CPUC General Order 112-F § 122 - GAS INCIDENT REPORTS

122.1Each Operator shall comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 191, for the reporting of incidents to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). The Operator shall submit such reports directly to the DOT, with a copy to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).#

122.2Requirements for reporting to the CPUC.#

(a)Each Operator shall report incidents to the CPUC that meet the following criteria:#

1.Incidents which require DOT notification.#

i.An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline, or of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, refrigerant gas, or gas from an LNG facility, and that results in one or more of the following consequences:#

A death, or personal injury necessitating inpatient hospitalization; or#

Estimated property damage of $50,000 or more, including loss to the Operator and others, or both, but excluding cost of gas lost;#

Unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more;#

ii.An event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility. Activation of an emergency shutdown system for reasons other than an actual emergency does not constitute an incident;#

iii.An event that is significant in the judgment of the Operator, even though it did not meet the criteria of Sections 122.2(a)(1)(i) or (ii), above.#

2.Incidents which have either attracted public attention or have been given significant news media coverage, that are suspected to involve natural gas and/or propane (LPG) gas, which occur in the vicinity of the Operator's facilities; regardless of whether or not the Operator's facilities are involved.#

3.Incidents where the failure of a pressure relieving and limiting stations, or any other unplanned event, results in pipeline system pressure exceeding its established Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) plus the allowable build up set forth in 49 CFR § 192.201.#

4.Incidents in which an under-pressure condition, caused by the failure of any pressure controlling device, or any other unplanned event other than excavation related damage, results in any part of the gas pipeline system losing service or being shut-down.#

(b)In the event of an incident listed in 122.2(a) above, an Operator shall go to the Commission’s website, select the link to the page for reporting emergencies and follow the instructions thereon. If internet access is unavailable, the Operator may report using the backup telephone system.#

1.If the Operator is notified of the incident during its normal working hours, the report should be made as soon as practicable but no longer than 2 hours after the Operator is aware of the incident and its personnel are on the scene.#

2.If the Operator is notified of the incident outside of its normal working hours, the report should be made as soon as practicable but no longer than 4 hours after the Operator is aware of the incident and its personnel are on the scene.#

3.All reports required by this section shall be followed by the end of the next working day by an email or telefacsimile (fax) of the standard reporting form, "Report of Gas Leak or Interruption," CPUC File No. 420 (see attachment).#

(c)Written Incident Reports.#

1.The Operator shall submit to the CPUC on DOT Form PHMSA F7100.1 (http://ops.dot.gov/library/forms/forms.htm#7100.1)for distribution systems and on DOT Form PHMSA F7100.2 (http://ops.dot.gov/library/forms/forms.htm#7100.2) for transmission and gathering systems a report describing any incident that required notice under Item 122.2(a)(1).#

2.Together with the form required by (c)(1) above, the Operator shall furnish a letter of explanation giving a more detailed account of the incident unless such letter is deemed not necessary by the CPUC staff. The Operator may confirm the necessity of a letter of explanation by email. If, subsequent to the initial report or letter, the Operator discovers additional material, information related to the incident, the Operator shall furnish a supplemental report to the CPUC as soon as practicable, with a clear reference by date and subject to the original report. These letters, forms, and reports shall be held confidential under the provisions of Paragraph 2, Exclusions, of General Order 66C and Public Utilities Code Section 315.#

3.The Operator of a distribution system serving less than 100,000 customers need not submit the DOT forms required by paragraph (1) above; however, such Operator must submit the letter of explanation required by (2) above, subsequent to any initial report to the CPUC, unless such letter is deemed unnecessary by the CPUC staff.#

(d)Quarterly Summary Reports. Each utility shall submit to the CPUC quarterly, not later than the end of the month following the quarter, a summary of all CPUC reportable and nonreportable incidents which occurred in the preceding quarter as follows:#

1.Incidents that were reported through the Commission’s Emergency Reporting website.#

2.Incidents for which either a DOT Form PHMSA F7100.1 or F7100.2 was submitted.#

3.Incidents which involved escaping gas from the utility’s facilities and property damage including loss of gas in excess of $1,000.#

4.Incidents which included property damage between $0 and $1,000, and involved fire, explosion, or excavation related damage.#

5.Incidents where the failure of a pressure relieving and limiting stations, or any other unplanned event, results in pipeline system pressure exceeding its established Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) plus the allowable build up set forth in 49 CFR § 192.201.#

6.Incidents in which an under-pressure condition, caused by the failure of any pressure controlling device, or any other unplanned event other than excavation related damage, results in any part of the gas pipeline system losing service or being shut-down.#