[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4676]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
Pipeline Safety Advisory Bulletin ADB-94-03 Railroad-Pipeline
Emergency Plans Coordination
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Advisory to gas and hazardous liquids pipeline operators
concerning pipelines (1) in a common right-of-way with a railroad, (2)
in a parallel right-of-way, or (3) that cross a railroad right-of-way.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this advisory is to inform pipeline operators
and state pipeline safety program managers of a special notice issued
by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to railroad operators, and
a safety recommendation issued by the National Transportation Board
(NTSB).
Advisory
The presence of pipelines carrying natural gas or hazardous liquids
on or near railroad rights-of-way creates a need for pipeline and
railroad operators to coordinate emergency response planning and
actions. Accordingly, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), in its
manual ``Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan Guidance Document
for Railroads'' (DOT/FRA/ORD-93/09, March 1993 revision), issued the
following special notice on coordination between railroad and pipeline
operators:
Special Notice
After the Association of American Railroads had completed their
work on this guidelines document, it became evident that additional
information should be included regarding pipelines that might be
affected by a railroad accident. This ``Special Notice'' was developed
by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Research and Special
Programs Administration to respond to this need.
Pipelines in Railroad Rights-of-Way
Many railroad rights-of-way contain underground pipelines which
carry hazardous materials.
These pipelines may be in a common right-of-way with the railroad,
in a parallel right-of-way, or cross the railroad right-of-way.
Pipelines may carry natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products
including highly volatile liquids such as propane. These materials are
often under high pressure.
A railroad incident which results in derailment, heavy equipment
operations in the right-of-way, or any other disturbance of the right-
of-way, has the potential of damaging underground pipelines. Derailed
cars and engines can directly impinge on a pipeline. Loads imposed on a
pipeline from a derailed train or cleanup equipment, or striking the
pipeline with digging equipment can result in immediate or future
failure. Therefore, the presence of underground pipelines carrying
hazardous material must always be considered in responding to a rail
incident. Railroads must actively coordinate their emergency response
activities with pipeline operators to assess possible damage due to the
incident and to prevent damage during response and cleanup operations.
Railroad emergency response plans should include information on
underground pipelines which could be damaged by a rail incident. This
information should include location, materials carried, and emergency
numbers for the pipeline operator. Natural gas pipelines are operated
under Federal Regulations 49 CFR part 192; hazardous liquid pipelines
are operated under 49 CFR part 195.
In accordance with a safety recommendation from NTSB, pipeline
operators having pipelines on or adjacent to railroad rights-of-way
should discuss this ``Special Notice'' with those railroad operators to
whom it applies, and mutually undertake development of plans for
handling emergencies involving both rail and pipeline systems.
Discussion should include information on how a pipeline can be damaged,
how denting, gouging and even surface damage that appears to be minor
can lead to future failure, the serious consequences that can result
from coating damage, and information to suggest possibilities for one-
call systems to be a help on incidents involving both railroad and
pipeline facilities. RSPA policy for Federal inspectors responding to a
derailment that may impact a pipeline is to examine the condition of
the right-of-way for indications of possible damage to the pipeline,
including visual examination of the pipe and, if needed, excavation to
expose it. Where warranted, RSPA policy also requires integrity testing
(i.e., pigging with an instrumented internal inspection device or
hydrostatic testing).
This notice will be discussed with state pipeline safety program
managers at upcoming Federal/state pipeline safety meetings.
Background
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Recommendation
P-90-25 (issued in conjunction with NTSB Accident Report number NTSB/
RAR-90/02 on the San Bernardino, CA train derailment and petroleum
pipeline rupture in May 1989) urges that operators of pipelines located
on or adjacent to railroad rights-of-way coordinate with railroad
operators in the development of plans for handling transportation
emergencies that may impact both the rail and pipeline systems. In
addition, P-90-25 recommends that the plan be discussed with affected
state and local emergency response agencies.
In initial response to this recommendation, representatives of RSPA
met with FRA representatives. The foregoing ``Special Notice'' was
developed in the course of their discussions.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 23, 1994.
George W. Tenley, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 94-4676 Filed 3-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
