{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-78-014","title":"County of Harris — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1978-05-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-78-014 response to County of Harris concerning 192.707.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-78-014.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-78-014.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-78-014","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1978/PI78014.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMr. Richard P. Doss\nCounty Engineer\nCounty of Harris\n1115 Congress Street\nHouston, Texas 77002\nDear Mr. Doss:\nThis is in further response to your letter of February 27, 1978, to Mr. Robert F. Aubry, Chief,\nSouthwest Region, concerning the crossing of county highways by gas pipelines.\nYour letter states that placement of line markers in accordance with 49 CFR 192.707 at highway\ncrossings at locations other than highway right-of-way lines creates difficulties in mowing and in\nmaintaining roadway shoulders. In this regard, you ask whether a County Order which, among\nother things, requires markers at right-of-way lines, qualifies under Section 192.707(b) as a\n\"program for preventing interference with underground pipelines\" that would exempt pipelines in\nClass 3 and Class 4 locations from the Section 192.707 line marking requirement.\nWe have reviewed the County Order and find that it does not establish a \"program\" that would\nentitle gas pipelines to an exemption under Section 192.707(b). The \"program\" contemplated by\nSection 192.707(b) is one, such as the commonly referred to \"one-call system,\" which serves as\nan alternative to line marking. A qualified program compels both pipeline operators and\nconstruction contractors to cooperate in carefully identifying the location of underground\npipelines before construction activities may begin. In contrast, the County Order does not contain\nthese features. It is written more to protect the highway against the possible hazards of a pipeline\ncrossing than to protect the pipeline from damage by further construction activities at the\ncrossing. Although the requirement for placement of line markers at right-of-way boundaries\ndoes offer protection against unintended interference, it is not a \"program\" which serves as an\nalternative to line marking within the meaning of Section 192.707(b).\nFor most normal rights-of-way, it seems that placement of markers at each right-of-way should\nmeet the requirements of Section 192.707. In some cases, however, markers at right-of-way lines\nmay not meet the intent of Section 192.707 if they do not definitively identify the location of the\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\npipeline, or are too far removed from the actual road crossing or potential sites for excavation, to\nserve any useful purpose in warning an excavator of the presence of an underground pipeline.\nIn such cases, we believe that your problem could be resolved if the County were to discuss it\nwith pipeline operators and suggest ways to install markers which do not interfere with mowing\nand shoulder maintenance but still meet the line marking requirements of Section 192.707.\nSincerely,\nCesar De Leon\nAssociate Safety Regulation\nMaterials Transportation Bureau\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nMr. Richard P. Doss, County Engineer\nRoom 650 Family Law Center Building\n1115 Congress Street\nHouston, Texas 77002\nDear Mr. Doss:\nReference is made to your letter of February 27, 1978, regarding Section 192.707, Line\nMarkers for Mains and Transmission Lines.\nIn order to expedite this matter, your letter and the attachment has been forwarded to our\nWashington office with the request that a reply be forwarded directly to you.\nIf this office can be of further assistance, please let me know.\nSincerely,\nRobert F. Auby\nChief, Southwest Region\nOffice of Pipeline Safety Operations\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n3\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nMr. Robert F. Aubry\nChief\nDepartment of Transportation\nSouthwest Region OPSO\n6622 Hornwood\nHouston, Texas 77074\nDear Mr. Aubry:\nRecent review of D.O.T. Regulations for the Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by\nPipeline, Parts 191 and 192, has made it necessary to request an opinion from your office.\nCertain problem areas exist between Section 192.707, Line Markers for Mains and Transmission\nLines, and the pursuance of normal maintenance procedures by Harris County forces in the field.\nTo be specific, the presence of line markers at locations other than right-of-way lines creates\nsevere difficulties in mowing and in the maintenance of roadway shoulders.