Pipeline Safety: Intent To Consider Waiver and Environmental Assessment of Waiver for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company

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The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is conducting a Risk Management Demonstration Program with pipeline operators to determine how risk management might be used to complement and improve the existing Federal pipeline safety regulatory process. OPS selected Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (TGP) as a candidate for participation in the Demonstration Program; subsequently, OPS and TGP held discussions as part of a consultation process. During the consultation, TGP identified a portion of its system where it believed performing alternative risk control activities in lieu of compliance with current regulations would result in a comparable margin of safety and environmental protection. TGP submitted an application to OPS to waive certain regulatory requirements relating to class location changes for four pipeline segments. TGP's application stated that TGP would carry out the proposed alternative risk control activities in lieu of compliance with these regulations. This Notice announces OPS's intent to consider granting a waiver to allow TGP to perform the proposed alternative risk control activities. OPS has reviewed the terms of this waiver and found them to be appropriate. Among the ter