# Pipeline Safety Interpretation PI-83-0107

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** PI-83-0107
- **title:** Pipeline Safety Interpretation PI-83-0107
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1983-08-04
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** PI-83-0107 concerning 192.463.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-83-0107
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1984/g83-08-04_Poole_192.463%20-%20lmxs.pdf
**body:**

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PI-83-0107
August 4 1983
Mr. Charles L Poole, P.E.
O'Malley & Clay, Inc.
P.O. Box 1976
505 Green Street
Brenham, TX 77833
Dear Mr. Poole:
Your letter 04 July 19, 1983, asks three specific questions concerning 49 CFR Section 192.469, External corrosion control:
Test stations, as it applies to a catholically protected steel natural gas distribution system. These questions are as
follows:
1. Do the services provide "sufficient" test stations?
2. If not, at what frequency, or spacing, should additional test stations be installed?
3. If the services were not electrically connected to the main, or were widely scattered, what should the test
station spacing be?
If the service lines are electrically continuous with the mains, they may be used as test stations. Spacing of test stations
along the pipeline system will vary widely depending upon the type of soil, moisture, quality of pipe coating, size of pipe,
type of cathodic protection system, level of cathodic protection, etc. Whatever the number and spacing of test points
along a cathodically protected pipeline, they must be adequate to show that the cathodic protection level along the
entire length of pipeline meets the requirements of Section. 192.463. With so many variables involved, the distance
between test stations must be based on the judgment of a person qualified by experience and training in pipeline
corrosion control methods for the specific installation and conditions.
We hope this provides the information you are seeking.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Beam
Associate Director for
Pipeline Sanity Regulation
Materials Transportation Bureau

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O’Malley & Clay, Inc.
P.O. Box 1976
505 Green Street
Brenham, Texas 77833
July 19, 1983
Mr. Richard L. Beam
Associate Director for
Pipeline Safety Regulation
Materials Transportation Bureau U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Re: 49 CFR 192.469 External Corrosion Control: Test Stations.
Dear Mr. Beam:
We wish to quantify the term "sufficient" contained in the referenced paragraph.
Enclosed is a typical print of a portion of a cathodically protected steel natural gas distribution system owned by a client.
There is electrical continuity between gas services and mains. Pipe-to-soil potential readings can be made at meter
risers.
Our questions are these. Do the services provide "sufficient" test stations? If not, at what frequency, or spacing, should
additional test stations be installed? If the services were not electrically connected to the main, or were widely
scattered, what should the test station spacing be?
We are most appreciative of any information or assistance you can provide.
Sincerely,
Charles I. Poole, P.E.
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