Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-7-.13[1]
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024
Section 770-X-7-.13[1] - Abandoned Or Inactive Gas Service Lines(1)Disconnection Requirements: Abandoned or Inactive Service Lines Determined to be Potentially Hazardous. An operator shall take immediate action to protect persons and property if it is determined that an abandoned or inactive service line for which the meter has been removed is an existing or probable hazard to persons or property. In all instances, a service line that has been determined to be an existing or a probable hazard shall be retired and physically abandoned within three months of that determination except as noted in §3(b) below. Such lines shall be disconnected as close as possible to the main and be purged and capped.(2)Disconnection Requirements: Non Excess Flow Valve ("EFV") Equipped Abandoned or Inactive Service Lines Not Determined to be Potentially Hazardous. Within three years of the meter removal, all abandoned or inactive service lines not equipped with an EFV which have not been determined to be hazardous shall be disconnected at, or as close as possible, to the main. Such service lines shall also be purged and capped.(3)Disconnection Requirements: Abandoned or Inactive Service Lines Equipped with Excess Flow Valves ("EFVs") Not Determined to be Potentially Hazardous. (a)General Disconnection Requirements. With the exception of Polyethylene ("PE") Services, all abandoned or inactive service lines equipped with an EFV that have not been determined to be potentially hazardous shall within three years of the meter removal be disconnected upstream of the EFV in order to reduce possible sizing issues of the EFV should the service be returned to active duty at a later date. Such lines should also be purged and capped.(b)Disconnection Requirements for Polyethylene Service Lines. All abandoned or Inactive PE service lines with a verifiable Excess Flow Valve (EFV) that have not been determined to be potentially hazardous may be exempted from the general three year requirement for disconnection, purging and capping within three years of meter removal set forth in §3(a) above. Monitoring will still be required on such lines, however, to ensure the absence of leaks. Disconnection, purging and capping will be mandatory for such services after five years.(4)Documentation of Abandoned Services. (a)Records Requirements. Each operator shall keep a separate record of all abandoned services which identifies the affected service lines by: (i) Meter route sheets or meter readers while conducting monthly readings(ii) Meter removal orders(iii) Service leak repair orders(iv) Atmospheric corrosion surveys(v) Any other means deemed appropriate by the operator to gather the required data(b)Records Review and Retention Requirements(i) The record of abandoned services required by Section 4(a) above shall be reviewed annually by the operator and shall be an inspection item for the GPS Division. Said record shall be the source for conducting retirements as mandated in Sections 1-3 of this rule.(ii) All records required by this rule shall be retained for a minimum of ten years(5)Additional Requirements(a) The records required pursuant to this rule must include the size, material, and location of all remaining service line stubs. Said records, including the line stub locations, shall be readily available to personnel assigned to pipeline locating activities(b) After one year on the abandoned service record required by this rule, but prior to retirement, the service riser for all service lines identified as abandoned but not yet retired shall be marked in a manner indicating their still-active status. Acceptable methods of marking include painting the riser yellow, marking with a metallic tag, and/or installing a pipeline marker(c) All inactive service lines included in the record required by this rule shall be leak surveyed from the main to the service riser on an annual basis, not to exceed 15 months until such time as the service line is retired(6)Distribution Integrity Management Plan (PIMP) Requirements: All abandoned service lines shall be included in the operator's PIMP. Potential threats toward the abandoned service lines shall also be included in the PIMP and risk ranking shall be completed for the abandoned service lines pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Part 192 Subpart P. If the risk assessment identifies any abandoned service lines as a high-risk items, such service lines shall be retired and physically abandoned within three months after completion of the risk assessment. 1 The requirements of this rule shall not become effective until two years from the date of the Alabama Public Service Commission order adopting this rule.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-7-.13[1]
Adopted On June 26, 2017. Filed with LRS July 12, 2017. Filed for Codification in the Alabama Administrative Code by the Alabama Public Service Commission on July 12, 2017, pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, §41-22-7.Author: Alabama Public Service Commission
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 37-4-82, 37-4-83, 37-4-92, 37-4-93.