{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-91-0102","title":"U. S. House of Representatives Room — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1991-04-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-91-0102 response to U. S. House of Representatives Room concerning 192.707, 195.410.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-91-0102.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-91-0102.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-91-0102","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1991/g91_04_15_Coleman_192.707_msfX.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nPI-91-0102\nApril 15, 1991\nThe Honorable E. Thomas Coleman\nU. S. House of Representatives Room 301\n851 N. W. 45th Street\nKansas City, Missouri 64116\nAttention: Ruth Coffman Dear Congressman\nColeman:\nThis responds to your correspondence of March 22 and April 2, 1991, regarding installation of plastic marker\npoles to identify the location of petroleum pipelines. We have reviewed the enclosures accompanying your\nletters of March 22 and April 2 and have found the questions raised and comments made all deal with the same\nsubject addressed in Ms. Fowler's letter to Congressman Coleman dated February 11, 1991. The letter of\nFebruary 11 was forwarded to us on February 25, 1991, and answered by our letter of April 2. We believe our\nApril 2, 1991; letter (copy enclosed) is responsive to the additional constituent letters enclosed with your letters\nof March 22 and April 2, 1991.\nIf we can be of further assistance, please let us know.\nSincerely,\nOriginal signed by\nGeorge W. Tenley, Jr.\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nApril 2, 1991\nThe Honorable E. Thomas Coleman\nU. S. House of Representatives\n2468 Rayburn House Office Building\nWashington, DC 20515\nDear Congressman Coleman:\nYour recent inquiry transmitted a letter from your constituent, Lana Fowler, to our Office of Congressional\nAffairs. Ms. Fowler, President of the Hidden Lake Homes Association, explained therein that Williams Pipe Line\nCompany (Williams) had installed white plastic marker poles in her neighborhood to identify the location of\npetroleum pipelines. The Association proposes to replace the marker poles with markers flush with the\nground.\nThe markers identify the location of four pipelines in a single corridor that traverse the neighborhood. They\ncarry gasoline, jet fuel, and home heating oil. The federal regulation (49 CFR 195.410) referred to by Ms.\nFowler requires operators such as Williams to mark the presence of pipelines carrying these products by using\nsigns or other objects. The particular type or size of marker is not specified in the regulation, but is left to the\noperator's discretion provided the objectives of the rule - to warn others of the presence of underground\npipelines and to provide an emergency telephone number - are carried out. The importance of pipeline\nmarkers was recognized by Congress in 1988 in the Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Act when the destruction\nor removal of pipeline markers was made subject to criminal penalties.\nAlthough the flush markers recommended by Ms. Fowler may technically be permissible under the pipeline\nsafety regulations, we do not encourage their use because they can become obscured by snow, debris, or\nvegetation. 1 believe the most effective alternative would be an above ground marker that conveys the\nrequired information, but in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Hopefully, this can be worked out in discussions\nbetween Ms. Fowler's homeowners' association and Williams.\nIf we can be of further assistance, please let us know.\nSincerely,\nTravis P. Dungan\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nHouse of Representatives, U.S.\nWashington, D.C.\nDate: April 2, 1991 respectfully referred to:\nMr. George Tenley\nAssociate Administrator of Pipeline Safety\nDepartment of Transportation\n400 Seventh Street, S. E.\nRoom 8417\nWashington, D. C. 20590\nRE: Hidden Lakes Homes Association\nPlease find enclosed additional information concerning pipeline markers installed in the Hidden Lakes area.\nMy original inquiry to you was dated 3/22/91, in the name of Kathryn L. Breckenridge, Kansas City, MO\n64118. Your assistance in this matter would be appreciated.\nThank you.\nCongressman Tom Coleman (6th-MO)\nAttention: Ruth Coffman\n851 N. W. 45th Street, Room 301\nKansas City, Missouri 64116","truncated":false,"body_characters":3822}