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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 00-584

NOTICES

PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

Ratification and Adoption of Amendments to Part 192 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations; Doc. No. M-00001347

[30 Pa.B. 1820]

Commissioners Present: Robert K. Bloom, Vice Chairperson; Nora Mead Brownell; Aaron Wilson, Jr.; Terrance Fitzpatrick

Public Meeting held
March 16, 2000

Order

By the Commission:

   At 52 Pa. Code § 59.33(b) the Commission has adopted, excepted as otherwise indicated, the federal safety standards for gas transmission and distribution facilities. The federal standards are established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) at 49 U.S.C. §§ 60101, et seq., and are set forth in Parts 191, 192, 193 and 199 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Section 59.33(b) provides, in pertinent part, that amendments to Title 49 will become effective in Pennsylvania upon the date of entry of a Commission ratification order where that order is served upon all jurisdictional gas companies or, alternatively, upon the date of such order's publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

   A.  On August 27, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 46853, Amendment 192-86 was adopted and codified by the Federal Department of Transportation at 49 CFR 192.801, 192.803, 192.805, 192.807 and 192.809. The purpose of this amendment is to ensure a qualified work force and to reduce the possibility and consequence of incidents caused by human error. It requires pipeline operators to develop and maintain a written qualification program for individuals performing covered tasks on pipeline facilities.

   B.  On October 22, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 56978, Amendment 192-87 was adopted and codified by the Federal Department of Transportation at 49 CFR 192.459. This amendment requires that when gas pipeline operators find harmful external corrosion on buried metallic pipelines that have been exposed, they must investigate further to determine if additional harmful corrosion exists in the vicinity of the original exposure. This new requirement may prevent accidents due to corrosion that might otherwise go undetected near an exposed portion of pipeline.

   C.  On December 14, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 69660, Amendment 192-88 was adopted and codified by the Federal Department of Transportation at 49 CFR 192.309, 192.485, 192.487, 192.711, 192.713 and 192.717. The purpose of this amendment is to adopt safety performance standards for the repair of corroded or damaged steel pipe in gas pipelines and to encourage technological innovations and reduce repair costs without reducing safety.

   Copies of the aforementioned Federal Register publications are attached hereto and are hereby made part of this order.

   Keeping in mind the safety of the public, we have reviewed the above-referenced amendments in accordance with the provisions of 52 Pa. Code § 59.33. Based upon this review, we find the Department of Transportation amendments to be in the public interest and adopt them as our own. The effective date of our adoption of the aforementioned amendments shall be the date upon which this order is entered.

Therefore It Is Ordered That:

   1.  The following amendments adopted by the United States Department of Transportation are hereby ratified and adopted in accordance with the provisions of 52 Pa. Code § 59.33(b):

   (a)  On August 27, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 46853, Amendment 192-86 to 49 CFR 192.801, 192.803, 192.805, 192.807 and 192.809.

   (b)  On October 27, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 56978, Amendment 192-87 to 49 CFR 192.459.

   (c)  On December 14, 1999 at 64 Fed. Reg. 69660, Amendment 192-88 to 49 CFR 192.309, 192.485, 192.487, 192.711, 192.713 and 192.717.

   2.  The Secretary shall serve copies of this order together with its attachments upon all jurisdictional gas utilities. Accordingly, the effective date shall be the entry date of this order. Concurrently, the Secretary shall cause this order, without attachments, to be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

JAMES J. MCNULTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-584. Filed for public inspection March 31, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]


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