{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-83-009","title":"Memo: Internal — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1983-06-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-83-009 response to Memo: Internal concerning 192.321.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-83-009.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-83-009.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-83-009","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1983/PI83009.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nJune 27, 1983\nINFORMATION: Interpretation - §192.321(b)\nRichard L. Beam\nAssociate Director for Pipeline Safety Regulation, DMT-30\nRichard E. Sanders\nProgram Manager\nPipeline Safety Program, TSI, DMA-60\nIn response to your memo of May 3, 1983, requesting an inter-\npretation of §192.321(b) relative to the intent of the phrase \"a vault or any other below grade\nenclosure,\" OPSR has reviewed the problem. Attached is a pipeline safety regulatory\ninterpretation relative to your question.\n#\nAttachment\ndal\\192\\321\\83-06-27\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nNo. 83-7\nDate: June 27, 1983\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nRESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION\nMATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU\n_\nPIPELINE SAFETY REGULATORY INTERPRETATION\nNote: This pipeline\nsafety regulatory interpretation applies to all\noperators that are subject to the rule under\nFederal or State law.\nSECTION: 192.321(b)\nSUBJECT: Installation of plastic pipe.\nFACTS:\n1. 2. 3. §192.321(b) reads, \"Plastic pipe that is installed in a vault or any other below grade\nenclosure must be completely encased in gas-tight metal pipe and fittings that are\nadequately protected from corrosion.\"\nSome operators are installing plastic valve boxes at the property line and bringing a small\nloop of the plastic service line into the plastic valve box. Also, some operators are placing\nconcrete meter boxes, plastic valve boxes, and other similar configurations on existing\nlateral lines. Both of these are installed so that in an emergency the operator can quickly\nstop the gas flow by squeezing off the plastic pipe.\nSome operators are inserting polyethylene plastic pipe into PVC for road crossings.\nQUESTION: Would §192.321(b) prohibit these installations?\nINTERPRETATION:\nNone of the cases discussed above are included in the intended meaning of \"a vault or any other\nbelow grade enclosure\" as used in §192.321(b). The intent of this section is to require protection\nagainst mechanical or heat damage of plastic pipe and, in the event of a failure, protect the\noccupants of a vault or other below grade enclosure from the effects of escaping gas. If 2\ndal\\192\\321\\83-06-27\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nthe plastic pipe in the installations described above is not subject to anticipated mechanical\ndamage or heat damage and the space is not subject to human occupancy, then the casing would\nserve no useful purpose. However, with regard to the road crossing insertions, if plastic pipe is\nused as a casing \"on a transmission line or main under a railroad or highway,\" it must meet the\nrequirements of §192.323, also.\nRichard L. Beam\nAssociate Director for\nPipeline Safety Regulation\nMaterials Transportation Bureau\ndal\\192\\321\\83-06-27\n3\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nDATE: May 3, 1983\nSUBJECT: ACTION: Request Code Interpretation - Subpart 192.321(b)\nFROM: Richard E. Sanders\nProgram Manager, Pipeline Safety Program\nTO:Richard L. Beams\nAssociate Director, Office of Pipeline Safety Regulations, DMT-30\nI find in Rule 192.321, \"Installation of Plastic Pipe\", (b) that plastic pipe that is\ninstalled in a vault or any other below-ground enclosure must be completely\nencased in a gas-tight metal pipe and fittings that are adequately protected from\ncorrosion. I have noted several situations in talking with operators throughout the\ncountry concerning this section. Some operators are installing plastic valve boxes\nat the property line and bringing a small loop of 1/2\" CTS plastic into the plastic\nvalve box. Also some operators are placing concrete meter boxes, plastic valve\nboxes, and other similar configurations on existing lateral lines so that in an\nemergency the operator can go to these below-ground enclosures and squeeze off\nthe plastic pipe without having to put in valves.\nSince 192.321 is in the construction subpart of the code, I am wondering whether\nor not new construction using these practices would meet the intent of 192.321.\nAlso, I am concerned about systems where this practice is being used a retrofit\nwhich would fall under the maintenance section of the code and in turn, I cannot\nfind anything under the maintenance section that would give guidance on whether\nor not this would be acceptable.\nAnother area of concern is that some operators are inserting polyethylene plastic\npipe into PVC (poly vinyl chloride plastic) for road crossings. Would the\nrequirements of 192.321 disallow this practice because of the requirements\nindicated in (b) of 192.321?\nYour assistance and comments on these areas would be appreciated.\n#\nResearch and Special Programs Administration\ndal\\192\\321\\83-06-27\n4\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\n49 CFR Part 192\n[Interpretation 83-7]\nTransportation of Natural and Other Gas by\nPipeline; Installation of Plastic Pipe\nAGENCY: Materials Transportation Bureau (MTB),\nResearch and Special Programs Administration, DOT.\nACTION: Interpretation.\nSUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs\nAdministration (RSPA) is issuing this interpretation of\nthe phrase \"vault or any other below grade enclosure\" as\nit appears that phrase appears in paragraph (b) of\n§192.321, installation of plastic pipe. The interpretation\nwas requested by the Office of Enforcement field\ncompliance staff. This interpretation clarifies the intent\nof the phrase.\nEFFECTIVE DATE: August 22, 1983.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:\nPaul J. Cory, (202)426-2082.\nSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:\nInterpretation 83-7.\nSection: §192.321(b).\nSubject: Installation of plastic pipe.\nFacts\n1. Section 192.321(b) reads, \"Plastic pipe that is\ninstalled in a vault or any other below grade enclosure\nmust be completely encased in gas-tight metal pipe and\nfittings that are adequately protected from corrosion.\"\n2. Some operators are installing plastic valve boxes at\nthe property line and bringing a small loop of the plastic\nservice line into the plastic valve box. Also, some\noperators are placing concrete meter boxes, plastic valve\nboxes, and other similar configurations on existing\nlateral lines. Both of these are installed so that in an\nemergency the operator can quickly stop the gas flow by\nsqueezing off the plastic pipe.\n3. Some operators are inserting polyethylene plastic\npipe into PVC for road crossings.\nQuestion: Would §192.321(b) prohibit these\ninstallations?\nInterpretation: None of the cases discussed above are\nincluded in the intended meaning of \"a vault or any other\nbelow grade enclosure\" as used in §192.321(b). The\nintent of this section is to require protection against\ndal\\192\\321\\83-06-27\nmechanical or heat damage of plastic pipe and, in the\nevent of a failure, protect the occupants of a vault or\nother below grade enclosure from the effects of escaping\ngas. If the plastic pipe in the installations described\nabove is not subject to anticipated mechanical damage\nor heat damage and the space is not subject to human\noccupancy, then the casing would serve no useful\npurpose. However, with regard to the road crossing\ninsertions, if plastic pipe is used as a casing \"on a\ntransmission line or mail under a railroad or highway,\" it\nmust meet the requirements of §192.323, also.\nLists of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 192\nPipeline safety.\n(49 U.S.C. 1672 and 1804; 49 CFR 1.53, Appendix A\nto Part 1, and Appendix A to Part 106)\nIssued in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 1983.\nRichard L. Beam,\nAssociate Director for Pipeline Safety Regulation,\nMaterials Transportation Bureau.\n5","truncated":false,"body_characters":7303}