Argee — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration Jul 16 1996 Mr. R.G. Musgrove ArGee 1927 Mallard Drive Houston, TX 77043-2619 Dear Mr. Musgrove: I am responding to your letter of June 4, 1996, in which you requested the wording of any regulations requiring pipeline operators to notify residents within a given distance of their pipeline's existence. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) does not require pipeline operators to notify residents within a given distance of their pipeline's existence. The OPS does require natural gas service line operators who do not maintain buried customer piping up to building walls to notify their customers of the need to maintain that piping. A copy of that final rule and its revisions are enclosed. Your letter also requested information on how to obtain detailed maps of pipelines originating in the Houston, Texas, area with geodetic references. The OPS is not aware of any one entity that can provide that information. Pipeline operators maintain maps of their pipeline system but not all operators maintain geodetic references. The Railroad Commission of Texas, ADP Division, in Austin, Texas, is currently creating a pipeline data layer for the pipelines within Texas, but it is not complete. There are also several commercial pipeline mapping vendors that can provide general pipeline locational information. These vendors include PenWell, 1-800-654-3219, MapSearch, 303-259-5660, and Petroleum Information Corporation, 1-800- 756-5333. I trust that this adequately responds to your letter. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Richard D. Huriaux Director for Technology and Standards Office of Pipeline Safety Enclosures 96-07-16 (Part 192).doc (sw/05/07/99) 192.1, 192.16#