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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Interpretation Response #PI-09-0013

Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date:

Company Name:

Individual Name:

Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

June 2, 2009

Mr. Eric Amundsen

Vice President, Technical Services

Panhandle Energy

5444 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77056

Ref. No. PHP08-0016

Dear Mr. Amundsen:

On February 6, 2009, you wrote to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on behalf of Trunkline LNG Company, LLC (TrunkIine) to request an interpretation of PHMSA's safety regulations on liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in 49 CFR Part I 93 for the design, manufacture, installation, and sizing of relief valves that protect remotely heated vaporizers at Trunkline's new LNG vaporization facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Current pipeline safety regulations require the operator of each LNG vaporization facility to comply with NFPA Standard 59A (2001 edition), which is incorporated by reference in § 193.2013.

PHMSA is pleased to provide Trunkline with this clarification regarding your inquiry. We interpret § 193 .240 1 to require that vaporizer safety relief valves comply with all provisions in the NFPA 59A standard including but not limited to Chapters 1,5, 12, Section 5.2.1, and Section 5.4.1 (a). Accordingly, Trunkline must design, size, install, operate, and maintain vaporizer safety relief valves with a maximum pressure accumulation that is consistent with the NFPA standard 59A, the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (1992 edition), Section VIII, Division 1 (which is incorporated by reference in NFPA 59A), as well as 49 CFR Part 193. Where a conflict exists between NFP A and ASME with respect to vaporizer safety relief valves, the incorporated NFP A standard prevails.

I hope that this infonnation is helpful to you. If I can be of further assistance, please contact me at (202) 366-3015.

Sincerely,

John A. Gale

Director, Office of Regulations

Regulation Sections

Section Subject
193.2401 Scope