Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Section 59.135 - Construction, operation and maintenance, and other reports to the Commission(a)Scope. This section establishes requirements for a hazardous liquid public utility reporting construction, O&M and other activities.(b)Time frame for notice. A hazardous liquid public utility shall notify the Pipeline Safety Section of the following:(1) Proposed major construction or proposed major maintenance involving an expenditure in excess of $300,000 or 10% of the cost of the pipe in service, whichever is less, 30 days prior to commencement.(2) Planned maintenance, verification digs and assessments involving an expenditure in excess of $50,000, and the unearthing of dents, pipe ovality features, cracks, gouges or corrosion anomalies, or other suspected metal losses 10 days prior to commencement, except where the hazardous liquid public utility determines this activity must occur prior to 10 days from the date of discovery of the condition to be investigated or addressed, in which instance notification must occur as soon as practicable.(3) Unplanned or emergency maintenance, verification digs and assessments due to excavation damage, washouts or unplanned replacements of a pipeline section or cut out as soon as practicable, but no later than 2 hours after discovery.(4) A change in excavation technique (for example, from open cut to TT or vice versa, as well as a change from one TT to another TT) to the hazardous liquid public utility's established construction methodologies at least 48 hours prior to commencement.(5) The introduction of a hazardous liquid 30 days prior to the introduction. At a minimum, this notice must also be given to public officials in writing by means of electronic mail.(c)Content of notice generally. Notice provided to the Pipeline Safety Section under subsection (b)(1)-(5) must include the following information: (1) The hazardous liquid public utility's name.(3) Length of the pipeline.(4) The counties and municipalities traversed.(5) Estimated start and completion dates.(6) Pipeline identification information.(7) A change in flow direction.(8) Commodity or product.(d)Information to be provided upon request generally. Upon request, a hazardous liquid public utility shall provide the following information to the Pipeline Safety Section with its notice under subsection (b)(1)-(5): (1)Project information.(i) A description of the work to be completed.(ii) The location of the project, including counties, municipalities and cross streets.(iii) Contact information.(2)Pipe specifications.(i) Nominal outside diameter, D (inches).(ii) Nominal wall thickness, t (inches).(iii) Type and grade of pipe.(iv) Manufacturers of steel and pipe.(v) Longitudinal joint type.(vi) Specified minimum yield strength, or SMYS, (psi).(vii) Nominal ultimate strength (psi).(viii) Fracture toughness by applicable material testing.(ix) Mill test pressure (psi).(x) A statement indicating whether pipe is new or used.(xi) If used pipe is employed, a description of the inspection and reconditioning procedures used.(xii) The physical and chemical specifications of pipe verified by outside laboratories.(3)Operating pressure and stress.(i) Maximum operating pressure, P (psi).(ii) Calculated pipe stress (hoop stress) = PD/2t (psi).(iii) Ratio of pipe stress to SMYS (percent).(4)Welding.(i) Percentage of welds to be radiographed, by location.(ii) The method for certifying the radiographic technician.(5)Railroad, road and water crossings.(i) The location of each pipe at a lake, river, stream or creek crossing, and a description of special construction precautions to be followed.(ii) Encroachments to railroads or roads, by location, and a description of special construction precautions to be followed.(iii) The location of each pipe at a railroad and road crossing and a statement indicating whether each pipe is cased or uncased and whether heavier wall carrier pipe is used. If a pipe is uncased, the notification must provide the reason.(6)Valves.(i) Number and spacing of manual sectionalizing valves.(ii) The type, make and location of any automatic valves.(7)Minimum cover and clearance.(i) The location, nature of the problem, cover and clearance, if the minimum prescribed cover and clearance cannot be maintained.(ii) Special precautions to be observed.(8)Piping.(i) The type of field coating.(ii) The type of coating test.(iii) The type of cathodic protection system.(9)Pressure and leakage tests.(iv) The length of the test section.(10)Pipeline rights-of-way.(i) A statement indicating whether the necessary rightof-way has been obtained from each party having an interest in the right-of-way.(ii) A statement indicating whether formal approval and all necessary permits have been obtained from appropriate agencies.(e)Information to be provided upon request for assessments and verification digs involving an expenditure in excess of $50,000 and the unearthing of suspected anomalies. Upon request, a hazardous liquid public utility shall provide the following information to the Pipeline Safety Section with its notice under subsection (b)(2): (1) Identification information for the pipeline to be assessed.(2) The location range of the area to be assessed.(3) A description of the assessment.(5) The type, size, pipe location and designated repair condition of any as-called anomalies and any as-found anomalies, and the location of the anomalies with latitude and longitude coordinates.(6) The estimated assessment start and completion dates and dig dates.Adopted by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 54, No. 37. September 14, 2024, effective 9/14/2024