Procedural Manual for Operations, Maintenance, and Emergencies [49 CFR 192.605]

(A)A. General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for emergency response. For transmission lines, the manual must also include procedures for handling abnormal operations. This manual must be reviewed and updated by the operator at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year. This manual must be prepared before operations of a pipeline system commence. Appropriate parts of the manual must be kept at locations where operations and maintenance activities are conducted. [49 CFR 192.605(a)]#

(B)B. Maintenance and Normal Operations. The manual required by Subsection A of this Section must include procedures for the following, if applicable, to provide safety during maintenance and operations: [49 CFR 192.605(b)]#

(1)1. operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in accordance with each of the requirements of this Chapter and Chapter 29 of this Subpart; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(1)]#

(2)2. controlling corrosion in accordance with the operations and maintenance requirements of Chapter 21 of this Subpart; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(2)]#

(3)3. making construction records, maps, and operating history available to appropriate operating personnel; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(3)]#

(4)4. gathering of data needed for reporting incidents under Chapter 3 of Subpart 2 of this Part in a timely and effective manner; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(4)]#

(5)5. starting up and shutting down any part of the pipeline in a manner designed to assure operation within the MAOP limits prescribed by this Subpart, plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting and control devices; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(5)]#

(6)6. maintaining compressor stations, including provisions for isolating units or sections of pipe and for purging before returning to service; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(6)]#

(7)7. starting, operating and shutting down gas compressor units; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(7)]#

(8)8. periodically reviewing the work done by operator personnel to determine the effectiveness, and adequacy of the procedures used in normal operation and maintenance and modifying the procedures when deficiencies are found; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(8)]#

(9)9. taking adequate precautions in excavated trenches to protect personnel from the hazards of unsafe accumulations of vapor or gas, and making available when needed at the excavation, emergency rescue equipment, including a breathing apparatus and, a rescue harness and line; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(9)]#

(10)10. systematic and routine testing and inspection of pipe-type or bottle-type holders including: [49 CFR 192.605(b)(10)]#

(a)a. provision for detecting external corrosion before the strength of the container has been impaired; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(10)(i)]#

(b)b. periodic sampling and testing of gas in storage to determine the dew point of vapors contained in the stored gas which, if condensed, might cause internal corrosion or interfere with the safe operation of the storage plant; and [49 CFR 192.605(b)(10)(ii)]#

(c)c. periodic inspection and testing of pressure limiting equipment to determine that it is in safe operating condition and has adequate capacity; [49 CFR 192.605(b)(10)(iii)]#

(11)11. responding promptly to a report of a gas odor inside or near a building, unless the operator's emergency procedures under §2715.A.3 specifically apply to these reports. [49 CFR 192.605(b)(11)]#

(12)12. implementing the applicable control room management procedures required by §2731. [49 CFR 192.605(b)(12)]#

(C)C. Abnormal Operation. For transmission lines, the manual required by Subsection A of this Section must include procedures for the following to provide safety when operating design limits have been exceeded: [49 CFR 192.605(c)]#

(1)1. responding to, investigating, and correcting the cause of: [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)]#

(a)a. unintended closure of valves or shutdowns; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)(i)]#

(b)b. increase or decrease in pressure or flow rate outside normal operating limits; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)(ii)]#

(c)c. loss of communications; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)(iii)]#

(d)d. operation of any safety device; and [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)(iv)]#

(e)e. any other foreseeable malfunction of a component, deviation from normal operation, or personnel error which may result in a hazard to persons or property; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(1)(v)]#

(2)2. checking variations from normal operation after abnormal operation has ended at sufficient critical locations in the system to determine continued integrity and safe operation; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(2)]#

(3)3. notifying responsible operator personnel when notice of an abnormal operation is received; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(3)]#

(4)4. periodically reviewing the response of operator personnel to determine the effectiveness of the procedures controlling abnormal operation and taking corrective action where deficiencies are found; [49 CFR 192.605(c)(4)]#

(5)5. the requirements of Subsection C do not apply to natural gas distribution operators that are operating transmission lines in connection with their distribution system. [49 CFR 192.605(c)(5)]#

(D)D. Safety-Related Condition Reports. The manual required by Subsection A of this Section must include instructions enabling personnel who perform operation and maintenance activities to recognize conditions that potentially may be safety-related conditions that are subject to the reporting requirements of §323 of this Part. [49 CFR 192.605(d)]#

(E)E. Surveillance, Emergency Response, and Accident Investigation. The procedures required by §§2713.A, 2715, and 2717 must be included in the manual required by Subsection A of this Section. [49 CFR 192.605(e)]#

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 9:240 (April 1983), amended LR 10:532 (July 1984), LR 21:822 (August 1995), LR 30:1260 (June 2004), LR 38:116 (January 2012).#