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

**Citation:** PI-89-021  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1989-09-27

PI-89-021 response to Looper, Reed, Ewing & McGraw Incorporated concerning 192.317.

## 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:
you requested clarification of our August 31, 1989, letter regarding protection for offshore
pipelines. The requirements of 49 CFR 192.317(a) apply to conditions known or that can be
foreseen at the time of construction. Thereafter, an operator does not have a continuing
obligation under this rule to provide protection against hazards from changed or new conditions.
However, if the operator learns the pipeline has become unsafe due to these changed or new
conditions, the operator would have to take remedial action as required by 49 CFR 192.703(b).
We would agree that the protection required by §192.317(a) could be any measure considered
reasonably necessary to guard against foreseeable damage from a foreseeable event, provided that
measure is based on sound engineering judgment.
Sincerely,
/signed/
James C. Thomas
Deputy Director
Office of Pipeline Safety
DB
C:\WP51\INTERPRT\192\317\89-09-27
1

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1989/PI89021.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `2a96b8edccb8752366c4f0c74d6e6f6decd2dad18dc64b468a880ede79c7fb59`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T06:03:02.442Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-89-021`

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