{"operation":"document","citation":"0900006480e8f833","title":"U.S. DOT/RSPA - Environmental Assessment - Pipeline Safety: Recommendations to Change Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards","source_type":"rulemaking","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":null,"summary":"DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Research and Special Programs Administration Ci< C\"T 1 6 9: 14 Environmental Assessment 49 CFR 195 [Docket No. RSPA-97-27171 - 3 Pipeline Safety: Recommendations to Change Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards I. Description of the Action This environmental assessment concems a proposed regulation that the Research and Special Programs... This recommendation suggests a clarification that the emergency telephone number on signs at pump stations and breakout tank areas be a number where the operator is always available. NAPSR stated that some emergency numbers were not answered at all times. There are no environmental consequences of these actions as they...","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/regulations-gov-attachment-0900006480e8f833.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/regulations-gov-attachment-0900006480e8f833.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/regulations-gov-attachment-0900006480e8f833","source_url":"https://downloads.regulations.gov/PHMSA-RSPA-1997-2717-0003/attachment_1.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nResearch and Special Programs Administration Ci< C\"T 1 6 9: 14\nEnvironmental Assessment\n49 CFR 195\n[Docket No. RSPA-97-27171 - 3\nPipeline Safety: Recommendations to Change Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards\nI. Description of the Action\nThis environmental assessment concems a proposed regulation that the Research and Special\nPrograms Administration (RSPA) is proposing to change some of its regulations regarding\nhazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines. These changes are based on recommendations\nfrom the National Association of State Pipeline Representatives (NAPSR). NAPSR is a non-\nprofit association of officials from state agencies that participate with RSPA in the Federal\npipeline safety regulatory program.\n11. Need for the Action\nAnnually NAPSR meets and discusses safety and administrative concems of state pipeline\nofficials. Following NAPSR's comprehensive review of gas pipeline safety standards in 49 C FR\nPart 192, (4 recommendations were proposed and adopted, 65 FR 15290: March 22,2000) RSPA\nasked NAPSR to perform a similar review of hazard liquid pipeline regulations found in 49 C FR\nPart 195. The purpose of the review was to identify regulations that were unclear or hard to\nenforce. NAPSR's report can be found in the docket. The report made 30 different\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nrecommendations.\nEighteen recommendations have previously been adopted. This Notice of Proposed Rulemakii lg\nproposes to adopt 5 additional recommendations.\n111. Alternatives\nRSPA considered 2 alternative scenarios. First, the status quo alternative or do not adopt any\nNAPSR recommendations.Second, adopt the NAPSR recommendations which will clarify Parl.\n195 making the regulations clearer and more easily enforceable. RSPA chose the second\nalternative as it felt that modifying 5 separate sections in Part 195 at virtually no cost would\nclarify the intent of these sections, make them more enforceable and with minimal additional\nburden to industry and the public.\nIV. The Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences of the Action\nThe affected environment is the entire United States. This section will describe the benefits of 1 he\n5 recommendations chosen for adoption.\n1) 195.222 Welders: Qualification of Welders.\nThis recommendation suggests a requirement that welders who do not engage in a particular\nwelding process for a period of 6 months or more, must be requalified. This recommendation s\nidentical to American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B3 1.4. This 6 month provision\nis already required for welders on gas pipelines (49 CFR 192.229(b). This proposed requirement\nwill bring the welding requirements of hazardous liquid operators to the same standard as welclers\non gas pipelines.\n2) 195.252 Backfillin%\nThis recommendation suggests that the hazardous liquid requirements for backfilling 195.252 Ibe\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nreplaced by a regulation identical to the backfilling requirement found in 192.3 19(b) which\nspecifically states that pipe and coating are not to be damaged by either the backfilling equipme it\nor material. RSPA believes that this proposed requirement is merely a clarification but may\npotentially increase safety as inspections have shown that poor quality backfill could lead to dents\nand gouges on the pipeline.\n3) 195.3 10 Hydrostatic Testing;\nThis recommendation suggests that hydrostatic test reports must include the temperature of the\ntest medium or pipe. RSPA agrees that temperature data are an important consideration in\ndetermining the validity of a hydrostatic test. A pressure rise due to an increase in temperature\ncould hide the indication of a small leak. It is necessary to mathematically account for any\ntemperature-related pressure change to ensure the absence of leaks during the test.\n4) 195.403 Training.\nThis recommendation suggests a requirement to amend the training required for personnel to\nevaluate and respond to fire emergencies to clarify specifically what training is needed. This\nproposed requirement requires that emergency response training include basic evaluation of fir ,:\nhazards and the appropriate use of portable fire extinguishers and other on-site fire control\nequipment. The regulation that this proposal updates required training in “the proper use of\nfirefighting procedures and equipment, fire suits and breathing apparatus.” This earlier standa .d is\nunclear regarding the level of training required. The terms “fire suit” and “breathing apparatus,’\nare ambiguous. RSPA sees this proposal as a clarification.\n5) 195.434 Signs.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nThis recommendation suggests a clarification that the emergency telephone number on signs at\npump stations and breakout tank areas be a number where the operator is always available.\nNAPSR stated that some emergency numbers were not answered at all times.\nThere are no environmental consequences of these actions as they only amend current regulatioi 1s\nby clarifying their intent and making them more enforceable.\nV. List of Contacts\nRSPA will solicit public comment on this EA. No comments have been solicited from the pub: ic\nprior to this date.\nVI. Conclusion\nBased on the above considerations, RSPA has determined that there are no significant\nenvironmental impacts associated with this action.","truncated":false,"body_characters":5293}