Additional construction requirements for steel pipe using alternative maximum allowable operating pressure.

For a new or existing pipeline segment to be eligible for operation at the alternative maximum allowable operating pressure calculated under § 192.620, a segment must meet the following additional construction requirements. Records must be maintained, for the useful life of the pipeline, demonstrating compliance with these requirements:

To address this construction issue: The pipeline segment must meet this additional construction requirement: (a) Quality assurance (1) The construction of the pipeline segment must be done under a quality assurance plan addressing pipe inspection, hauling and stringing, field bending, welding, non-destructive examination of girth welds, applying and testing field applied coating, lowering of the pipeline into the ditch, padding and backfilling, and hydrostatic testing. (2) The quality assurance plan for applying and testing field applied coating to girth welds must be: (i) Equivalent to that required under § 192.112(f)(3) for pipe; and (ii) Performed by an individual with the knowledge, skills, and ability to assure effective coating application. (b) Girth welds (1) All girth welds on a new pipeline segment must be non-destructively examined in accordance with § 192.243(b) and (c). (c) Depth of cover (1) Notwithstanding any lesser depth of cover otherwise allowed in § 192.327, there must be at least 36 inches (914 millimeters) of cover or equivalent means to protect the pipeline from outside force damage. (2) In areas where deep tilling or other activities could threaten the pipeline, the top of the pipeline must be installed at least one foot below the deepest expected penetration of the soil. (d) Initial strength testing (1) The pipeline segment must not have experienced failures indicative of systemic material defects during strength testing, including initial hydrostatic testing. A root cause analysis, including metallurgical examination of the failed pipe, must be performed for any failure experienced to verify that it is not indicative of a systemic concern. The results of this root cause analysis must be reported to each PHMSA pipeline safety regional office where the pipe is in service at least 60 days prior to operating at the alternative MAOP. An operator must also notify a State pipeline safety authority when the pipeline is located in a State where PHMSA has an interstate agent agreement, or an intrastate pipeline is regulated by that State. (e) Interference currents (1) For a new pipeline segment, the construction must address the impacts of induced alternating current from parallel electric transmission lines and other known sources of potential interference with corrosion control.

[72 FR 62176, Oct. 17, 2008]