# Washington UTC — Pipeline Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** PI-18-0001 - **title:** Washington UTC — Pipeline Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2018-09-27 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** PI-18-0001 response to Washington UTC concerning 192.3. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-18-0001.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-18-0001.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-18-0001 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/pipeline/interpretations/58051/washington-utc-pi-18-0001-09-27-2018-part-1923.pdf **body:** <<>> U.S. Department ofTransportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration SEP 2 7 2018 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington DC 20590 Mr. Sean C. Mayo Pipeline Safety Director Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission 1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive, SW Olympia, WA 98504-7250 Dear Mr. Mayo: In a December 8, 2017, letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), you requested an interpretation of 49 CFR Part 192. Specifically, you requested an interpretation for the definition of a transmission line under § 192.3. You described the pipeline as a 76.53-mile-long intrastate transmission pipeline (Kettle Falls Pipeline) operated by Avista Utilities. The pipeline receives gas from a connection with an interstate transmission pipeline operated by Northwest Pipeline LLC (Williams) at approximately 5-miles north of Spokane, Washington and transports gas to north of Kettle Falls, Washington. You stated that other than the first 3.8 miles of the pipeline, the pipeline operates above 20 percent of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) and has historically been classified as transmission pipeline by A vista. You stated that the first 3 .8 miles, where the pipeline connects to the Williams transmission line, operates at 19.65 percent SMYS. You asked whether the 3.8-mile pipeline should be regulated as a transmission line since it operates at 19.65 percent SMYS and is tied into and receives gas from an interstate transmission pipeline. "Transmission line" is defined in § 192.3 as "a pipeline, other than a gathering line, that: (1) Transports gas from a gathering line or storage facility to a distribution center, storage facility, or large volume customer that is not down-stream from a distribution center; (2) operates at a hoop stress of20 percent or more of SMYS; or (3) transports gas within a storage field." NOTE: A large volume customer may receive similar volumes of gas as a distribution center, and includes factories, power plants, and institutional users of gas. Even though the first 3.8 miles of the pipeline operates below the 20 percent SMYS, the pipeline connects to transmission lines at both ends and, therefore, meets condition 1 of the definition of a transmission line. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety provides written clarifications of the Regulations (49 CPR Parts 190-199) in the fonn of interpretation letters. These letters reflect the agency's current application of the regulations to the specific facts presented by the person requesting the clarification. Interpretations do not create legally-enforceable rights or obligations and are provided to help the public understand how to comply with the regulations. <<>> 2 A pipeline that meets any of the three conditions listed under the definition in § 192.3 is a transmission line in accordance with 49 CFR Part 192. Therefore, a pipeline that operates at a hoop stress ofless than 20 percent of its specified minimum yield strength, but meets either condition one or three, meets the definition of a transmission line. PHMSA agrees with Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission that the 76.53-mile- long pipeline, including the first 3.8 miles of the pipeline, is a transmission line. If we can be of further assistance, please contact Tewabe Asebe at 202-366-5523. Sincerely, Jo e Director, Office of Standards and Rulemaking The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety provides written clarifications of the Regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) in the fonn ofinterpretation letters. These letters reflect the agency's current application of the regulations to the . specific facts presented by the person requesting the clarification. Interpretations do not create legally-enforceable rights or obligations and are provided to help the public understand how to comply with the r, egulations. <<>> STATE OF WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 1300 S. Evergreen Park Dr. S.W., P.O. Box 47250 • Olympia, Washington 98504-7250 (360) 664-1160 • TTY (360) 586-8203 December 8, 2017 