The new regulations define a “regulated rural gathering line” as a line (1) between 6-5/8 and 8-5/8 inches in diameter, (2) operating at more than 20% of SMYS (or, if stress level is unknown or the pipeline is not constructed with steel pipe, at a pressure of more than 125 psi gage), and (3) located in or within a quarter mile of a “unusually sensitive area” (USA) (i.e., an area that contains sole-source drinking water, endangered species, or other ecological resources that could be adversely affected by a hazardous liquid pipeline accident or leak). Operators of rural gathering lines meeting these criteria must comply with pipeline safety requirements that address corrosion and third-party damage. In particular, operators of these lines must establish maximum operating pressure, install and maintain line markers, establish continuing public education and damage prevention programs, comply with corrosion control requirements, implement programs for continuously identifying operating conditions that could contribute to internal corrosion (including measures to prevent and mitigate internal corrosion), and comply with operator qualification programs. In addition, operators of regulated rural gathering lines must comply with Subpart B’s reporting requirements. Depending on the nature of the specific regulatory requirement, the compliance deadlines range from January 2009 to July 2011.
Reflecting the phased approach proposed in the Supplemental Notice, the new regulations require that larger-diameter rural low-stress pipelines (i.e., pipelines 8-5/8 inches or greater in diameter operating at or below 20% SMYS and located within a one-half mile buffer zone of a USA) comply with all Part 195 safety requirements. For integrity management purposes PHMSA will permit pipeline operators to use a “could affect” analysis in lieu of the half-mile buffer in determining which portions of their pipelines could affect a USA. Under a “could affect” analysis, an operator evaluates various risk factors, such as local topography and shutdown ability, to determine if a pipeline could affect a USA.
New steel gathering lines constructed, replaced, relocated, or otherwise changed after July 3, 2009, must comply with Part 195’s installation, construction, initial inspection and initial testing requirements. For pipelines that become regulated because of the identification of a new USA, an operator must implement the regulatory requirements (except for Subpart H corrosion control requirements) within 6 months of identifying the USA for gathering lines and within 12 months of identifying low-stress pipelines.
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