PSC-09-08-00005-P Transmission and Distribution of Gas by Empire State Pipeline
2/27/08 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-09-08-00005-P
NEW YORK STATE REGISTER
VOLUME XXX, ISSUE 9
February 27, 2008
RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
PROPOSED RULE MAKING
NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED
I.D No. PSC-09-08-00005-P
Transmission and Distribution of Gas by Empire State Pipeline
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:
Proposed action:
Empire State Pipeline has petitioned for a waiver of certain requirements of the commission's rules and regulations, 16 NYCRR Part 255—Transmission and Distribution of Gas. The commission may approve, deny or modify the waiver with or without public hearings.
Statutory authority:
Public Service Law, section 66(2)
Subject:
Transmission and distribution of gas.
Purpose:
To grant Empire State Pipeline a waiver of the commission's requirement that pipeline operators revise the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) to be commensurate with the present class location, and allow the operator to follow alternate risk control activities that will provide a comparable margin of safety.
Substance of proposed rule:
Empire State Pipeline (Empire) seeks a waiver of the requirements of 16 NYCRR 255.611(b), which prescribes the requirements for operating natural gas pipeline segments that have undergone an increase in class location due to development of properties in proximity to the pipeline. The regulation requires the pipeline operator to either replace the section of pipe or reduce the maximum allowable operating pressure so the hoop stress is commensurate with the present class location.
The intent of the waiver is to allow the affected segments of the Empire State Pipeline to continue to operate at current stress levels thereby avoiding pressure reduction which would reduce delivery volumes of natural gas to downstream customers and allow avoidance of pipe replacement costs. The operator proposes alternative risk management measures, as a condition of the waiver, to evaluate and demonstrate the integrity of the pipeline. The proposed alternative inspection and testing methods include direct assessment on each segment to inspect the condition of the pipeline and its protective coating, annual instrumented leakage surveys and quarterly High Consequence Area (HCA) patrols over the entire pipeline. Close interval surveys in the two affected areas will also provide detailed information regarding the effectiveness of the cathodic protection system, which is designed to prevent pipeline corrosion, in those areas.
The information that Empire State Pipeline compiles from these inspections will allow the operator to make informed decisions regarding risk reduction over the entire length of the pipeline and will provide a margin of safety that is equal to or greater than complying with the current rules.
These alternative risk management measures will not replace any of Empire's assessments for other HCA's under 16 NYCRR Part 255.
Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.state.ny.us/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:
Central Operations, Public Service Commission, Bldg. 3, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350, (518) 474-2500
Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:
Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Bldg. 3, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350, (518) 474-6530
Public comment will be received until:
45 days after publication of this notice.
Regulatory Impact Statement, Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement
Statements and analyses are not submitted with this notice because the proposed rule is within the definition contained in section 102(2)(a)(ii) of the State Administrative Procedure Act.