\nIn the opinion of this office, the limitation of markers to right-of-way lines is both advantageous\nto Harris County and well within the realm of safe practice. This opinion is supported in the\nUtility Accommodation Policy of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation,\nSections 402 and 403, concerning markers for both high and low pressure pipelines, which has\nbeen incorporated into the Harris County Pipeline Regulations, a copy of which is enclosed.\nBoth sets of regulations state that \"the utility company shall place a readily identifiable and\nsuitable marker at each right-of-way line where it is crossed by any high (low) pressure gas or\nliquid petroleum line except where marked by a vent.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n4\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nA method of solving the maintenance problems of Harris County and full compliance with D.O.T.\nRegulations presents itself in Section 192.707 of Part 192, Title 49 of the Code of Federal\nRegulations. It is this method upon which our request for an opinion is based.\nIt is clearly stated in Section 192.707(b) that \"line markers are not required for buried mains and\ntransmission lines (2) in Class 3 or Class 4 locations (i. i.) where a program for preventing\ninterference with underground pipelines is established by la.\nPopulation density and land development indicated that at present almost all of Harris County\nqualifies as either a Class 3 or Class 4 location, as outlined in Section 192,5 of your regulations,\nand that this will certainly be the case in the near future.\nIf this blanket qualification of Harris County as falling into Class 3 or Class 4 locations is coupled\nwith \"a program for preventing interference...established by law\" in the form of the attached\nHarris County Pipeline Regulations, then a viable Solution to our problem exists.\nPlease review this situation and render an opinion as to the validity of our interpretation of the\nintent of your regulations.\nYour assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated.\nVery truly yours,\nRichard P. Doss\nCounty Engineer\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n5\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nA REVISED ORDER REGULATING THE LAYING, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTAINING\nAND REPAIRING OF PUBLIC UTILITY PIPELINES, AND/OR MAINS, IN, UNDER,\nACROSS OR ALONG ROADS, STREETS, AND HIGHWAYS IN HARRIS COUNTY,\nTEXAS, UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT OF HARRIS\nCOUNTY, THAT QUALIFY AS AUTHORIZED PUBLIC UTILITY PIPELINES AND/OR\nMAINS\nADOPTED BY\nCOMMISSIONERS' COURT\nMAY 12, 1977\nVOLUME 95 PAGE 328\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n6\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nIt is the intent of Harris County to amend our current rules and regulations for installing,\nadjusting and maintaining pipelines to adapt these specifications to those of the State of Texas and\nthe Federal specifications and guidelines as set forth by the Department of Transportation. Any\nomission or deletion from these specifications that is contained in the State and Federal\nspecification shall be construed as being contained herein.\nThese revised specifications cover all public utility pipelines and/or mains, in, under,\nacross or along all County roads, streets and/or highways in Harris county, Texas, under the\njurisdiction of the Commissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas. owned and operated by any\nperson, firm, limited partnership, joint stock association, or corporation having the right to lay his\nor its pipeline or pipelines and/or mains, under, along, across and/or over County roads, streets,\nand/or highways by virtue of his, its or their qualifications as authorized public utility pipelines\nand/or mains, under and/or by virtue of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, (1925), as amended,\nhereinafter called pipeline and/or pipelines, shall henceforth be laid, and/or constructed and/or\nmaintained and/or repaired under the following regulations and provisions:\nI. That said pipeline and/or pipelines shall not be laid or constructed in, under, across\nor along such County roads, streets, and/or highways prior to furnishing to the\nCounty Engineer of Harris County, Texas, the following information: surveys,\ndescription and other data:\na. Notice of pipeline activity, upon the notice form herein adopted by\nCommissioners' Court, an example of which is attached hereto, which when\ncompleted shall show the name of the person or entity desiring to initiate\nany pipeline activity; the pipe size, wall thickness of the pipe; grade of the\npipe; type of material or substance being or to be carried in the pipe' and\nthe anticipated working pressure. If the pipeline