND METROPOLITAN OFFICES—Continued\nMokhtee Ahmad,\nRegional Administrator,\nRegion 7–Kansas City, MO,\n901 Locust Street, Room 404,\nKansas City, MO 64106,\nTel. 816–329–3920.\nStates served: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,\nand Nebraska.\nLeslie T. Rogers,\nRegional Administrator,\nRegion 9–San Francisco,\n201 Mission Street, Room 1650,\nSan Francisco, CA 94105–1926,\nTel. 415–744–3133.\nStates served: American Samoa,\nArizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,\nNevada, and the Northern Mariana\nIslands\nLos Angeles Metropolitan Office,\nRegion 9–Los Angeles,\n888 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1850,\nLos Angeles, CA 90017–1850,\nTel. 213–202–3952.\nTerry Rosapep,\nRegional Administrator,\nRegion 8–Denver,\n12300 West Dakota Ave., Suite 310,\nLakewood, CO 80228–2583,\nTel. 720–963–3300.\nStates served: Colorado, Montana,\nNorth Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and\nWyoming.\nRick Krochalis,\nRegional Administrator,\nRegion 10–Seattle,\nJackson Federal Building,\n915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142,\nSeattle, WA 98174–1002,\nTel. 206–220–7954.\nStates served: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,\nand Washington.\n[FR Doc. 2011–18928 Filed 7–26–11; 8:45 am]\nBILLING CODE P\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n[Docket No. PHMSA–2011–0177]\nPipeline Safety: Potential for Damage\nto Pipeline Facilities Caused by\nFlooding\nAGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA), DOT.\nACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory\nBulletin.\nsroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES\nSUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this\nadvisory bulletin to all owners and\noperators of gas and hazardous liquid\npipelines to communicate the potential\nfor damage to pipeline facilities caused\nby severe flooding. This advisory\nincludes actions that operators should\nconsider taking to ensure the integrity of\npipelines in case of flooding.\nADDRESSES: This document can be\nviewed on the Office of Pipeline Safety\nhome page at: http://ops.dot.gov.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:\nOperators of pipelines subject to\nregulation by PHMSA should contact\nthe appropriate PHMSA Regional Office.\nThe PHMSA Regional Offices and their\ncontact information are as follows:\n• Eastern Region: Connecticut,\nDelaware, District of Columbia, Maine,\nMaryland, Massachusetts, New\nHampshire, New Jersey, New York,\nPennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,\nVirginia, and West Virginia, call 609–\n989–2171.\n• Southern Region: Alabama, Florida,\nGeorgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North\nCarolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina,\nand Tennessee, call 404–832–1140.\n• Central Region: Illinois, Indiana,\nIowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,\nMissouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,\nSouth Dakota, and Wisconsin, call 816–\n329–3800.\n• Southwest Region: Arkansas,\nLouisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and\nTexas, call 713–272–2859.\n• Western Region: Alaska, Arizona,\nCalifornia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho,\nMontana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,\nWashington, and Wyoming, call 720–\n963–3160.\nIntrastate pipeline operators should\ncontact the appropriate State pipeline\nsafety authority. A list of State pipeline\nsafety authorities is provided at:\nhttp://www.napsr.org/managers/\nnapsr_\nstate\n_program_managers2.htm.\nSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:\nI. Background\nSection 192.613(a) of the Pipeline\nSafety Regulations (49 CFR parts 190–\n199) states that ‘‘[e]ach operator shall\nhave a procedure for continuing\nsurveillance of its facilities to determine\nand take appropriate action concerning\nchanges in class location, failures,\nleakage history, corrosion, substantial\nchanges in cathodic protection\nrequirements, and other unusual\noperating and maintenance conditions.’’\nSection 192.613(b) further states that\n‘‘[i]f a segment of pipeline is determined\nto be in unsatisfactory condition but no\nimmediate hazard exists, the operator\nshall initiate a program to recondition or\nphase out the segment involved, or, if\nthe segment cannot be reconditioned or\nphased out, reduce the maximum\nallowable operating pressure in\naccordance with § 192.619 (a) and (b).’’