What types of considerations would PHMSA Pipeline Safety consider reasonable for determining whether pipelines can affect commercially navigable waterways in open water?
PHMSA Pipeline Safety has elected to use the National Waterways Network database as the basis for identifying commercially navigable waterways in National Pipeline Mapping System. This database includes commercially navigable waterways in open water (i.e., offshore or in the Great Lakes) and those that are inland (rivers, canals, harbors, etc.). Vessels that use commercially navigable waterways in open water, typically called fairways, can be rerouted. Pipeline spills in such areas may therefore have a limited impact on commerce. This is not the case for inland waterways or for specific routes that provide sole access to a port (e.g., where water depth may limit ships to a specific approach), or where for other reasons vessels can not be diverted. PHMSA Pipeline Safety recognizes that other databases may provide waterway information that is more comprehensive. Such information may be used by operators in evaluating whether a specific pipeline system could affect a high consequence area
Related Questions
- What types of considerations would PHMSA Pipeline Safety consider reasonable for determining whether pipelines can affect commercially navigable waterways in open water?
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