crosses or is to cross any\nCounty road, the following additional information shall be given in the\nblanks provided for same on such form, road name, survey and abstract,\nlength of crossing, and the type of construction, whether bored, jacked,\ndriven, tunneled or open cut under the road. If the pipeline runs or is to\nrun parallel to any County road within such roads, right-of-way, then in\naddition to naming such road, there will be added a description of the point\nat which such pipeline begins as well as a description of the point at\nb. To such notice form shall be attached a map or plat reflecting the distance\nand direction of such pipeline or pipelines, through Harris County, Texas,\nas it affects the County roads, streets and highways of Harris County,\nTexas.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n7\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nII. III. IV. V. c. To such notice form shall attached detailed plans and specifications for the\nconstruction under, across or along any County road right-of-way, such\nplans and specifications to reflect the depth at which such pipeline or\npipelines are to be constructed along and/or across such County road right-\nof-way, size and other information necessary to reflect accurately the\nmanner in which such pipeline will be constructed, in under, across or\nalong such County road right-of-way.\nNo pipeline shall be laid, maintained or repaired in such a manner as to interfere\nwith the construction, maintenance or repair of the County road, roadbed, ditches\nor right-of-way in, over, across or along which such pipeline is constructed, and in\nthe event it shall develop that such pipeline interferes in any manner with the\nconstruction, maintenance or repair of any County road, in, under, across or along\nwhich it is constructed because of the depth at which such pipeline has been laid,\nbecause of the widening, improving, maintaining or for reasons of public safety and\nwelfare, upon request of the County Engineer such pipeline shall be changed to\naltered promptly under the existing right-of-way by the owner and/or operator of\nsuch pipeline in such a manner as to interfere no longer with such construction,\nmaintenance, repair or the safety of the traveling public, and the owner and/or\noperator of such pipeline shall, if demand therefore is made by the Commissioners'\nCourt of Harris County, bear all or a reasonable part of the cost and expense of\nsuch change or alteration.\nNo pipeline shall be laid in such a manner as to interfere with the use of or obstruct\nunreasonably a County road for the purpose of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, or\nso as to interfere with or unreasonably obstruct any drainage on or along such\nroad, and no such pipeline shall be laid, maintained or repaired in such a manner as\nto constitute a danger or hazard of any kind to persons or vehicles using such road,\nnor shall any pipeline be laid, maintained or repaired so as to constitute a danger or\nhazard to the public property within the boundaries of the right-of-way of said\nCounty road, or to maintenance thereof by County employees.\nThat all pipelines that cross improved County roads shall be either jacked,\ntunneled, bored or driven under the road for the full width of the improved portion\nof the road. Improved County Roads as herein used are defined as any road\nsurfaced with a material other than dirt and the improved portion as that portion of\nthe road and shoulder lying between the backslope of each ditch.\nDepth of Cover for High Pressure Pipe Lines\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n8\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nA. B. C. D. All pipelines that cross unimproved County roads shall be laid at a depth of\n6 feet below natural ground.\nAll pipelines that cross County roads with open-ditch drainage shall be laid\na minimum of 36\" below the bottom of ditch.\nOn curb and gutter sections all high pressure pipelines that cross County\nroads shall be installed at least 24\" below the bottom of the slab at the\ngutter; provided however, in particular instances where it is determined by\nthe County Engineer that a greater depth is required, such pipeline shall be\ninstalled as directed by the County Engineer.\nIn particular instances where it is determined by the County Engineer that a\ngreater depth for a particular pipeline should be required due to the\nlocation or size of same, the type of product carried or other reason of\npublic safety or necessity, such pipeline shall be laid at such greater depth\nas may be required by the County Engineer, but not to exceed the greater\nof the following depths: At least eight (8) feet below the crown of the road\nor four (4) feet below the bottom of the ditches on each side of such\nCounty road, unless by reason of proposed or anticipated changes in the\ngrade of such County road or road ditches, the County Engineer should\ndetermine a greater depth is advisable.