Abandonment of inactive service lines

A public utility shall have a plan for abandoning inactive service lines under 49 CFR 192.727 (relating to abandonment or inactivation of facilities) as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under § 59.33 (relating to safety), and shall have a copy of its plan available for inspection. The plan shall require the following:#

(1)Service lines which are not constructed of noncorrosive material or part of a cathodic protection system which have been inactive for 3 months and for which there is no prospect of reuse shall be scheduled for abandonment under 49 CFR 192.727 as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under § 59.33, as soon as practicable but not later than 6 months after it has been determined there is no prospect for reuse.#

(2)Service lines which have been inactive for 3 months and for which there is a reasonable prospect of future use shall be shut off under 49 CFR 192.727(d) as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under § 59.33. A review of the status of inactive lines shall be made annually, at periods not exceeding 15 months. Lines which no longer qualify for retention shall be abandoned under paragraph (1).#

(3)Inactive service lines shall be leakage surveyed periodically under 49 CFR 192.723 (relating to distribution systems; leakage surveys and procedures) as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under § 59.33. An inactive service line found to be leaking shall be abandoned immediately if hazardous. If the leak is not hazardous, the line shall be abandoned within 3 months or repaired within this time period if the line is constructed of noncorrosive material or part of a cathodic protection system.#

(4)Unrecorded inactive service lines discovered in the course of leakage surveillance, construction, maintenance or inspection of facilities shall be abandoned as follows: If leaking, abandon immediately; if not leaking, abandon as soon as practicable but not more than 10 days after discovery.#

(5)If a building is to be demolished or if there will be a major excavation of property on which there is an active or inactive service line, and if there is no reasonable prospect of future use, the service line shall be abandoned at the main under paragraph (1). If there is a reasonable prospect of future use, the service line may be abandoned at the curb or property like and its status shall be reviewed annually, at periods not exceeding 15 months, under paragraph (2). The service line shall be disconnected either at the main or property line prior to demolition or excavation.#