255.726 Inactive service lines.

(a)All inactive service lines, including stubs, must be inspected, leakage surveyed and maintained according to the applicable provisions of this Part.#

(b)Inactive steel service lines not under cathodic protection, including stubs, may remain under the conditions established by section 255.727(d) of this Part for a period of not more than six years subject to the following conditions:#

(1)During the third year of inactivity, the operator must conduct a survey for potential future use and, if there is no definite plan for future use, disconnect the service at the main or in compliance with subdivision (d) of this section, purge the service and seal the open end.#

(2)Inactive service lines for which there is a definite plan for future use may remain under the conditions established by section 255.727(d) of this Part for an additional three-year period provided the operator either reactivates the service or disconnects the service at the main or in compliance with subdivision (d) of this section, purges the service and seals the open ends by the end of the sixth year of inactivity.#

(c)Whenever the service connection to the main is located under pavement, an inactive service line may be disconnected in an unpaved area but no closer than 10 feet (3 meters) to the building subject to the following requirements:#

(1)Records of inactive service stubs shall be maintained and the locations of these facilities shall be clearly noted on maps or records of the gas distribution system. This information will be used in marking these facilities prior to third-party excavation activities and for use in leakage survey and leakage investigation procedures.#

(2)Any steel service stub shall have an appropriately sized sacrificial anode attached consistent with good cathodic protection practices.#

(d)Whenever an inactive service line or service stub is exposed at the main in association with other operation, maintenance or construction activities, it must be disconnected at the main, purged, and the open end sealed unless there is a definite plan for future use.#

(e)Whenever an inactive service line or service stub is found to be leaking or is damaged, it must be disconnected at the main, purged, and the open end sealed.#