\nV.\n1. Depth of Cover for Low Pressure Pipe Lines\nFor low pressure gas lines the minimum depth of cover within the right-of-\nway and under roadway ditches, but outside the pavement structure, shall\nbe twenty-four inches for either encased or u--encased installations.\nExceptions may be authorized to permit existing lines to remain in place\nwith a reduction of six inches in the above specified depth. Low pressure\ngas lines shall be a minimum of eighteen inches or one-half the diameter of\nthe pipe, whichever is greater, beneath the bottom of the pavement\nstructure. Where materials and other conditions justify, such as on existing\nlines to remain in place, a minimum depth under the pavement structure of\ntwelve inches or one-half the diameter of the pipe, whichever is greater,\nmay be permitted.\nAs used herein, depth of lines is the depth to the tope of carrier pipe or\ncasing as applicable.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n9\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nIV. VII. VIII. Any damage whatsoever to any County road, roadbed, ditches, or the\nstructure on or in the County road right-of-way caused by reason of the\nlaying, constructing, maintaining and repairing of a pipeline, in, under,\nacross or along such County road right-of-way shall be repaired\nimmediately and restored to the condition that such County road, roadbed,\nditches or other structures on or in such right-of-way was in before the\ndamage took place, such repairing and restoration to be at the sole cost and\nexpense of the owner or operator of such pipeline.\nWhere a pipeline or pipelines are constructed parallel with a County road\nand where dirt is piled along the side of the trench cut for such pipeline,\nweep holes shall be dug through such pile of dirt in order that water may\ndrain from roadbed and shoulders to the road ditches. Such weep holes\nshall be dug through such piles of dirt at intervals not to exceed two\nhundred (200) feet along such parallel pipeline construction, and at all\nswags or low places in the roadbed of such County road. Such weep holes\nshall be dug to a depth of six inches below the shoulder of such County\nroad and shall be dug for a width of twelve (12) inches, and such weep\nholes shall be dug through the piles of dirt to the road ditches, or to such\nan elevation that the bottom of the weep holes will discharge its water into\nthe road ditch. Such weep holes must be maintained free of obstruction\nuntil the pipeline is completed and the pipeline trench backfilled, tamped\nand leveled true to the original shoulder grade.\nAll high pressure pipelines installed across Country roads shall be protected by a 6\ninch thick reinforced concrete pad as follows:\n1. On curb and gutter streets the pad is to extend from back of curb to\nthe right-of-way line flush with finished ground level.\n2. On roads with open ditch drainage the length of the pad is to be the\nwith of the ditch bottom plus 2 feet on each side, and the bottom of\nthe pad to be 6\" above the top of the pipe.\n3. All pads are to be the outside diameter of the pipe plus 4 feet in\nwidth.\n4. Reinforcing is to be No. 4 bars at 6 inch centers both ways.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n10\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nIX. X. XI. All pipelines laid, constructed, maintained and/or repaired parallel to and\nwithin the right-of-way of any County Road shall be laid, constructed,\nmaintained, and repaired at a distance of not less than four (4) feet from the\nedge of the portion of road considered as normal traveling surface to the\nnearest edge of such pipeline; and when possible all pipelines shall laid,\nconstructed, maintained and repaired in the area considered as the\nbackslope of the ditch. These underground installations shall be at such\ndepth so as to provide a minimum of 24\" cover above top of pipe.\nOn curb and gutter sections all installations paralleling the road shall be\nbehind the curb and gutter.\nWhen installation of any pipeline within County right-of-way requires the\ndigging of pits or trenching to such depth that the angle of repose created\nwith respect to the edge of the normal traveling surface of the road exceeds\n33m41'24\" (1 ½: 1 slope), the owner and/or operator shall at its own\nexpense furnish the County Engineer with soil testing laboratory reports\nindicating if sheeting is required to safely preserve the road. If reports\nindicate sheeting is required at various areas or for the entire length of\ntrench, it shall be installed by owner and/or operator at no expense to\nHarris county.