81_FR_7440 81 FR 7412 - Pipeline Safety: Dangers of Abnormal Snow and Ice Build-Up on Gas Distribution Systems

81 FR 7412 - Pipeline Safety: Dangers of Abnormal Snow and Ice Build-Up on Gas Distribution Systems

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 28 (February 11, 2016)

Page Range7412-7412
FR Document2016-02704

This advisory bulletin advises owners and operators of petroleum gas and natural gas facilities of the need to take the appropriate steps to prevent damage to pipeline facilities from accumulated snow or ice. Past events on natural gas distribution system facilities appear to have been related to either the stress of snow and ice or the malfunction of pressure control equipment due to ice blockage of pressure control equipment vents. This advisory reminds owners and operators of the need to take precautionary actions to prevent adverse events.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 7412]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02704]



[[Page 7412]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0013]


Pipeline Safety: Dangers of Abnormal Snow and Ice Build-Up on Gas 
Distribution Systems

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of advisory bulletin.

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SUMMARY: This advisory bulletin advises owners and operators of 
petroleum gas and natural gas facilities of the need to take the 
appropriate steps to prevent damage to pipeline facilities from 
accumulated snow or ice. Past events on natural gas distribution system 
facilities appear to have been related to either the stress of snow and 
ice or the malfunction of pressure control equipment due to ice 
blockage of pressure control equipment vents. This advisory reminds 
owners and operators of the need to take precautionary actions to 
prevent adverse events.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and 
Research, at 202-366-2694 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The accumulation of snow and ice increases the potential for damage 
to meters and regulators and other aboveground pipeline facilities and 
components. Incidents have occurred in past winters on natural gas 
distribution system facilities that appear to have been related to 
either the stress of snow and ice or malfunction of pressure control 
equipment due to ice blockage of pressure control equipment vents. 
Exposed piping at metering and pressure regulating stations, at service 
regulators, and at propane tanks, are at greatest risk. Damage may 
result from the stresses imposed by the additional loading of the snow 
or ice. Damage to facilities may also result from the impact of snow or 
ice falling from roofs, ice forming in or on regulators preventing 
their proper operation, or shoveling snow from roofs to protect 
dwellings from abnormal snow accumulation.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2016-03)

    To: Owners and Operators of Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas 
Facilities in Areas Subject to Heavy Snowfall or Abnormally Icy 
Weather.
    Subject: Dangers of Abnormal Snow and Ice Build-up on Gas 
Distribution Systems.
    Purpose: To remind owners and operators of the need to (1) monitor 
the potential impact of excessive snow and ice on these facilities; and 
(2) inform the public about possible hazards from snow and ice 
accumulation on regulators and other pipeline facilities.
    Advisory: PHMSA is advising operators of petroleum gas and natural 
gas pipeline facilities, regardless of whether those facilities are 
regulated by PHMSA or state agencies, to consider the following steps 
to address the safety risks from accumulated snow and ice on pipeline 
facilities:
    1. Notify customers and other entities of the need for caution 
associated with excessive accumulation and removal of snow and ice. 
Notice should include the need to clear snow and ice from exhaust and 
combustion air vents for gas appliances to:
    (a) Prevent accumulation of carbon monoxide in buildings; or
    (b) Prevent operational problems for the combustion equipment.
    2. Pay attention to snow and ice related situations that may cause 
operational problems for pressure control and other equipment.
    3. Monitor the accumulation of moisture in equipment and snow or 
ice blocking regulator or relief valve vents which could prevent 
regulators and relief valves from functioning properly.
    4. The piping on service regulator sets is susceptible to damage 
that could result in failure if caution is not exercised in cleaning 
snow from around the equipment. Where possible, use a broom instead of 
a shovel to clear snow off regulators, meters, associated piping, 
propane tanks, tubing, gauges or other propane system appurtenances.
    5. Remind the public to contact the gas company or designated 
emergency response officials if there is an odor of gas present or if 
gas appliances are not functioning properly. Also, remind the public 
that they should leave their residences immediately if they detect a 
gas or propane odor and report the odor to their gas company, propane 
operator or designated emergency response officials.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2016, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-02704 Filed 2-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P

