255.615 Emergency plans.

(a)Each operator shall establish written procedures to minimize the hazard resulting from a gas pipeline emergency. At a minimum, the procedures must provide for the following:#

(1)receiving, identifying and classifying notices of events which require immediate response by the operator;#

(2)establishing and maintaining adequate means of communication with appropriate fire, police and other public officials;#

(3)prompt and effective response to a notice of each type of emergency, including the following:#

(i)gas detected inside or near a building;#

(ii)fire located near or directly involving a pipeline facility;#

(iii)explosion occurring near or directly involving a pipeline facility; and#

(iv)natural disaster;#

(4)the availability of personnel, equipment, tools and materials, as needed at the scene of an emergency;#

(5)actions directed toward protecting people first and then property;#

(6)emergency shutdown and pressure reduction in any section of the operator's pipeline system necessary to minimize hazards to life or property;#

(7)making safe any actual or potential hazard to life or property;#

(8)notifying appropriate fire, police and other public officials of gas pipeline emergencies and coordinating with them both planned responses and actual responses during an emergency;#

(9)safely restoring any service outage;#

(10)beginning action under section 255.827 of this Part, if applicable, as soon after the end of the emergency as possible; and#

(11)Actions required to be taken by a controller during an emergency in accordance with section 255.631 of this Part.#

(b)Each operator shall:#

(1)furnish its supervisors who are responsible for emergency action a copy of that portion of the latest edition of the emergency procedures established under subdivision (a) of this section as necessary for compliance with those procedures;#

(2)train the appropriate operating personnel to assure that they are knowledgeable of the emergency procedures and verify that the training is effective; and#

(3)review employee activities to determine whether the procedures were effectively followed in each emergency.#

(c)Each operator shall establish and maintain liaison with appropriate fire, police and other public officials to:#

(1)learn the responsibility and resources of each government organization that may respond to a gas pipeline emergency;#

(2)acquaint the officials with the operator's ability in responding to a gas pipeline emergency;#

(3)identify the types of gas pipeline emergencies of which the operator notifies the officials;#

(4)plan how the operator and officials can engage in mutual assistance to minimize hazards to life or property; and#

(5)offer annual training, at mutually acceptable locations, to volunteer fire departments regarding the appropriate response to gas-related emergencies and to police departments regarding the recognition of gas-related emergencies. For nonvolunteer fire departments, annually offer to assist the training coordinator in developing training programs for gas safety- related matters.#