{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-76-029","title":"Alabama Public Service Commission — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1976-06-03","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-76-029 response to Alabama Public Service Commission concerning 192.3.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-76-029.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-76-029.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-76-029","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1976/PI76029.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nJune 3, 1976\nMr. Larry E. Waldrop\nAdministrator, Gas Pipeline Safety\nAlabama Public Service Commission\nP.O. Box 991\nMontgomery, Alabama 36130\nDear Mr. Waldrop:\nThis refers to your letter of March 24, 1976, in which you ask whether a 6-inch pipeline operated\nby Getty Oil Company, as described in a letter dated March 19, 1976, from Getty to the\nCommission, is classified as a gathering line or a transmission line for the purposes of 49 CFR\nPart 192.\nThe Getty letter describes a system in which gas is produced at several wells and transported by\npipeline to a central processing facility where liquids and impurities are removed. After\nprocessing, the gas is transported in the 6-inch pipeline in question for 5 miles to the connection\nwith a transmission line where it is sold to the transmission line operator.\nAs defined in Section 192.3, the term \"gathering line\" means a pipeline that transports gas from a\ncurrent production facility to a transmission line or main. The term \"transmission line\" is defined,\nin relevant part, as a pipeline that transports gas from a gathering line or storage facility to a\ndistribution center or storage facility. Under these definitions, the point at which a gathering line\nends and a transmission line begins is unclear. It may be concluded, however, that when delivered\nto a trans-\nmission line, gas must be generally suitable for transportation to a distribution center or storage\nfacility. Therefore, a gathering line may include any gas processing facilities necessary to initially\nprepare the gas for distribution or storage, such as a heater, dehydrator, or separator. A gathering\nline would end when the gas is to prepared.\nThe pipeline in question extends downstream from a gas processing facility used to prepare the\ngas for sale to the transmission line operator. Since it does not contain any further processing\nfacilities before the juncture with the transmission line, the\n6-inch intervening line is merely a leg of a continuous trans-\nmission line which begins at the outlet of the processing\nfacility. Ownership of the gas being transported or the fact that Getty's 6-inch line does not itself\nconnect with a distribu-\ntion center or storage facility is not determinative of the line's classification.\ndal\\192\\3\\76-06-03\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nIf we may be of further assistance, please let me know.\nSincerely,\nCesar DeLeon\nActing Director\nOffice of Pipeline\nSafety Operations\ndal\\192\\3\\76-06-03\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":2463}