{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-81-016","title":"City of Wichita Falls — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1981-07-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-81-016 response to City of Wichita Falls concerning 192.3.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-81-016.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-81-016.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-81-016","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1981/PI81016.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nJuly 30, 1981\nMr. Stuart A. Bach\nCity Manager\nCity of Wichita Falls\n1300 7th Street\nP.O. Box 1431\nWichita Falls, Texas 76307\nDear Mr. Bach:\nThis responds to your letter of July 13, 1981, asking several questions about 49 CFR Part 192 and\nthe Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968.\nQuestion 1: Does the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act and its implementing regulations give the\nutility/operator exclusive rights to install, maintain, repair and replace service lines?\nAnswer: The Act and regulations do not alter the right of operators under common or State laws\nto install, maintain, repair, or replace service lines except to establish minimum standards of safety\nthat such activities must meet. Thus, the statute and regulations do not create a right to conduct\nthese activities, but they impose a duty on pipeline operators to make sure they are conducted as\nprescribed.\nQuestion 2: Not applicable.\nQuestion 3: If the answer to question number one is \"no,\" precisely what authorities and\nresponsibilities does the utility/operator possess under the Act and the Code of Federal\nRegulations with regard to service lines? Please identify the applicable statutory and regulatory\nprovisions.\nAnswer: As stated in answer to Question 1, the Act and regulations do not give pipeline\noperators any authority over service lines, but they impose a responsibility to comply with\napplicable safety standards. (49 U.S.C. 1677, 49 CFR Part 192)\nQuestion 4: Under the Act and its implementing regulations and assuming adherence to the safety\nstandards set forth therein, is it permissible for locally licensed plumbers to install new service\nlines and to repair and replace lines determined by the utility/operator to be leaky, corroded,\npotentially hazardous or otherwise unsafe?\nAnswer: The Act and regulations do not prohibit a plumber from repairing or replacing a service\nline, but they make the pipeline operator responsible for assuring that the work is completed in\naccordance with applicable standards. In this regard, there are standards that govern the\ndal\\192\\3\\81-07-30\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nqualifications that any individual must have before working on gas pipelines. For example, a\nwelder must be qualified as provided by §192.227 and a person joining plastic pipe must be\nqualified according to §192.285.\nQuestion 5: If the answer to question number four is \"yes,\" what is the role, if any, of the\nutility/operator relative to inspecting the work performed by licensed plumbers on service lines?\nAnswer: If a plumber performs work on a service line that is subject to Part 192, the operator\nwould be responsible for meeting all inspection requirements in Part 192 applicable to that work,\nalthough the required inspections could actually be done for the operator by the plumber. This\nresponsibility applies equally to service lines owned by the operator and to service lines that are\nowned by the customer. In the latter case, if a customer hires a plumber to work on a service line\nfor which the operator is responsible under Part 192, the operator must take whatever steps are\nnecessary to assure that applicable Part 192 requirements are met.\nQuestion 6: Not applicable.\nSincerely,\nMelvin A. Judah\nActing Associate Director for\nPipeline Safety Regulation\nMaterials Transportation Bureau\ndal\\192\\3\\81-07-30\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":3324}