\nLikewise, § 195.401(b)(1) of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations states that\n‘‘[w]henever an operator discovers any\ncondition that could adversely affect the\nsafe operation of its pipeline system, it\nmust correct the condition within a\nreasonable time. However, if the\ncondition is of such a nature that it\npresents an immediate hazard to\npersons or property, the operator may\nnot operate the affected part of the\nsystem until it has corrected the unsafe\ncondition.’’ Section 195.401(b)(2)\nfurther states that ‘‘[w]hen an operator\ndiscovers a condition on a pipeline\ncovered under [the integrity\nmanagement requirements in] § 195.452,\nthe operator must correct the condition\nas prescribed in § 195.452(h).’’\nSevere flooding is the kind of unusual\noperating condition that can adversely\naffect the safe operation of a pipeline\nand require corrective action under\n§§ 192.613(a) and 195.401(b). In October\n1994, major flooding along the San\nJacinto River near Houston, Texas,\nresulted in eight pipeline failures and\ncompromised the integrity of several\nother pipelines. Similar flooding has\noccurred along the Yellowstone River in\nthe past few months. While the cause of\nthe accident is still under investigation,\nExxonMobil Pipeline Company\nexperienced a pipeline failure near\nVerDate Mar<15>2010 17:08 Jul 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\\FR\\FM\\27JYN1.SGM 27JYN1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nsroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES\n44986 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 144 / Wednesday, July 27, 2011 / Notices\nLaurel, Montana, on July 1, 2011,\nresulting in the release of crude oil into\nthe Yellowstone River.\nSevere flooding and other conditions\nthat can adversely affect the safe\noperation of a pipeline may also trigger\nthe reporting requirements in Part 191\nand Part 195 or applicable state\nreporting requirements. PHMSA\nrequires operators to submit telephonic\nand written reports when natural gas or\nhazardous liquid releases occur that\nexceed certain threshold requirements.\nPHMSA also requires operators to\nsubmit reports of safety-related\nconditions involving potentially unsafe\nconditions on natural gas and hazardous\nliquid pipelines (§§ 191.23 and 195.55).\nAdvisory Bulletin (ADB–11–04)\nTo: Owners and operators of gas and\nhazardous liquid pipeline systems.\nSubject: Potential for damage to\npipeline facilities caused by severe\nflooding.\nAdvisory: Severe flooding can\nadversely affect the safe operation of a\npipeline. Operators need to direct their\nresources in a manner that will enable\nthem to determine the potential effects\nof flooding on their pipeline systems.\nOperators are urged to take the\nfollowing actions to prevent and\nmitigate damage to pipeline facilities\nand ensure public and environmental\nsafety in areas affected by flooding:\n1. Evaluate the accessibility of\npipeline facilities that may be in\njeopardy, such as valve settings, which\nare needed to isolate water crossings or\nother sections of a pipeline.\n2. Extend regulator vents and relief\nstacks above the level of anticipated\nflooding, as appropriate.\n3. Coordinate with emergency and\nspill responders on pipeline location\nand condition. Provide maps and other\nrelevant information to such responders.\n4. Coordinate with other pipeline\noperators in the flood area and establish\nemergency response centers to act as a\nliaison for pipeline problems and\nsolutions.\n5. Deploy personnel so that they will\nbe in position to take emergency\nactions, such as shut down, isolation, or\ncontainment.\n6. Determine if facilities that are\nnormally above ground (e.g., valves,\nregulators, relief sets, etc.) have become\nsubmerged and are in danger of being\nstruck by vessels or debris; if possible,\nsuch facilities should be marked with an\nappropriate buoy with Coast Guard\napproval.\n7. Perform frequent patrols, including\nappropriate overflights, to evaluate\nright-of-way conditions at water\ncrossings during flooding and after\nwaters subside. Determine if flooding\nhas exposed or undermined pipelines as\na result of new river channels cut by the\nflooding or by erosion or scouring.\n8. Perform surveys to determine the\ndepth of cover over pipelines and the\ncondition of any exposed pipelines,\nsuch as those crossing scour holes.\nWhere appropriate, surveys of\nunderwater pipe should include the use\nof visual inspection by divers or\ninstrumented detection. Information\ngathered by these surveys should be\nshared with affected landowners.