Page 22 - Alabama811

The Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations (PSRs) are found at 49 CFR Parts 190 – 199. I haven’t counted the number of pages but the real guts of the PSRs are in three parts: Part 192 - Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline; Part 193 - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities; and Part 195 - Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline. Less than 600 pages total.
A pipeline is a pipeline, right? Not exactly. The single
biggest distinction is between liquid lines and gas lines. If
the contents are a hazardous liquid (petroleum, petroleum products, anhydrous ammonia, and ethanol or other non- petroleum fuel, including biofuel, which is flammable, toxic, or would be harmful to the environment if released in significant quantities), Part 195 probably applies. If the contents of the pipeline are a gas (natural gas, flammable gas, or gas which
is toxic or corrosive), Part 192 applies. LNG is a bit different. Part 193 applies to LNG facilities (facilities that are used for liquefying natural gas or synthetic gas or transferring, storing,
By John Jacobi
or vaporizing liquefied natural gas) that are connected to any pipeline regulated under Part 192. Think refinery or factory when talking about LNG facilities.
I can’t get into the nuances of all the different types
of pipelines and the rules and regulations that apply depending on where they are located and what they are used for. It is, however, mind boggling. In my opinion, the PSRs could be greatly simplified. Will that ever happen? Given the red tape associated with making new rules or even changing old rules, almost certainly not in my lifetime.
The PSRs are incredibly complex. But if you want to
get REALLY COMPLEX, try the Federal environmental regulations found in 40 CFR. Instead of 10 parts found in the PSRs (49 CFR), 40 CFR has 799 parts published in the electronic code of federal regulations (www.ecfr.gov) in 35 volumes!!
But this column is about pipelines and pipeline safety.
My advice: Leave the design, construction, operation,
and maintenance of transportation pipelines to the professionals. If you are sticking a shovel into the ground, CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!! There may be an underground utility (including a pipeline) that, if you hit it, can kill you and anyone close by. Even if you don’t get killed or injured, if you damage the underground utility, it could fail later cutting off power or communications or, in the case of a pipeline, eventually causing a rupture or leak which will result in at least environmental damage if not injury or death.
The goal is to keep whatever is in the pipeline IN the pipeline. If that happens, no one will get hurt and no one will get killed. The best way to avoid damaging a pipeline is to CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!! Wait until the site has been marked and follow the marks (i.e., hand dig until
you are sure you have found the underground utility(ies).
If something doesn’t seem right, STOP and figure it out. Pipeline incidents are relatively infrequent given the millions of miles of pipe in the ground. But when it hits the fan, really bad things can happen. You don’t want to be anywhere close when a pipeline ruptures. Even a slow leak can end up in a fire or an explosion.
Stay warm this winter. We have already had at least one cold spell this year and my guess is that there will be at least one more. At the risk of being redundant, always CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!!
John Jacobi retired from PHMSA. For questions or comments, email: jjacobi@sbcglobal.net
Pipelines and Pipeline Safety
20 • Alabama 811
2024, Issue 1