[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42889-42890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17229]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 192
[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0097]
Pipeline Safety: Reminder of Requirements for Utility LP-Gas and
LPG Pipeline Systems
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing an Advisory Bulletin to remind owners and
operators of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and utility liquefied
petroleum gas (utility LP-Gas) plants that although they must follow
the American National Standards Institute/National Fire Protection
Association (ANSI/NFPA) standards 58 or 59, they must also follow
certain sections and requirements of Part 192.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd DelVecchio by phone at 727-213-
1575 or by email at todd.delvecchio@dot.gov, or Mike Israni at 202-366-
4571 or by email at mike.israni@dot.gov. Information about PHMSA may be
found at http://phmsa.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
49 CFR 192.11 requires that each plant that supplies petroleum gas
by pipeline to a natural gas distribution system must meet the
requirements of Part 192 and ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004) (192.11(a)). It
also states that each pipeline system subject to Part 192 that
transports only petroleum gas or petroleum gas/air mixtures must meet
the requirements of Part 192 and of ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (192.11(b)).
Finally, the regulation lays out a primacy provision stating that in
the event of a conflict between the regulation and the standard, ANSI/
NFPA 58 and 59 prevail (192.11(c)). However, this primacy provision
does not excuse operators from following Part 192 requirements. For
instance, when ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004) does not address a specific
subject, then no conflict has occurred and the operator must follow
Part 192 requirements.
At the time the primacy provision was added to the regulations in
1996, the standards took advantage of more current petroleum gas
transportation technology and safety practices. In a July 22, 2009, (74
FR 36139) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), PHMSA proposed changing
this primacy provision. PHMSA proposed changing this provision because
the new NFPA standards issued in 2008 had many conflicts with Part 192
and PHMSA had noticed that operators were misinterpreting Sec.
192.11(c). In response to the NPRM, commenters objected to the change
suggesting it would result in unanticipated safety consequences. PHMSA
did not take any action at the final rule stage, but in the future,
PHMSA may undertake a rulemaking to address this issue. This Advisory
Bulletin serves to remind owners and operators of petroleum gas systems
that they must continue to comply with certain requirements of Part
192.
II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2013-03)
To: Owners and operators of LPG and utility LP-gas plants.
Subject: Applicability of Part 192 to owners and operators of LPG
and utility LP-gas plants.
Advisory: When ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004) does not address a
specific subject, then a conflict has not occurred and the operator
must follow Part 192 requirements. Part 192 covers areas that are not
addressed in ANSI/NFPA 58 or 59 (2004). These areas include:
Inspection requirements for distribution mains (Sec. Sec.
192.305 and 192.307).
Backfill requirements for installing pipe in a ditch
(Sec. 192.319).
Underground pipe clearance requirements (Sec. 192.325).
Valve requirements for service lines (Sec. Sec. 192.363
and 192.365).
Continuing surveillance (Sec. 192.613).
Public awareness (except for small LP-gas systems) (Sec.
192.614).
Operator qualification (except for small utility LP-Gas
systems) (Subpart N).
Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management (Subpart P).
While not intended to be an exhaustive list, the following table
highlights various requirements of Part 192 that are not addressed by
ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004). Because ANSI/NFPA 58 and 59 (2004) do not
have specific language on these topics, there is no conflict, and
therefore Part 192 applies in these areas.
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Section Title
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Subpart G--General Construction Requirements for Transmission Lines and
Mains
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192.305........................... Inspection: General.
192.307........................... Inspection of materials.
192.319........................... Installation of pipe in a ditch.
192.323........................... Casing.
192.325........................... Underground clearance.
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Subpart H--Customer Meters, Service Regulators, and Service Lines
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192.363........................... Service lines: Valve requirements.
192.365........................... Service lines: Location of valves.
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Subpart L--Operations
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192.613........................... Continuing Surveillance.
192.614........................... Damage Prevention Program.
192.615........................... Emergency Plans.
192.616........................... Public Awareness.
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Subpart N--Qualification of Pipeline Personnel
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This Part 192 subpart would apply in its entirety; NFPA 58 does not
address any requirements of this subpart.
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Subpart P--Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management (IM)
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This Part 192 subpart would apply in its entirety; NFPA 58 does not
address any requirements of this subpart.
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[[Page 42890]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2013.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2013-17229 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P