Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit; National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation

AGENCY:

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (NFG). The special permit request is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

DATES:

Submit any comments regarding this special permit request by June 24, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should reference the docket number for the specific special permit request and may be submitted in the following ways:

• E-Gov Website: http://www.Regulations.gov. This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency.
• Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
• Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Instructions: You should identify the docket number for the special permit request you are commenting on at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, please submit two (2) copies. To receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at http://www.Regulations.gov.

Note:

There is a privacy statement published on http://www.Regulations.gov. Comments, including any personal information provided, are posted without changes or edits to http://www.Regulations.gov.

Confidential Business Information: Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this notice contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this notice, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 190.343, you may ask PHMSA to give confidential treatment to information you give to the Agency by taking the following steps: (1) Mark each page of the original document submission containing CBI as “Confidential”; (2) send PHMSA, along with the original document, a second copy of the original document with the CBI deleted; and (3) explain why the information you are submitting is CBI. Unless you are notified otherwise, PHMSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this notice. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Kay McIver, DOT, PHMSA-PHP-80, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Any commentary PHMSA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this matter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

General: Ms. Kay McIver by telephone at 202-366-0113, or by email at kay.mciver@dot.gov.

Technical: Mr. Steve Nanney by telephone at 713-272-2855, or by email at steve.nanney@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

PHMSA received a special permit request from NFG, to deviate from the Federal pipeline safety regulations at 49 CFR 192.53, 192.55, 192.105, 192.107, 192.109, 192.111, 192.113, 192.144, 192.149, 192.150, 192.327, 192.463, and 192.619, for the use of FlexSteel pipe and fittings in a regulated interstate gas transmission pipeline located in a Class 1 location. NFG proposes to insert FlexSteel pipe, 5.60-inch inside diameter and 7.05-inch outside diameter, into an existing 12.75-inch outside diameter steel pipeline, known as NFG's FM120 Pipeline. The FlexSteel pipe will have a maximum allowable operating pressure of 720 pounds per square inch gauge (psig).

The existing 12.75-inch outside diameter steel FM120 Pipeline is located in McKean, Elk, and Cameron Counties, Pennsylvania. The FlexSteel pipe is comprised of high-density polyethylene PE4710 inner and outer layers with a steel middle layer. The FlexSteel pipe will have a rating of 1,500 psig, empty weight of 12.9 pounds per foot, maximum pipe operating temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and maximum installation tension of 30,000 pounds. The existing 12.75-inch diameter FM120 Pipeline is not externally coated.

The special permit request, proposed special permit with conditions, and Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the NFG FM120 Pipeline are available for review and public comment in the Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0042. PHMSA invites interested persons to review and submit comments on the special permit request, proposed special permit with conditions, and DEA in the docket. Please include any comments on potential safety and environmental impacts that may result if the special permit is granted. Comments may include relevant data.

Before issuing a decision on the special permit requests, PHMSA will evaluate all comments received on or before the comment closing date. Comments received after the closing date will be evaluated, if it is possible to do so without incurring additional expense or delay. PHMSA will consider each relevant comment it receives in making its decision to grant or deny this request.