[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44930-44931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21344]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. P-95-1W; Notice 2]
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.; Transportation of Hazardous Liquid
by Pipeline, Grant of Waiver
SUMMARY: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) is being granted a
waiver by the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) which
will amend the August 16, 1975, waiver (Docket No. Pet. 75-13W) from
compliance with the coating and cathodic protection requirements of 49
CFR 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) for buried pump station and terminal
insulated piping.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 29, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
L.E. Herrick, 202-366-5523 regarding the subject matter of this notice
or the Dockets Branch, 202-366-5046, regarding copies of this notice or
other material that is referenced herein.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 7, 1995, RSPA published a notice in
the Federal Register (60 FR 30153, June 7, 1995) proposing to issue a
waiver to Alyeska amending the existing waiver covering procedures for
thermally insulated pump station and terminal piping. Public comment on
the proposal was requested. No comments were received. Therefore, RSPA
is granting the waiver as proposed.
Background
By letter dated November 24, 1975, Alyeska requested a waiver from
compliance with the coating and cathodic protection requirements of 49
CFR 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) for thermally insulated pump station
and terminal piping on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). 49 CFR
195.238(a)(5) requires that each component in a hazardous liquid
pipeline that is to be buried or submerged must have an external
protective coating that supports any supplemental cathodic protection.
In addition, if an insulating-type coating is used, it must have low
moisture absorption and provide high electrical resistence. 49 CFR
195.242(a) requires that a cathodic protection system be installed for
all buried or submerged hazardous liquid facilities to mitigate
corrosion that might result in structural failure.
RSPA granted Alyeska this waiver on August 16, 1976, (Docket No.
Pet. 75-13W) on the premise that the applied thermal insulation design
would provide an equal level of corrosion protection. However,
subsequent inspections of the insulated piping revealed that the
annular insulation system has not been sufficiently effective in
preventing external corrosion on portions of the buried piping.
Alyeska estimates 14,500 linear feet of piping was originally
installed subject to the 1976 waiver. To date, Alyeska has rerouted
approximately 11,000 linear feet of above-ground piping or installed
cathodic protection with a design meeting the requirements of
195.238(a)(5) and 195.2424(a). In general, this rerouting or repair was
in areas with the greatest corrosion. For the remaining approximately
3,500 feet of below-ground insulated piping, RSPA will prohibit any
further use of the thermal insulation design installed during original
construction of the pipeline and to amend the waiver on the existing
insulated piping with the following stipulations:
1. At Pump Station No. 1. Alyeska will install in 1995, an
insulated box containing cathodic protection on approximately 450 feet
of 48-inch mainline piping and will complete tie-in of the 2-inch fuel
gas separator drain line. This will complete the installation of
cathodic protection for all active piping at Pump Station No. 1 that is
subject to 49 CFR 195.
2. At Pump Station No. 2. Alyeska will conduct annual sample
inspections of approximately 220 feet of piping for injurious corrosion
and will repair as required until Pump Station No. 2 is removed from
service.
3. At Pump Station No. 5. The piping subject to this amendment is
approximately 1,490 feet. Alyeska will either:
A. Install insulated boxes containing cathodic protection or move
the piping above-ground by December 31, 1996, or;
B. If Alyeska determines by September 1995 that Pump Station No. 5
will be removed from service prior to December 31, 1999, Alyeska will
continue to perform annual sample inspections for corrosion and repair
as required until Pump Station No. 5 is removed from service.
4. At the North Pole Meter Station. The North Pole Meter Station
piping subject to this amendment and extension is approximately 560
feet between the 48-inch mainline and the meter building. Alyeska will
either:
A. Conduct sample inspections for corrosion in 1995 and provide
cathodic protection to the existing 8-inch crude supply and 6-inch
residuum return piping by December 31, 1996; or
B. Upgrade the meter station connection and replace with new larger
diameter piping meeting 49 CFR Part 195 requirements by December 31,
1996.
5. At transition piping at pump stations and at the Valdez Marine
Terminal (VMT). The above-ground insulated piping that transitions to
below-ground non-insulated piping occurs at the seven non-permafrost
stations (Pump Stations No. 4 and Nos. 7-12) and the VMT. Typical
repairs consist of removal of the below-ground insulation and coating,
followed by replacement of the coating and the outer mechanical
protective layer. Alyeska will repair and complete inspections of ten
percent of the insulated transitions at each of the affected pump
stations and at VMT by the end of 1995.
Inspections of ten percent of the transitions were completed at
Pump Stations 4, 9, and 12 in 1994 with the following results: At PS-4,
two transitions inspected with no corrosion; at PS-9, three transitions
inspected, two with no corrosion and one with slight corrosion with a
.065 inch pit; and at PS-12, three transitions inspected with no
corrosion at two locations and less than .030 inch pitting at the other
location. A total of five transitions were inspected at the VMT in 1994
(a total of five per cent) with no corrosion found at any location.
In 1995, Alyeska will conduct inspections of ten percent of the
transitions at Pump Stations Nos. 7, 8, 10, and 11 and an additional
five transitions at the VMT. Alyeska will continue an inspection and
repair program based on the results of these and future inspections.
Transition piping subject to this amendment is approximately 800 feet.
[[Page 44931]]
For the purpose of this amendment, sample inspect or sample
inspection means to excavate and expose a portion of a line segment,
typically 3 to 20 feet in length, for the purpose of visual examination
and measurement of corrosion. Portions of pipe segments with no
external inspection history will be given priority. The reinspection
frequency will be based on the severity of the corrosion found, line
service, and pipe accessibility. The maximum interval for sample
inspection will not exceed five years.
Injurious corrosion means corrosion to the extent that replacement
or repair is required as determined by 49 CFR 195.416(h). Repair means
structural repair of piping and/or coating repairs.
In view of these reasons and those stated in the foregoing
discussion, RSPA, by this order, finds that a waiver of compliance with
49 CFR 195.238(a)(5) and 195.242(a) is consistent with pipeline safety.
Accordingly, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's petition from
compliance with the above stipulations is hereby granted.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on August 23, 1995.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 95-21344 Filed 8-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P-M
