General Applicability and Standards

(a)Applicability.#

(1)The rules in this chapter establish minimum standards of accepted good practice and apply to:#

(A)all gas pipeline facilities and facilities used in the intrastate transportation of gas, including LPG distribution systems and master metered systems, as provided in 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§60101, et seq.; and Texas Utilities Code, §§121.001 - 121.507;#

(B)onshore production pipelines and production facilities, in Class 2, 3, or 4 locations as defined by 49 CFR §192.5, beginning after the first point of measurement and ending as defined by 49 CFR Part 192 as the beginning of an onshore gathering line. These production pipelines and production facilities shall be subject to 49 CFR §192.8(c) in determining if these pipelines and facilities are Type A or Type B and are subject to the rules in 49 CFR §192.9 for Type A or Type B pipelines;#

(C)the intrastate pipeline transportation of hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide and all intrastate pipeline facilities as provided in 49 U.S.C. §§60101, et seq.; and Texas Natural Resources Code, §117.011 and §117.012; and#

(D)all pipeline facilities originating in Texas waters (three marine leagues and all bay areas). These pipeline facilities include those production and flow lines originating at the well. These facilities shall be subject to 49 CFR Part 192 for natural gas pipelines and 49 CFR Part 195 for hazardous liquid pipelines.#

(2)The regulations do not apply to those facilities and transportation services subject to federal jurisdiction under: 15 U.S.C. §§717, et seq.; or 49 U.S.C. §§60101, et seq.#

(b)Minimum safety standards. The Commission adopts by reference the following provisions, as modified in this chapter, effective December 9, 2024.#

(1)Natural gas pipelines, including LPG distribution systems and master metered systems, shall be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with 49 U.S.C. §§60101, et seq.; 49 Code of Federal Regulations#

(CFR)Part 191, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline; Annual Reports, Incident Reports, and Safety- Related Condition Reports; 49 CFR Part 192, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Federal Safety Standards; and 49 CFR Part 193, Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards.#

(2)Hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide pipelines shall comply with 49 U.S.C. §§60101, et seq.; and 49 CFR Part 195, Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline.#

(3)All operators of pipelines and/or pipeline facilities, except operators that only operate one or more master meter systems, as defined in 49 CFR §191.3, shall comply with 49 CFR Part 199, Drug and Alcohol Testing, and 49 CFR Part 40, Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs.#

(4)All operators of pipelines and/or pipeline facilities regulated by this chapter, other than master metered systems and distribution systems, shall comply with §3.70 of this title (relating to Pipeline Permits Required).#

(c)Special situations. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the Commission, after notice and hearing, from prescribing more stringent standards in particular situations. In special circumstances, the Commission may require the following:#

(1)Any operator which cannot determine to its satisfaction the standards applicable to special circumstances may request in writing the Commission's advice and recommendations. In a special case, and for good cause shown, the Commission may authorize exemption, modification, or temporary suspension of any of the provisions of this chapter, pursuant to the provisions of §8.125 of this title (relating to Waiver Procedure).#

(2)If an operator transports gas and/or operates pipeline facilities which are in part subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and in part subject to the Department of Transportation pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §§60101, et seq.; the operator may request in writing to the Commission that all of its pipeline facilities and transportation be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. If the operator files a written statement under oath that it will fully comply with the federal safety rules and regulations, the Commission may grant an exemption from compliance with this chapter.#

(d)Retention of DOT filings. A person filing any document or information with the Department of Transportation pursuant to the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 190, 191, 192, 193, 195, or 199 shall retain a copy of that document or information. Such person is not required to concurrently file that document or information with the Division unless another rule in this chapter requires the document or information to be filed with the Division or unless the Division requests a copy.#

(e)Penalties. A person who submits incorrect or false information with the intent of misleading the Commission regarding any material aspect of an application or other information required to be filed at the Commission may be penalized as set out in Texas Natural Resources Code, §§117.051 - 117.054, and/or Texas Utilities Code, §§121.206 - 121.210, and the Commission may dismiss with prejudice to refiling an application containing incorrect or false information or reject any other filing containing incorrect or false information.#

(f)Retroactivity. Nothing in this chapter shall be applied retroactively to any existing intrastate pipeline facilities concerning design, fabrication, installation, or established operating pressure, except as required by the Office of Pipeline Safety, Department of Transportation. All intrastate pipeline facilities shall be subject to the other safety requirements of this chapter.#

(g)Compliance deadlines. Operators shall comply with the applicable requirements of this section according to the following guidelines.#

(1)Each operator of a pipeline and/or pipeline facility that is new, replaced, relocated, or otherwise changed shall comply with the applicable requirements of this section at the time the pipeline and/or pipeline facility goes into service.#

(2)An operator whose pipeline and/or pipeline facility was not previously regulated but has become subject to regulation pursuant to the changed definition in 49 CFR Part 192 and subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section shall comply with the applicable requirements of this section no later than the stated date:#

(A)for cathodic protection (49 CFR Part 192), March 1, 2012;#

(B)for damage prevention (49 CFR 192.614), September 1, 2010;#

(C)to establish an MAOP (49 CFR 192.619), March 1, 2010;#

(D)for line markers (49 CFR 192.707), March 1, 2011;#

(E)for public education and liaison (49 CFR 192.616), March 1, 2011; and#

(F)for other provisions applicable to Type A gathering lines (49 CFR 192.8(c)), March 1, 2011.#

Source Note: The provisions of this §8.1 adopted to be effective November 24, 2004, 29 TexReg 10733; amended to be effective May 15, 2005, 30 TexReg 2849; amended to be effective January 30, 2006, 31 TexReg 480; amended to be effective March 2, 2009, 34 TexReg 1414; amended to be effective August 30, 2010, 35 TexReg 7743; amended to be effective August 6, 2012, 37 TexReg 5738; amended to be effective October 6, 2014, 39 TexReg 7916; amended to be effective October 30, 2017, 42 TexReg 6014; amended to be effective January 6, 2020, 45 TexReg 121; amended to be effective September 13, 2021, 46 TexReg 5767; amended to be effective December 9, 2024, 49 TexReg 9960.#