\nSpacing for soil tests shall be at 1000' intervals unless soil indicated tests\nshould be made at shorter intervals or as directed by the County Engineer.\nThe County Engineer will maintain an list of testing laboratories which he\nhas approved and furnish a copy thereof to any person requesting same.\nAt least forty-eight (48) hours before commencing construction of any\npipeline in, under, across or along any County road, notice of the time such\nconstruction shall commence shall be given to the County Engineer of\nHarris County in order that he might supervise and inspect such\nconstruction; provided however, that in cases of emergency requiring\nimmediate maintenance or repair of any pipeline, notice should be given to\nthe County Engineer as soon as possible, and when planned major\nmaintenance is proposed, notification shall be given as outlined under\nSection 1.\nBackfilling operations shall be performed as soon as possible. Back fill\nmaterial shall be free from large or frozen lumps, wood or other extraneous\nmaterial. The backfill shall be placed in uniform layers not to exceed 10\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n11\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\ninches depth (loose measurement) and each layer thoroughly compacted to\nthe density of the surrounding area and to the satisfaction of the County\nEngineer. However, if any pit or trench lies outside the angle of repose\ndefined in Section VIII, backfilling operations may be preformed by the\nequipment method so long as compaction is to density of surrounding area.\nOperation of equipment on the improved surface of any County road will\nnot be permitted, except in an instance whereby the laying, constructing,\nmaintaining, and repairing of pipelines cannot be accomplished by any other\nmethod, and in this event all such equipment shall be equipped with rubber\ntires, flat street pads or other similar means to assure complete protection\nof the improved surface of the road.\nThese specifications govern on matters concerning accommodation,\nlocation and methods for the installation, adjustment, relocation and\nmaintenance of utilities on right-of-way, it does not alter current policies\npertaining to authority for their installation nor determination of financial\nresponsibilities for placement or adjustment thereof. Where industry or\ngovernmental codes, orders or laws require utilities to provide a higher\ndegree of protection than provided herein, the higher degree of protection\nshall prevail.\nPipe Design\nPipe must be designed with sufficient wall thickness, or must be installed\nwith adequate protection, to withstand anticipated external pressures and\nloads that will be imposed on the pipe after installation.\n(a) Design formula for steel pipe\nThe design pressure for steel pipe is determined in accordance with\nthe following formula:\n2St\nP = D XFXEXT\nP = Design pressure in pounds per square inch gauge.\nS = Yield strength in pounds per square inch determined in\naccordance with Sec. 192.107.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n12\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nD = Nominal outside diameter of the pipe in inches.\nt = Nominal wall thickness of the pipe in inches. If this is unknown,\nit is determined in accordance with Sec. 192.109. Additional wall\nthickness required for concurrent external loads in accordance with\nSec. 192.103 may not be included in computing design pressure.\nF = Design factor determined in accordance with Sec. 192.111.\nE = Longitudinal joint factor determined in accordance with Sec.\n192.113.\nT = Temperature derating factor determined in accordance with\nSec. 192.115.\nNOTE: All items 191, 192 or 195 referred to in these\nspecifications refer to the regulations for the transportation of\nnatural and other gas by pipelines as revised October 1, 1973 by the\nDept. of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety.\nDesign factor for steel pipe\n(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this\nsection, the design factor to be used in the design formula in\nSec. 192.105 is determined in accordance with the following\ntable:\n(b) Class Design\nlocation factor (f)\n1 0.72\n2 0.60\nA design factor of 06.0 or less must be used in the design\nformula in Sec. 192.105 for steel pipe in Class 1 locations\nthat:\n(1) (2) Crosses the right-of-way of an unimproved public\nroad, without a casing:\nCrosses without a casing, or makes parallel\nencroachment on the right-of-way of either a hard\nsurfaced road, a highway, a public street, or a\nrailroad.\nUTILITIES\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n13\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nThis term, where used herein, applies to all lines and or their\naccessories within the roadway rights-of-way.