# Looper, Reed, Ewing & McGraw, Incorporated — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-89-016  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1989-08-31

PI-89-016 response to Looper, Reed, Ewing & McGraw, Incorporated concerning 192.317, 192.319.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Mr. Douglas B. Wyatt
Looper, Reed, Ewing & McGraw Incorporated
Attorneys
Suite 1717
Nine Greenway Plaza
Houston, Texas 77046
Dear Mr. Wyatt:
Your letter of July 20, 1989, asks what protection other than minimum burial under §192.319(c)
may be required to protect offshore pipelines against the potential hazards listed in §192.317(a).
Section 192.317(a) requires operators to provide a reasonable level of protection for offshore
pipelines against the anticipated effects of each listed hazard that could threaten the pipeline.
Depending on the nature and level of the risk perceived, the protection might include any one or
combination of the following, based on sound engineering judgment; deeper burial, anchorage,
greater wall thickness, added flexibility, heavy concrete coating, or any other measure considered
necessary to protect the pipeline against foreseeable damage.
I trust this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
/signed/
James C. Thomas
Acting Director
Office of Pipeline Safety
DB
C:\WP51\INTERPRT\192\317\89-08-31
1

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1989/PI89016.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `399704b2613923bb1a0179b627bae0e6ee943d7bfe6720cb5a1794c205ecc39e`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T21:58:53.395Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-89-016`

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