(a) Except for gathering lines of 114.34 mm (411/2 ininches (114mm) nominal outside diameter or smaller, each operator shall, inprepare accordanceand withfollow thisa section,procedure conductto anidentify underwater inspection of its pipelines in the Gulf of MexicoAmerica and its inlets in waters less than 15 feet (4.6 Themeters) inspectiondeep mustas bemeasured conductedfrom aftermean Octoberlow 3,water 1989that andare beforeat Novemberrisk 16of being an exposed underwater pipeline or a hazard to navigation. The procedures must be in effect August 10, 19922005.
(b) If,Each asoperator ashall resultconduct appropriate periodic underwater inspections of anits inspectionpipelines underin paragraphthe Gulf of America and its inlets in waters less than 15 feet (a4.6 meters) ofdeep thisas
section,
measured
or
from
upon
mean
notification
low
by
water
any
based
person,
on
the identified risk.
(c) If
an operator discovers that
a
its
pipeline
it operates
is
an
exposed
on
underwater
the
pipeline
seabed
or
constitutes
poses
a hazard to navigation, the operator shall—
(1) Promptly, but not later than 24 hours after discovery, notify the National Response Center, telephone: 1-800-424-8802
,
of the location
,
and, if available, the geographic coordinates of that pipeline
;
.
(2) Promptly, but not later than 7 days after discovery, mark the location of the pipeline in accordance with 33 CFR
part
Part
64 at the ends of the pipeline segment and at intervals of not over 500 yards
(457 meters)
long, except that a pipeline segment less than 200 yards
(183 meters)
long need only be marked at the center; and
(3) Within 6 months after discovery, or not later than November 1 of the following year if the 6 month period is
after
later
than
November 1 of the year
that
of
the
discovery
is made
,
place
bury
the pipeline so that the top of the pipe is 36 inches
(914 millimeters)
below the
seabed
underwater
natural bottom (as determined by recognized and generally accepted practices)
for normal excavation or 18 inches
(457 millimeters)
for rock excavation.
(i) An operator may employ engineered alternatives to burial that meet or exceed the level of protection provided by burial.
(ii) If an operator cannot obtain required state or Federal permits in time to comply with this section, it must notify OPS; specify whether the required permit is State or Federal; and, justify the delay.
[Amdt. 195-
47
82
,
56
69
FR
63771
48407
,
Dec
Aug
.
5
10
,
1991
2004
, as amended by Amdt. 195-
52
108
,
59
90
FR
33396
21436
,
June
May
28
20
,
1994
2025
]
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