{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-90-007","title":"Heath and Associates — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1990-02-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-90-007 response to Heath and Associates concerning 192.199.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-007.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-007.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-007","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1990/PI90007.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMr. Charles C. Heath\nHeath and Associates\nP. O. Box 185\n7 North Lafayette Street\nShelby, North Carolina 28150\nDear Mr. Heath:\nYou have requested our opinion whether a monitoring-type regulator station that includes a by-\npass line with a lockable valve meets the design requirements of 49 CFR Part 192. James Stites\nof the South Carolina Public Service Commission, anticipating your request, has sent us copies of\ncorrespondence with you related to an incident in which an individual opened such a by-pass line,\ncausing a downstream main to rupture.\nWe have concluded from our review of applicable regulations that regulator stations designed as\nyou have described are permissible under Part 192. Moreover, we do not believe that the intent\nof the regulations requires installation of a non-isolatable relief device in these stations to provide\nfurther protection against downstream overpressure. The purpose of the regulations that govern\nthe control of pressure at regulator stations is to protect against accidental overpressure caused by\nfailure of a piping component. The regulations are not intended to require the installation of\nhardware to guard against potential overpressure caused by human error, such as opening a by-\npass valve without regard for the consequences.\nOur experience shows that in most cases the best regulatory approach to preventing pipeline\naccidents caused by human error involves requiring personnel to follow detailed operating and\nmaintenance procedures and to undergo training and testing in those procedures. We have\nrulemaking proceedings underway in both areas.\nSincerely,\nGeorge W. Tenley, Jr.\nDirector\nOffice of Pipeline Safety\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\192\\199\\90-02-22\n1","truncated":false,"body_characters":1720}