# James L. Stanton — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-81-002  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1981-02-24

PI-81-002 concerning 192.11.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

FEB 24 1981
James L. Stanton, Esq.
517 1/2 North Main Street
Carroll, Iowa 51401
Dear Mr. Stanton:
This is in response to your recent letter as well as to your telephone conversation
with Mr. Langley of our staff.
Gas pipeline safety standards are in 49 CFR Part 192. Section 192.11 governs
petroleum gas systems. When a petroleum gas system, such as you describe, has
fewer than 10 customers and no portion of the system is in a public place, it is not
subject to the requirements of Part 192 nor the industry standards (National Fire
Protection Association standards No. 58 and No. 59) referenced in section 192.11.
Also, we have previously interpreted section 192.11 as not applying to single-tank-
single-customer systems located on the customer's property, even though the system
may cross part of the customer's property that is a public place.
Although it appears that Federal regulations do not apply, there may be Iowa State
regulations, as Mr. Langley pointed out in your telephone conversation, that do
apply.
A copy of Part 192, which you requested, is enclosed.
Sincerely,
Melvin A. Judah
Acting Associate Director
Pipeline Safety Regulation
Materials Transportation Bureau
JAMES L. STANTON
H:\INTERPRETATIONS\192\11\91-02-24.doc
1

<<<PAGE 2>>>

ATTORNEY AT LAW
517 ? NORTH MAIN STREET
CARROLL, IOWA 51401
????
PHONE 712-792-9288
December 29, 1980
U. S. Department of Transportation
Research & Special Programs Admin.
Washington, D. C. 20590
Request for Information-Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 1968
Greetings:
Presently I am involved in trying to resolve a dispute over the installation of a replacement gas
pipeline from an LP gas tank located on the same property in which my client installed the gas
line from the LP tank to a building located on the same property. While I doubt very much that
any federal regulation applies to this project since we are not dealing with "interstate commerce",
I am advised that there might be certain federal regulations which might be applicable. In
particular, I would like to have a copy of the regulations of the office of the Secretary of
Transportation, (49 CFR Part 192).
I would appreciate your sending me copies of the above regulations and any other documents or
regulations which, in your opinion, might be applicable to the above situation. As I stated above,
I do not see how the federal regulations would cover a purely "in house" project in which the
source of gas (LP tank) and the facility using the gas are connected by a pipeline all of which is
on the owner's property. Your comments in this regard would also be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
JLS/mb James L. Stanton
(See sketch over)
OPSO Advisory Bulletin No. 76-6 June 1976 page 4
. . . Details of the cost and the list of the 37 examination cities may be obtained from the AWS. Application closing date for the
first round of examinations is August 15th. For a free copy of the Guide to AWS Welding Inspector Qualification and
H:\INTERPRETATIONS\192\11\91-02-24.doc
2

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Certification with application form, contact the Qualification-Certification Manager in Miami: American Welding Society,
2501 Northwest 7th Street, Miami, Florida 33125, telephone (305) 642-7090.
THE READING RACK . . . Technical information relating to pipeline safety appears in the following industry publications (Note--copies
of these articles are not available from OPSO, and inclusion here does not necessarily indicate that content is consistent with
current Federal regulations).
GAS INDUSTRIES, Natural Gas Edition, April 1976, "The OPSO Odorization Requirements for Gas in Transmission Lines,"
Staff Report; May 1976, "Reminder Issued by OPSO on Corrosion Control Deadlines," Cesar DeLeon, Office of Pipeline
Safety Operations; "Conclusions Announced in Study of Plastic Pipe Use," Jack W. Pierce, formerly with Toups Corp.
GAS DIGEST, March 1976, "Monitoring Cathodic Protection of Isolated Services," George Hendrick, Southern California
Gas Co.; "Intermountain Gas Updates System Odorization Operations," Oscar Kash, Intermountain Gas Co.
EXCAVATING CONTRACTOR, May 1976, "Utility Alert Networks," Staff Report.
PIPELINE AND UNDERGROUND UTILITIES CONSTRUCTION, April 1976, "Miss Dig Program Now Covers Upper
Michigan," Staff Report.
PIPELINE & GAS JOURNAL, May 1976, "Put Corrosion Control in Your Design Plans," William McGary, Henkels &
McCoy, Inc.
PIPE LINE INDUSTRY, May 1976, "Status of Automatic Welding for Onshore/Offshore Lines, Part 1," Harry C. Cotton, The
British Petroleum Co. Ltd.
OIL & GAS JOURNAL, May 10, 1976, "Improved Pipeline Coatings Emerge," J. R. Hancock, H. C. Price Co.; "Pipelining
Plunges Into Deeper Water," Staff Report.
INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS
Relates
to 49 CFR,
§192.3
Question: Under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, at what point in a propane air peak-shaving facility does
jurisdiction begin?
OPSO Interpretation: . . . "In a propane air peak-shaving facility, liquid propane is vaporized and mixed with air to supplement
natural gas supplies during peak shaving. All 'pipeline facilities' are within the jurisdiction of the Act. 'Pipeline facilities' are
defined in the Act to include 'without limitation . . . any equipment, facility, or building used in the transportation of gas or the
treatment of gas during the course of transportation' (49 USC 1671 (4)). Peak-shaving facilities are an interrelated and often
essential part of a gas distribution system and fall within the intended coverage of the term 'pipeline facilities.' Consequently, a
propane air peak-shaving facility is in its entirety subject to the jurisdiction of the Act."
Cesar DeLeon
Acting Director
Office of Pipeline
Safety Operations
The Secretary of Transportation has determined that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public
business required by law of this Department. Use of funds for printing this periodical has been approved by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget through November 30, 1976.
H:\INTERPRETATIONS\192\11\91-02-24.doc
3

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1981/PI81002.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `7d54f72e538a9ff6756918c92c03e135322c8f3fe330c8581365dfd7036face3`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T03:22:09.291Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-81-002`

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