Change in Class Location: Change in Valve Spacing [49 CFR 192.610]

(A)A. If a class location change on a transmission pipeline occurs after October 5, 2022 and results in pipe replacement, of 2 or more miles, in the aggregate, within any 5 contiguous miles within a 24-month period, to meet the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) requirements in §§2711, 2719, or 2720, then the requirements in §§1139, 2734, 2736, as applicable, apply to the new class location, and the operator must install valves, including rupture-mitigation valves (RMV) or alternative equivalent technologies, as necessary, to comply with those sections. Such valves must be installed within 24 months of the class location change in accordance with the timing requirement in §2711.D for compliance after a class location change. [49 CFR 192.610(a)]#

(B)B. If a class location change occurs on a gas transmission pipeline after October 5, 2022 and results in pipe replacement of less than 2 miles within 5 contiguous miles during a 24-month period, to meet the MAOP requirements in §§2711, 2719, or 2720, then within 24 months of the class location change, in accordance with §2711.D, the operator must either: [49 CFR 192.610(b)]#

(1)1. Comply with the valve spacing requirements of §192.179(a) for the replaced pipeline segment; or [49 CFR 192.610(b)(1)]#

(2)2. Install or use existing RMVs or alternative equivalent technologies so that the entirety of the replaced pipeline segments are between at least two RMVs or alternative equivalent technologies. The distance between RMVs and alternative equivalent technologies for the replaced segment must not exceed 20 miles. The RMVs and alternative equivalent technologies must comply with the applicable requirements of §2736. [49 CFR 192.610(B)(2)]#

(C)C. The provisions of Subsection B of this Section do not apply to pipeline replacements that amount to less than 1,000 feet within any 1 contiguous mile during any 24-month period. [49 CFR 192.610(c)]#

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 49:1105 (June 2023), amended LR 50:1251 (September 2024).#