\nLOW VOLUME ROADWAYS\nAny roadways which carry traffic volumes of 750 vehicles per day\nor less and upon which projected traffic volume at the design year\nare not anticipated to exceed 1,300 vehicles per day.\nHIGH AND LOW PRESSURE GAS LINES\nHigh pressure gas lines are pipelines which carry a gaseous\nsubstance and which are operated or may reasonably be expected in\nthe future to operates at a pressure of over 60 pounds per square\ninch. Conversely, low pressure gas lines are those with an\noperating pressure not expected to exceed 60 pounds per square\ninch.\nLOCATION\n(1) (2) Utility lines shall be located to avoid or minimize the need\nfor adjustment for future roadway improvements and to\npermit access to the utilities for their maintenance with\nminimum interference to roadway traffic.\nUtility lines crossing the roadway should be located at\napproximate right angles to the road.\n(3) Methods of Installation. Lines placed under any existing\nroadway shall ne installed by boring or tunneling in\naccordance with appropriate specifications. Jacking may be\nused only when approved by the County Engineer. When\ninstalled by jacking or boring, encasement of the line may be\nrequired. Bore pits should be located at least thirty feet\nfrom the edge of the nearest through traffic lane and not less\nthan twenty feet from the edge of pavement. On low traffic\nroadways, bore pits should not be less than ten feet from the\nedge of pavement or five feet from face of curb. Adequate\nwarning devices, barricades and protective devices will be\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n14\n\n<<<PAGE 15>>>\n\nused to prevent creation of a traffic hazard. Where\ncircumstances necessitate the excavation of a bore pit closer\nto the edge of pavement than set forth above, guard fence\nor other approved protective devices will be installed for\nprotection of the traveling public in accordance with current\nHarris County standards. Bore pits should be located and\nconstructed in such a manner as not to interfere with\nroadway structural footings, safe roadside clearance or\ntraffic operations. If necessary, shoring shall be utilized.\nCrossings Pipeline installations across roadways may be\nencased or un-encased. Where encasement is to be employed such\nencasement shall be provided under center medians and from top of\nbackslope to top of backslope for cut sections (or five feet beyond\nthe toe of slope for fill sections, or face of curb) of all roadways\nincluding side streets, and five feet beyond any overpass or other\nstructures where the line passes under it. Encasement may be\nomitted under center medians where their with is appreciably\ngreater than normal standards.\nWhere encasement is not employed the welded steel carrier pipe\nshall provide sufficient strength to withstand the internal design\npressure and the dead and live loads of the pavement structure and\ntraffic. Additional protective measures should include the\nfollowing:\n(a) Heavier wall thickness and/or higher factor of safety in\ndesign\n(b) Adequate coating and wrapping\n(c) Cathodic protection\n(d) Other measures as required by Title 49, CFR, Part 192 or\nPart 195 as published by the Department of Transportation.\nThe minimum length of the additional protection as set forth above\nshall be the same as that required by encasement.\nExisting lines may be permitted to remain in place without\nencasement or extension of encasement if they are protected by a\nreinforced concrete slab or equivalent protection or if they are\nlocated at a depth of six feet under the pavement surface and not\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n15\n\n<<<PAGE 16>>>\n\nWidth Cover Backfill XII. less than four feet under the roadway ditch. If a reinforced\nconcrete slab is to be used, it should meet the following standards:\nThree times the diameter of the pipe or five foot\nminimum whichever is greater\nThickness six inch minimum\nReinforcement #4 bars at twelve inch centers each way or\nequivalent wire mesh\nthe cushion between the bottom of slab and top of\npipe shall be not less than six inches\nwill be 1.5 sacks Cement Stabilized Sand full\nwidth of cut and from pad to bottom of\nsubgrade,\nVents. One or more vents shall be provided for each casing or series of\ncasings. For casings longer than 150 feet vents should be provided at both\nends. On shorter casings a vent should be located at the high end with a\nmarker placed at the low end. Vents shall be placed at the right-of-way\nline immediately above the pipeline, situated so as not to interfere with\nhighway maintenance or concealed by vegetation. Ownership of the lines\nshall be shown on the vents.\nMarkers. The utility company shall place a readily identifiable and suitable\nmarker at each right-of-way line where it is crossed by any high pressure\ngas or liquid petroleum line except where marked by a vent.