[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 28104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13507]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-97-2236; Notice 1]
Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities Grant of Waiver; Pine Needle LNG
Co.
Pine Needle LNG Company (Pine Needle) petitioned the Research and
Special Programs Administration (RSPA) for a waiver from compliance
with 49 CFR 193.2155(c), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tank
impounding system. Section 193.2155(c) requires a Class 1 impounding
system whenever an LNG storage tank is located within 20,000 feet from
the nearest runway serving large aircraft. The petition applies to the
Pine Needle's proposed LNG storage facility in the northwest Guilford
County, North Carolina.
Pine Needle's rationale for the waiver from compliance with 49 CFR
193.2155(c) was based on the following:
1. The horizontal distance between the nearest Pine Needle LNG tank
and the nearest point of the Landmark Airpark runway is approximately
19,500 feet. This is 500 feet less than the 20,000 foot offset required
for compliance with Section 193.2155(c).
2. The vertical clearance of an aircraft over the top of the Pine
Needle earthen containment dikes would be 1,023 feet, after factoring
in a minimum airport approach/departure ratio of 20:1 to/from Landmark
Airpark and the elevation differences between the Landmark Airpark
runway and the Pine Needle location. This exceeds the minimum
requirements under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulations.
3. Correspondence between FAA and the Landmark Airpark developer
describes operation of the Landmark Airpark as being limited to private
aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
4. The turf runway surface and 2,600-foot runway length would
likely preclude large aircraft, as defined by 14 CFR 1.1, from using
the Landmark Airpark.
5. Pine Needle owns, leases, or controls all properties within the
exclusion zones required under 49 CFR 193.2057 and 193.2059. There is
presently no development within the prescribed exclusion zones. Pine
Needle will allow no development within the required exclusion zones
that would be inconsistent with the requirements of Sections 193.2057
and 193.2059.
6. The Class 2 impounding system proposed for the Pine Needle LNG
storage tanks would remain intact in the event of a large aircraft
impact, and, with a design volume of 150% of tank capacity, would meet
the volumetric requirements of Sec. 193.2181(a).
7. The earthen dikes in combination with the hilly terrain and the
undeveloped safety exclusion zones around the facility would adequately
provide for hazard containment.
After reviewing the petition, RSPA published a notice inviting
interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be granted
(Notice 1) (62 FR 16641; April 7, 1997). RSPA stated it was considering
granting the requested waiver because of the unusual circumstances at
Pine Needle's proposed LNG facility, i.e., located 19,500 feet from the
nearest point of the Landmark Airpark runway, suitable for landing
smaller aircrafts and any larger aircrafts that could reasonably use
this facility, relatively low risk to the public safety due to
combination of Class 2 earthen dikes in a hilly terrain with 150%
volumetric capacity, and undeveloped safety exclusion zones around
facility owned and controlled by the Pine Needle RSPA believes that
granting a waiver from the requirements of 49 CFR 193.2155(c) would not
be inconsistent with pipeline safety, nor would it lessen public
safety. Of course, the operator must comply with all other requirements
of part 193. RSPA did not receive any comments in response to the
notice.
For the reasons explained above and in Notice 1, RSPA finds that
the requested waiver of 49 CFR 195.2155(c) is appropriate and is not
inconsistent with pipeline safety. Therefore, Pine Needle Company's
petition for waiver from compliance with 49 CFR 195.2155(c) is granted,
effective May 22, 1997.
Authority: 49 App. U.S.C. 2002(h) and 2015; and 49 CFR 1.53.
Issued in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 1997.
Cesar De Leon,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-13507 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
