[Federal Register: December 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 77127-77128]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de02-96]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT
[Docket No. RSPA-98-4034]
Pipeline Safety: Project Modifications Approved for the Natural
Gas Pipeline Company of America Pipeline Risk Management Demonstration
Project
AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Research and Special Programs
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of risk management project modification and finding of
no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA)
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has amended the Risk Management
Demonstration Project Order issued to Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America (NGPL) to allow NGPL to conduct alternative risk control
activities on five of its pipeline segments in lieu of compliance with
certain pipeline safety regulations. OPS has also made a finding that
this amendment will have no significant impacts on the environment.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this or any other demonstration project will be
accepted in the Docket throughout the 4-year demonstration period. You
may send comments to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590-0991, or you may submit your comments electronically by logging
on to the following Internet Web address: http://dms.dot.gov, and then
clicking on ``Help & Information'' for instructions on how to file a
document electronically. Comments should identify the docket number
RSPA-1998-4034. Persons should submit the original comment document and
one (1) copy. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of
their comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. The
Dockets Facility is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building
in Room 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. The Dockets
Facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
on Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Callsen, OPS, (202) 366-
4572, regarding the subject matter of this document. Contact the
Dockets Unit, (202) 366-5046, for docket material. Comments may also be
reviewed on line at the DOT Docket Management System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov/
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Project Order Amendment
On December 31, 1998, OPS issued Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America (NGPL) \1\ a Risk Management Demonstration Project Order
authorizing NGPL to conduct a risk management project on its interstate
natural gas transmission pipeline system. The project was one of
several demonstration projects in a risk demonstration program
authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60126. Since that Order was issued, NGPL
identified five segments in its pipeline system where it proposed to
perform alternative risk control activities in lieu of compliance with
the regulations addressing class location changes. In a Notice dated
August 17, 2001 (66 FR 43295), OPS described in detail the five
segments and the proposed alternative activities. OPS stated that its
analysis of the proposed activities had found them likely to provide
superior protection. OPS announced its intent to amend the
Demonstration Project Order and allow the alternative activities, after
consideration of public comment. OPS did not receive any public comment
in response to that Notice.
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\1\ In 1998, NGPL was acquired by KN Energy, Inc. In October,
1999, KN Energy merged with Kinder Morgan, Inc. The merged company
is named Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI). NGPL now operates its pipeline
system as a subsidiary of KMI. The scope of the Risk Management
Demonstration Project remains limited to the NGPL system.
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This Notice announces OPS's issuance of an amendment to NGPL's
Demonstration Project Order to exempt the five pipeline segments from
compliance with 49 CFR 192.611 conditioned on NGPL performing the
alternative activities. The decision to amend the Demonstration Project
Order to allow the exemption is based on the conclusion that the
alternative activities will provide superior safety to that provided by
compliance with 49 CFR 192.611.
More detailed descriptions of all aspects of the NGPL demonstration
project are available in the following documents:
(1) 66 FR 43295, ``Pipeline Safety: Intent to Approve Project
Modifications and Environmental Assessment of Modifications for the
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America Risk Management Demonstration
Project,''August 17, 2001.
(2) Docket Number RSPA-1998-4034-5, ``Appendix A: Environmental
Assessment,'' August 14, 2001.
(3) 63 FR 46497, ``Pipeline Safety: Intent to Approve Project and
Environmental Assessment for the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America Risk Management Demonstration Project,'' September 1, 1998.
(4) 64 FR 1067, ``Pipeline Safety: Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America; Approved for Risk Management Demonstration Program,'' January
7, 1999.
(5) ``Demonstration Project Prospectus: Natural Gas Pipeline
Company,'' available via the Pipeline Risk Management Information
System (PRIMIS) on the OPS Web page at http://ops.dot.gov, and
following the links to ``Initiatives'' and ``Risk Management
Initiative.''
(6) ``Risk Management Demonstration Project Order,'' RMD 98-4,
December 31, 1998.
(7) ``Amendment to Risk Management Demonstration Project Order,''
RMD 98-4, Amendment 1, November 18, 2002.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332), the Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and Department of Transportation (DOT)
Order 5610.1c, Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, OPS
conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the alternative
activities NGPL proposed
[[Page 77128]]
on the five pipeline segments (Docket RSPA-1998-4034-5,
``Appendix A: Environmental Assessment'', August 14, 2001). In that EA,
OPS concluded that the alternative activities would not have
significant environmental impacts.
OPS received no public comment on the Environmental Assessment.
Based on the analysis and conclusions reached in the Environmental
Assessment and the analysis conducted in the above-listed documents,
OPS has determined that there are no significant impacts on the
environment associated with this action. The Environmental Assessment
and the other above-listed documents are incorporated by reference into
this FONSI. To summarize, OPS has concluded that the risk control
alternatives on the five pipeline segments will provide superior
protection for people living near the NGPL pipeline system when
compared to current regulatory requirements. Although the alternative
activities are expected to provide environmental benefits, due to the
minimal environmental impact associated with gas pipeline failures,
these benefits are not expected to be significant. The additional
environmental protection results primarily from reducing the likelihood
that pipeline failures will occur.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 9, 2002.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-31542 Filed 12-13-02; 8:45 am]
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