{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-97-007","title":"Office of Pipeline Safety — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1997-06-17","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-97-007 response to Office of Pipeline Safety concerning 192.615.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-97-007.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-97-007.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-97-007","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1997/PI97007.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n1\nJune 17, 1997\nMr. Edward J. Ondak\nDirector, Western Regional Office\nOffice of Pipeline Safety\nSuite A-250\n12600 W. Colfax Avenue\nLakewood, CO 80215\nDear Mr. Ondak:\nThis responds to your letter of April 22, 1997, about emergency procedures under\n49 CFR 192.615(a)(3)(I) for handling notices of gas detected inside buildings. You ask\nif we have an official position on what operators should tell someone who calls to report\nsmelling gas inside a house. The question arises because some operators tell callers\nto leave the house immediately without first opening windows and doors. In contrast,\nthe traditional response has been to tell callers to open all accessible windows and\ndoors before exiting. In either case, the operator sends personnel to the site to\ninvestigate the report.\nSection 192.615(a)(3)(I) allows operators latitude in responding to notices of gas odor\ninside buildings. As long as an operators response is prompt and is effective in\nminimizing the hazard, there would be little reason, if any, to challenge the\nappropriateness of the operators procedures. Given the pros and cons of taking time\nin a gas emergency to open windows and doors before exiting, we do not think there is\nsufficient reason to challenge the effectiveness of a response that tells callers to exit\nquickly without stopping to open windows and doors.\nIf you need additional information, please contact me.\nSincerely,\nRichard D. Huriaux\nDirector for Technology and Regulations\nOffice of Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":1508}