# State Corporation Commission — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-73-024  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1973-09-05

PI-73-024 response to State Corporation Commission concerning 192.5.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Mr. John A. Elliott, Director
Pipeline Division
State Corporation Commission
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Dear Mr. Elliott:
This is in response to your letter dated August 10, 1973 regarding §192.5, 49 CFR.
Your particular question is:
"Would a trail system such as proposed by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation cause a
change in class location when all or a portion of a trail paralleled a natural gas pipeline
right-of-way? It is my understanding that the trails could be used by motorcycles,
bicycles, horses, dune buggies, snowmobiles, etc. I am specifically referring to Section
192.5(d)(2)(ii) 'A Class 3 location is ...a small, well-defined outside area that is occupied
by 20 or more persons during normal use, such as a playground, recreation area, outdoor
theater, or other place of public assembly.'"
Although a trail system as you have described bears some resemblance to a "small, well-defined
outside area that is occupied by 20 or more people." it differs in a number of significant aspects.
In particular, it appears that a trail used by motorcycles, bicycles, horses, ect. would not be
occupied by 20 or more people in a small and well-defined area at the same time.
Furthermore, such a trail system would not be basically similar to a playground, recreation area,
outdoor theater, or other place of public assembly.
Therefore, the trail system as you have described would not require a change in class location
when all or a portion of a trail paralleled a natural gas pipeline right-of-way.
We trust that this has answered your particular question. If we can be of further assistance, please
let us know.
Sincerely,
DB
C:\WP51\INTERPRT\192\5\73-09-05
1

<<<PAGE 2>>>

/signed/
Joseph C. Caldwell
Director
Office of Pipeline Safety
DB
C:\WP51\INTERPRT\192\5\73-09-05
2

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1973/PI73024.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `989d38f6c00ad7985b406b5c1a2619818724bfdbf1f5f22823c4076d16dc4eb4`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T02:26:59.504Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-73-024`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "pipeline_safety",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "State Corporation Commission"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "John A. Elliott"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "PI-73-024"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "1973-09-05"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    192
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/58431"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "192.5"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1925"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1973/PI73024.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1973/PI73024.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1973/PI73024.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/pi-73-024.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "43992e13bd0b0b34ecc48082d6298fd6f262c96efbaf5feff70f379636f3393d",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/pi-73-024.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "db2ca3b75fabfc5cf3cb4299dd65c7c6108cfb845ad078925f15a67d43928456",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```