\nAgricultural agencies may help to\ninform farmers of the potential hazard\nfrom reduced cover over pipelines.\n9. Ensure that line markers are still in\nplace or replaced in a timely manner.\nNotify contractors, highway\ndepartments, and others involved in\npost-flood restoration activities of the\npresence of pipelines and the risks\nposed by reduced cover.\nIf a pipeline has suffered damage, is\nshut-in, or is being operated at a\nreduced pressure as a precautionary\nmeasure as a result of flooding, the\noperator should advise the appropriate\nPHMSA Regional Office or State\npipeline safety authority before\nreturning the line to service, increasing\nits operating pressure, or otherwise\nchanging its operating status. PHMSA or\nthe State will review all available\ninformation and advise the operator, on\na case-by-case basis, whether and to\nwhat extent a line can safely be returned\nto full service.\nIssued in Washington, DC, on July 22,\n2011.\nJeffrey D. Wiese,\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.\n[FR Doc. 2011–19029 Filed 7–26–11; 8:45 am]\nBILLING CODE 4910–60–P\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nSurface Transportation Board\n[Docket No. AB 1071]\nStewartstown Railroad Company;\nAdverse Abandonment; In York\nCounty, PA\nOn July 7, 2011, the Estate of George\nM. Hart (Estate), filed an application\nunder 49 U.S.C. 10903, requesting that\nthe Surface Transportation Board\n(Board) authorize the third-party or\nadverse abandonment of an\napproximately 7.4-mile line of railroad\n(Line) in York County, Pa., extending\nfrom milepost 0.0 at New Freedom, Pa.,\nto milepost 7.4 at Stewartstown, Pa. The\nLine is owned by the Stewartstown\nRailroad Company (SRC), and traverses\nUnited States Postal Service Zip Codes\n17349, 17361, and 17363. There are 2\nrail stations on the Line. The\napplication is available on the Board’s\nWeb site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, or a\ncopy can be secured from applicant’s\ncounsel, whose name and address\nappear below.\nThe Estate asserts that it seeks\nabandonment so that it may facilitate\nthe sale of the Line through the Board’s\nOffers of Financial Assistance (OFA)\nprocedures, or, barring that, foreclose\nupon SRC’s assets to satisfy SRC’s debt\nobligations, subject to any appropriate\nprocesses of state law. To support its\nabandonment application, the Estate\nasserts that the Line is dilapidated,\ncannot safely handle train operations in\nits current state, and continues to\ndeteriorate due to a lack of funds\nneeded for rail line maintenance.\nFurther, the Estate maintains that there\nhave been no freight operations over the\nLine for nearly 20 years, that there is no\nforeseeable need for rail service, and\nthat there are no ‘‘significant users’’ of\nthe Line as defined in 49 CFR 1152.2(l).\nIn a decision served in this\nproceeding on March 10, 2011 (March\ndecision), the Estate was granted\nexemptions from several statutory\nprovisions as well as waivers of certain\nBoard regulations at 49 CFR part 1152\nthat were not relevant to its adverse\nabandonment application or that sought\ninformation not available to it.\nSpecifically, the Estate was granted\nwaivers of and exemptions from the\nnotice requirements at 49 CFR\n1152.20(a)(3), 49 U.S.C. 10903(a)(3)(B),\n49 CFR 1152.20(a)(2)(i), 49 U.S.C.\n10903(a)(3)(D) (except that the Estate\nmust mail a copy of its notice of intent\nto former shippers of the Line), 49 CFR\n1152.20(a)(2)(xii), and 49 CFR 1152.21;\nwaivers of and exemptions from the\napplication requirements of 49 CFR\n1152.10–14, 49 CFR 1152.22(a)(5), 49\nU.S.C. 10903(c), 49 CFR 1152.22(c), 49\nCFR 1152.22(d), 49 CFR 1152.24(e)(1),\nand 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2); partial waiver\nof and exemption from the offer of\nfinancial assistance (OFA) procedures at\n49 CFR 1152.27 and 49 U.S.C. 10904;\nand waiver of portions of the Federal\nRegister notice language requirements at\n49 CFR 1152.22(i).\nAccording to the Estate, the Line does\nnot contain Federally granted rights-of-\nway. Any documentation in the Estate’s\npossession will be made available\npromptly to those requesting it. The\nEstate asserts that it filed its entire case\nfor adverse abandonment with its\napplication.\nThe interests of affected railroad\nemployees, if there are any, will be\nprotected by the conditions set forth in\nVerDate Mar<15>2010 17:08 Jul 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\\FR\\FM\\27JYN1.SGM 27JYN1","truncated":false,"body_characters":13284}