\nThe authorized pipeline shall save and hold harmless Harris County against\nany and all liability that it may have or appear to have to any person or\npersons whomsoever by reason of any act or thing that pipeline, its agents,\nservants, employee and contractors may do or cause to be done on the\npremises.\nAny authorized pipeline as used herein, violating any one or all of the\nabove regulations and provisions set forth shall be deemed to be in\ncontempt of this Court, and shall be called to show cause before this Court\nwhy he should not be held in and punished for contempt for his conduct in\nviolation of the above orders and regulations of this Court.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n16\n\n<<<PAGE 17>>>\n\nXIII. XIV. XV. XVI. If any provisions, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this order, or\nthe application of same to any person, firm, limited partnership, joint stock\nassociation, or corporation, or set of circumstances is for any reason held\nto be unconstitutional, void or invalid (or for any reason unenforceable),\nthe validity of the remaining portions of this order or their application to\nother persons, firm, limited partnerships, joint stock associations, or\ncorporations, or set circumstances shall not be affected thereby, it being the\nintent of the Commissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas, in ordering\nthe above regulations and provisions that no portion hereof or provision or\nregulations contained herein shall become inoperative or fail by reason of\nany unconstitutionality or invalidity of any other portion, provision or\nregulation, and to this end, all provisions of this order are declared to be\nseparable.\nEvidence of review by the Commissioners' Court shall be kept on the\njobsite at all times and failure to do so constitutes grounds for job\nshutdown.\nOwners and/or operators of public utility pipelines and/or mains shall not\nbe required to submit formal notice when installing service connections.\nHowever, owners and/or operators shall install these connections in\naccordance with the construction requirements set out herein, and if\nunusual conditions exist that require variation from the requirements, work\nshall not begin until approved by the County Engineer.\nOne of the following bonds payable to Harris County shall accompany\n\"Notice of Proposed Public Utility Pipeline and/or Main Activity within\nHarris County Road Right of Way\" unless one perpetual bond is executed\nas stipulated in following paragraph (3).\n(1) A bond with two good and sufficient personal sureties, a corporate\nsurety bond, or a personal bond, if acceptable to the\nCommissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas, acting in its sole\ndiscretion upon proof being furnished to the satisfaction of said\nCourt as to the financial responsibility of such authorized pipeline\ndesiring to make such crossing and/or crossings, for each crossing\nof such pipeline over a County road right-of-way or for each one\nmile or part of one mile such pipeline runs parallel with and within\nthe boundaries of such County road right-of-way.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n17\n\n<<<PAGE 18>>>\n\n(2) In the event the construction of one continuous pipeline is to be\nmade in, over, across and along several County road rights-of-way,\none such bond covering all construction of such pipeline in, under,\nacross, or along the several County road rights-of-way affected by\nsuch continuous pipeline construction.\n(3) One perpetual bond, executed solely by such authorized pipeline, if\nacceptable to the Commissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas,\nacting in its sole discretion upon proof being furnished to the\nsatisfaction of said Court as to the financial responsibility of such\nauthorized pipeline, such perpetual bond to cover all pipelines\nthereafter laid or constructed by such authorized pipeline in, under,\nacross or along any County road in Harris County, Texas, under the\njurisdiction of the Commissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas.\nThe amount and terms of each of the above bonds to be determined by the\nCommissioners' Court of Harris County, Texas, or the County Engineer of\nHarris County, Texas, and each of the bonds to be conditioned that the\npipeline or pipelines covered thereby be laid, constructed, maintained and\nrepaired so as to comply with the herein established minimum requirements\nand conditions for such laying, constructing, maintaining and repairing of\nsuch pipeline or pipelines, in, under, across, and along such County road\nright-of-way.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\707\\78-05-24\n18","truncated":false,"body_characters":31862}