External Corrosion Control: Buried or Submerged Pipelines Installed after July 31, 1971 [49 CFR 192.455]

(A)A. Except as provided in Subsections B, C, F, and G of this Section, each buried or submerged pipeline installed after July 31, 1971, must be protected against external corrosion, including the following. [49 CFR 192.455(a)]#

(1)1. It must have an external protective coating meeting the requirements of §2113. [49 CFR 192.455(a)(1)]#

(2)2. It must have a cathodic protection system designed to protect the pipeline in its entirety in accordance with this Chapter, installed and placed in operation within one year after completion of construction. [49 CFR 192.455(a)(2)]#

(B)B. An operator need not comply with Subsection A of this Section, if the operator can demonstrate by tests, investigation, or experience in the area of application, including, as a minimum, soil resistivity measurements and tests for corrosion accelerating bacteria, that a corrosive environment does not exist. However, within six months after an installation made pursuant to the preceding sentence, the operator shall conduct tests, including pipe-to-soil potential measurements with respect to either a continuous reference electrode or an electrode using close spacing, not to exceed 20 feet (6 meters), and soil resistivity measurements at potential profile peak locations, to adequately evaluate the potential profile along the entire pipeline. If the test made indicate that a corrosive condition exists, the pipeline must be cathodically protected in accordance with Paragraph A.2 of this Section. [49 CFR 192.455(b)]#

(C)C. An operator need not comply with Subsection A of this Section, if the operator can demonstrate by tests, investigation, or experience that: [49 CFR 192.455(c)]#

(1)1. for a copper pipeline, a corrosive environment does not exist; or [49 CFR 192.455(c)(1)]#

(2)2. for a temporary pipeline with an operating period of service not to exceed five years beyond installation, corrosion during the five-year period of service of the pipeline will not be detrimental to public safety. [49 CFR 192.455(c)(2)]#

(D)D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B or C of this Section, if a pipeline is externally coated, it must be cathodically protected in accordance with Paragraph A.2 of this Section. [49 CFR 192.455(d)]#

(E)E. Aluminum may not be installed in a buried or submerged pipeline if that aluminum is exposed to an environment with a natural pH in excess of 8, unless tests or experience indicate its suitability in the particular environment involved. [49 CFR 192.455(e)]#

(F)F. This Section does not apply to electrically isolated, metal alloy fittings in plastic pipelines, if: [49 CFR 192.455(f)]#

(1)1. for the size fitting to be used, an operator can show by test, investigation, or experience in the area of application that adequate corrosion control is provided by the alloy composition; and [49 CFR 192.455(f)(1)]#

(2)2. the fitting is designed to prevent leakage caused by localized corrosion pitting. [49 CFR 192.455(f)(2)]#

(G)G. Electrically isolated metal alloy fittings installed after January 22, 2019, that do not meet the requirements of Subsection F must be cathodically protected, and must be maintained in accordance with the operator's integrity management plan. [49 CFR 192.455(g)]#

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:501 et seq.#

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 9:235 (April 1983), amended LR 10:527 (July 1984), LR 24:1311 (July 1998), LR 27:1544 (September 2001), LR 30:1252 (June 2004), LR 46:1587 (November 2020).#