# Chapter 420, § 4: Emergency Procedures

**Citation:** 65-407 C.M.R. ch. 420, § 4  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Maine Public Utilities Commission  
**Effective:** 2026-06-30  
**Published:** 2026-06-30

A. Emergency Notification

## Document text

A. Emergency Notification

  Operators must provide prompt telephone notification to the MPUC's Gas
  Safety Manager (or a Gas Pipeline Safety Inspector if the Gas Safety
  Manager is not immediately available) if an emergency exists for which
  prompt MPUC or Gas Safety Staff action is likely to be needed, if such
  notice is otherwise required by MPUC Rules, if an incident attracts
  significant interest from other government agencies or from the media,
  or if specifically requested by a member of the Gas Safety Staff.

  B. Requirements for Responding to Reports of Leaks or Gas Odor

  A first responder employed or contracted by an operator must possess
  training, experience, and knowledge in emergency response, leak
  classification and investigation, and be qualified in accordance with
  49 C.F.R. Part 192, Subpart N.

  Operators must maintain emergency response records and report in
  accordance with Section 7(E) of this Chapter.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/407c420-2026-135-AMD.docx>
- Source ID: `me-puc-pipeline-safety`
- SHA-256: `d51922cd8cb6c4bbaacb7cc56b65159aad8b46201ea8178d78eebd410b7989d9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T10:06:50.037Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T18:01:04.862Z
- Document slug: `me-cmr-65-407-420-4`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "jurisdiction": "US-ME",
  "code": "65-407 C.M.R.",
  "chapter": "420",
  "section": "4",
  "corpusScope": "complete-current-chapters-420-and-421",
  "publicationObservedOn": "2026-08-20",
  "exactScope": "This bounded corpus contains the complete current operative text of all 10 top-level sections of 65-407 C.M.R. Chapter 420 and all 7 top-level sections of Chapter 421. Chapter 420 governs intrastate natural-gas and LNG pipeline operators; Chapter 421 separately governs jurisdictional LPG distribution systems within 49 C.F.R. Part 192.",
  "excludedScope": "Chapter 895 damage prevention, Chapters 130 and 140 reporting and mapping, gas accounting, rates, metering, customer protection, siting, environmental permits, statutes, dockets, orders, forms, federal text, interstate pipelines, hazardous-liquid pipelines, and private standards are not standalone searchable documents in this rules connector. Their exclusion does not imply legal irrelevance.",
  "applicabilityCaveat": "Maine's certified program covers intrastate gas pipeline operators, including covered natural-gas, LNG, and jurisdictional LPG facilities. Chapter 420 expressly excludes interstate natural-gas facilities and transportation. PHMSA retains gas interstate and gas/hazardous-liquid responsibilities not assumed by Maine; neither the MPUC program page nor PHMSA fact sheet establishes Maine hazardous-liquid certification.",
  "incorporationCaveat": "Chapter 420 dynamically incorporates amendments to 49 C.F.R. Parts 40, 190, 191, 192, 193, 198, and 199. Chapter 421 dynamically incorporates Parts 191 and 192 but fixes its NFPA 58 baseline to the 2004 edition with stated exceptions. This connector records those links without reproducing federal or private standards or deciding the legal effect of prospective incorporation.",
  "publicationCaveat": "The Maine Secretary of State warns that online rule copies are not certified copies for adjudicatory or evidentiary use. Chapter 420's controlling online copy is filing 2026-135, effective June 30, 2026; older MPUC gas pages that still identify the 2021 version are stale. Chapter 421's history says filing 2012-156 was filed May 15, 2010, an apparent source typo preserved rather than silently corrected. The PHMSA state page is corroborative program-scope evidence, not controlling Maine rule text.",
  "rightsCaveat": "Maine and federal government source artifacts are archived with attribution and SHA-256 provenance. Public availability does not settle rights in site presentation, seals, agency marks, forms, incorporated federal material, or private standards such as NFPA 58; downstream redistribution requires separate review.",
  "federalIncorporation": "dynamic",
  "references": [
    {
      "citation": "49 CFR Part 192",
      "referenceType": "federal_regulation",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-192"
    }
  ],
  "region": "ME"
}
```