John A. Gale Director of Standards and Rulemaking Office of Pipeline Safety Room 24-310 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington DC 20590 RE: Request for Interpretation of "Transmission Line" as defined in §192.3 Dear Mr. Gale: We are requesting an interpretation as to whether the first 3.8 miles ofthe below described 76.53 mile AvistaUtilities' (Avista) Kettle Falls Pipeline should be considered "Transmission" as defined in §192.3 Definitions, Transmission Line, (1). We consider definition (1) to be a functional definition of Transmission. Transmission line means a pipeline, other than a gathering line, that: (1) Transports gas from a gathering line or storagefacility to a distribution center, storagefacility, or large volume customer that is not down-streamfrom a distribution center; (2) operates at a hoop stress of20 percent or more ofSMYS; or (3) transports gas within a storagefield. The Kettle Falls Pipeline begins approximately 5 miles north of Spokane, WA at the point where Northwest Pipeline LLC (Williams), an interstate transmission pipeline operator, delivers natural gas to Avista through a tap at their 9-Mile Gate Station. At the 9-Mile Gate Station, the gas is metered, odorized^, the pressure is reduced, and over-pressure protection is provided. The pipeline runs 76.53 miles, transporting gas to various regulating stations along its route until it reaches its end point north of Kettle Falls WA. From the delivery point at 9-Mile, the pipeline is constructed primarily of 3.8 miles of 12-inch, 0.312 w.t., X-52 (19.65 percent of SMYS), 60.505 miles of 8-inch, 0.188 w.t., X-42 (27 percent of SMYS), 12.09 miles of 6-inch, 0.156 w.t. X-42 (25 percent of SMYS), and 0.135 miles of 4-inch (<20 percent SMYS) to its end point north of Kettle Falls WA. It has a Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) of 500 psig. ' Avista Utilities is an intrastate Local Distribution Company operating in Washington, Idaho and Oregon that is based in Spokane WA. user. ^ WA State requires odorization of all pipelines transporting natural gas unless it makes the product unfit for the end Respect. Professionalism, integrity. Accountability. <<>> In 2010, the first 1.7 miles of 8-inch transmission line were replaced with 3.8 miles ofheavier wall 12-ineh due to residential encroachment and for additional flow capacity. Prior to the replacement the entire 76.53 mile segment ofpipeline, from the 9-Mile Gate to its end point, with the exception ofthe 4-inch at the end, was operating above 20-percent of SMYS and was classified as transmission by Avista. After the replacement in 2010, Avista reelassified the 3.8 miles of 12-inch as high-pressure distribution rnain since it was operating at less than 20 percent of SMYS (19.65 percent). The remaining 72.73 miles ofpipeline continues to operate above 20 percent of SMYS and is classified as transmission by Avista. See maps - Attachments A and B. Our question to you is as follows: Since the above described 3.8 mile segment of 12-inch pipeline, operating at 19.65% SMYS, is tied into and receives gas from an Interstate Transmission Pipeline and transports the gas to an Intrastate Transmission Pipeline, do you believe that the 3.8 mile segment meets the functional definition of Transmission as found in §192.3 Definitions, Transmission Line, (1)? If you have any questions or if we can provide further clarification or details, please contact Scott Rukke at (360) 664-1241 or Joe Suhsits at (360) 664-1322. Sincerely, Sean C. Mayo Pipeline Safety Director cc: Huy Nguyen, Acting Director, Western Region, PHMSA Enclosures <<>> Attachment A Kettle Falls Transmission Map Segment 18 Kettle Falls W E Segment 53 Golville - Segment 17 • Segment 16 Pend Oreille Inchelium Chewelah Ferry Chewelar Segment 50 & 51 Stevens Washington Segment 40 Springdale Segment 5 Deer Park Segment 4 Legend See attachment B for an enlarged map of area circled in red. Foreign Pipe Lines Company Avista Williams NW Towns Segment 3 NWCounties Segment 2 Fairwood NWStates Lincoln Spokane 5 Stn: 8008 213, 1, i, i 10 Miles Segment 1 Spokane <<>> Attachment B 9 Mile City Gate to Kettle Falls Transmission N Indian U Blackfoot Ave rail Ro Bedford Ave Highway 291 Spokane River W Parkway Rd N Pine Meadows Rd Legend • Transmission 9 Mile City Gate Station High Pressure Distribution 0.125 0.25 0.75 AVISTA Utilities NOTICE THIS IS NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT Locations of Avista Utilities' facilities on this map are approximate only Changes to facilities may have occurred since the last update of this map. before start of work keview ormis map is notan acceptable subswute tor compilance Route To: Dylan Karaus Printed: 11-14-2017 1 inch = 750 feet - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 8893