Pipeline safety: Hazardous liquid transportation— Older hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines; pressure testing within terminals and tank farms,

[Federal Register: November 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 218)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 63210]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12no98-20]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration

49 CFR Part 195

[Docket No. PS-121; Notice-5]

RIN 2137-AD05

Pressure Testing Older Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Further response to petitions for reconsideration on pressure testing within terminals and tank farms.

SUMMARY: This document announces that, while RSPA continues to review requirements for pressure testing older piping within terminals and tank farms, it will not enforce those requirements provided the terminals and tank farms are designed and operated at lower stress levels than the main line. RSPA is evaluating comments received on pressure testing within these areas and is considering modifying the current requirements. The enforcement policy maintains the status quo (that is, no testing required) until a decision is made.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Israni, (202) 366-4571, or e- mail: mike.israni@rspa.dot.gov, regarding the subject matter of this document, or Jenny Donohue, (202) 366-4046, for copies of this document or other information in the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 7, 1994, RSPA issued a final rule requiring certain older hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines to be pressure tested. The American Petroleum Institute (API) and Williams Pipe Line Company (Williams) filedpetitions for reconsideration of pressure testing requirements for older terminal and tank farm piping on the grounds that pressure testing would be costly and disruptive in the terminals and that such piping is of lower risk since terminals and tank farms are generally operated at reduced pressures. To explore this issue further, RSPA invited comments in a Federal Register notice published February 10, 1998 [63 FR 6677].

RSPA received five comments, including one from API. Four of five commenters expressed that terminal/tank farm piping should be exempt from testing requirements because they are designed and operated so that stress level can never exceed 20% SMYS, therefore, there is low possibility of failure. Commenters also argued that compliance would be a difficult task because of many fittings, valves, tanks, and instrumentation. Commenters also suggested that the benefit would be questionable, but the costs would be substantially higher. API suggested that RSPA consider separate rulemaking on testing of terminal/tank piping, excluding them from the current rule. One commenter suggested that leak detection and a volumetric system should be used as a direct substitute for a pressure test.

API also suggested developing a testing/monitoring protocol for evaluating piping within terminals and tank farms that would provide equivalent levels of safety for those facilities. Given the great variety of conditions that exist in terminals and tank farms and the benefits of identifying alternative ways of addressing pipeline risks, development of such a protocol has merit. RSPA will work cooperatively with API on its protocol. RSPA anticipates using the protocol in our evaluation of the pressure testing requirement for terminals and tank farm piping.

Compliance dates for the 1994 rule requiring pressure testing had been extended to allow completion of rulemaking to allow a risk-based alternative to pressure testing. [62 FR 54591]. That rulemaking, which did not address alternatives for terminal and tank farm piping, has just been published. [63 FR 59475; November 4, 1998]. Absent some agency action, operators of older terminals and tank farms would have to complete the pressure testing requirements for piping in their terminals prior to RSPA's reconsideration of these requirements. In order to preserve the status quo, RSPA will not enforce the pressure testing requirements with respect to older piping located in terminals or tank farms that are designed and operated so that they do not experience stress levels of 20 percent or greater.

Issued in Washington, DC on November 5, 1998. Richard B. Felder, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 98-30210Filed11-10-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-60-P