Pan American Engineers — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

Page 1October 17, 1972 Mr. R. D. Hodges Pan American Engineers 2708 N. Acadian Thru. W. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70805 Dear Mr. Hodges: This is in response to your letter of September 27, 1972, addressed to Mr. Taylor of our Houston office. With regard to natural gas system, you ask whether testing (in the form of leakage surveys) is required by the regulations for service lines going from the mains to the gas meter. Section 192.723 of Part 192, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Federal Safety Standards, (49 CFR Section 192.723), requires that each operator of a distribution system shall provide for periodic leakage surveys. Since distribution lines are integral parts of a distribution system, such lines would be subject to the leak survey requirements of Section 192.723. Section 192.3, in turn, defines service line as a distribution line that transports gas from a common source of supply to a customer meter set assembly. Therefore, service lines from mains to the gas meters are required to be included in the periodic leakage surveys in accordance with the provisions of Section 192.723. I trust this provides the clarification you need. If you have further questions, we will be pleased to respond. Sincerely, /signed/ Joseph C. Caldwell Director Office of Pipeline Safety DB/dal/192.723 72-10-17#