7412 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 2016 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION been related to either the stress of snow need to clear snow and ice from exhaust and ice or malfunction of pressure and combustion air vents for gas Pipeline and Hazardous Materials control equipment due to ice blockage appliances to: Safety Administration of pressure control equipment vents. (a) Prevent accumulation of carbon [Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0013] Exposed piping at metering and monoxide in buildings; or pressure regulating stations, at service (b) Prevent operational problems for Pipeline Safety: Dangers of Abnormal regulators, and at propane tanks, are at the combustion equipment. Snow and Ice Build-Up on Gas greatest risk. Damage may result from 2. Pay attention to snow and ice Distribution Systems the stresses imposed by the additional related situations that may cause loading of the snow or ice. Damage to operational problems for pressure AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous facilities may also result from the control and other equipment. Materials Safety Administration impact of snow or ice falling from roofs, (PHMSA); DOT. 3. Monitor the accumulation of ice forming in or on regulators moisture in equipment and snow or ice ACTION: Notice; Issuance of advisory preventing their proper operation, or blocking regulator or relief valve vents bulletin. shoveling snow from roofs to protect which could prevent regulators and dwellings from abnormal snow relief valves from functioning properly. SUMMARY: This advisory bulletin advises accumulation. owners and operators of petroleum gas 4. The piping on service regulator sets and natural gas facilities of the need to II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB–2016–03) is susceptible to damage that could take the appropriate steps to prevent result in failure if caution is not To: Owners and Operators of damage to pipeline facilities from exercised in cleaning snow from around Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas accumulated snow or ice. Past events on the equipment. Where possible, use a Facilities in Areas Subject to Heavy natural gas distribution system facilities broom instead of a shovel to clear snow Snowfall or Abnormally Icy Weather. appear to have been related to either the off regulators, meters, associated piping, Subject: Dangers of Abnormal Snow stress of snow and ice or the propane tanks, tubing, gauges or other and Ice Build-up on Gas Distribution malfunction of pressure control propane system appurtenances. Systems. equipment due to ice blockage of Purpose: To remind owners and 5. Remind the public to contact the pressure control equipment vents. This operators of the need to (1) monitor the gas company or designated emergency advisory reminds owners and operators potential impact of excessive snow and response officials if there is an odor of of the need to take precautionary actions ice on these facilities; and (2) inform the gas present or if gas appliances are not to prevent adverse events. public about possible hazards from functioning properly. Also, remind the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: snow and ice accumulation on public that they should leave their Kenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and regulators and other pipeline facilities. residences immediately if they detect a Research, at 202–366–2694 or by email Advisory: PHMSA is advising gas or propane odor and report the odor at Kenneth.lee@dot.gov. operators of petroleum gas and natural to their gas company, propane operator gas pipeline facilities, regardless of or designated emergency response SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: whether those facilities are regulated by officials. I. Background PHMSA or state agencies, to consider Issued in Washington, DC, on February 4, The accumulation of snow and ice the following steps to address the safety 2016, under authority delegated in 49 CFR increases the potential for damage to risks from accumulated snow and ice on 1.97. meters and regulators and other pipeline facilities: Alan K. Mayberry, aboveground pipeline facilities and 1. Notify customers and other entities Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy components. Incidents have occurred in of the need for caution associated with and Programs. past winters on natural gas distribution excessive accumulation and removal of [FR Doc. 2016–02704 Filed 2–10–16; 8:45 am] system facilities that appear to have snow and ice. Notice should include the BILLING CODE 4910–60–P mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:52 Feb 10, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM 11FEN1


Document Created: 2016-02-11 00:03:07
Document Modified: 2016-02-11 00:03:07
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; Issuance of advisory bulletin.
ContactKenneth Lee, Director, Engineering and Research, at 202-366-2694 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 7412 
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