{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-03-0101","title":"Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities & Carriers — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-02-14","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-03-0101 response to Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities & Carriers concerning 192.3.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-03-0101.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-03-0101.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-03-0101","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/2003/g03-02-14_Ledversis_192.3_Master_Meter-nlmx.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nPI-03-0101\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nFebruary 14, 2003\nMr. Don A. Ledversis\nPipeline Safety Engineer\nRhode Island Division of Public Utilities & Carriers\n89 Jefferson Boulevard\nWarwick, RI 02888\nDear Mr. Ledversis:\nThis is in response to your request of January 25, 2002, for an interpretation of the jurisdictional status of the\ncampus gas distribution system operated by Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The question is whether the\ncampus gas piping system is a Master Meter System subject to the gas pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR Parts 191\nand 192. The college claims that this system does not meet the definition of Master Meter System because it only\nuses gas to provide heat and hot water to the campus buildings and does not resell the gas.\nTo conclude that the Bryant College gas distribution pipeline facilities are subject to safety regulation, we need to\ndetermine that the system is a pipeline facility and that the gas is being delivered to consumers who, directly or indirectly,\npay for the gas. Master Meter System is defined in the pipeline safety regulations at 49 CFR § 191.3:\n.. a pipeline system for distributing gas within, but not limited to, a definable area,\nsuch as a mobile home park, housing project, or apartment complex, where the\noperator purchases metered gas from an outside source for resale through a gas\ndistribution pipeline system. The gas distribution pipeline system supplies the\nultimate consumer who either purchases the gas directly through a meter or by\nother means, such as by rents.\nPipeline facility is defined in the pipeline safety regulations at 49 CFR § 192.3:\n…new and existing pipelines, rights-of-way, and any equipment, facility, or building\nused in the transportation of gas or in the treatment of gas during the course of\ntransportation.\nBryant College's system is clearly a pipeline facility. It distributes gas through underground pipelines to campus\nbuildings. It does not appear to meet the definition of Master Meter System because it is using the gas delivered\nthrough its pipeline system to provide heat and hot water to campus buildings. In this instance the college would be\nthe consumer of the gas.\nHowever, if the Bryant College gas system provides gas to consumers, such as concessionaires, tenants, or others, it is\nengaged in the distribution of gas, and the persons to whom it is providing gas would be considered the customers even\nthough they may not be individually metered. In this situation the pipelines downstream of the master meter used to\ndistribute the gas to these ultimate consumers would be considered mains and service lines subject to the Federal\npipeline safety regulations. The Bryant College pipeline system would then be a Master Meter System.\nIn conclusion, the Bryant College gas distribution system is a Master Meter System subject to pipeline safety\nregulation under 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192 if it is providing gas to customers in addition to providing heat and hot\nwater to campus buildings.\nIf you have any further questions about the pipeline safety regulations, please contact me at (202) 366-4565.\nSincerely,\nRichard D. Huriaux, P.E.\nManager, Regulations\nOffice of Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":3314}