Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-9-3-.03
515-9-3-.03 Commission Jurisdiction
(1)The Georgia Legislature has empowered the Public Service Commission to prescribe and enforce safety standards and to regulate safety practices of persons engaged in the transportation of gas or LNG by pipeline to the extent permitted by the "Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U.S.C. 1967 et seq.)" and any amendments thereto as set forth and adopted in Title 46 of the Georgia Code, as amended. The Commission has delegated this responsibility to the Pipeline Safety Director and his staff. The regulations issued under the Act promulgated by the Office of Pipeline Safety of the United States Department of Transportation and published in Title 49, CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Parts 40, 191, 192, 193 and 199 apply to all pipeline companies. The safety standards of the Act apply to the design, installation, inspection, testing construction, extension, operation, replacement and maintenance of pipeline facilities. Standards affecting the design, installation, construction, initial inspection and testing are not applicable to pipeline facilities in existence on the date such standards are adopted.#
(2)The Commission is authorized to prescribe additional safety standards that apply to intrastate operators. Such safety standards shall be practicable and designed to meet the needs for pipeline safety. When prescribing and enforcing such standards, the Commission will consider:#
(a)relevant available pipeline safety data;#
(b)whether such standards are appropriate for the particular type of pipeline transportation;#
(c)the reasonableness of any proposed standards; and#
(d)the extent to which such standards will contribute to public safety.#
(3)Whenever the Commission finds a particular facility to be hazardous to life or property, it is empowered to require the person operating such facilities to take steps necessary to remove such hazards.#