§ 78a.68. Oil and gas gathering pipelines.
(a) The requirements of this section apply to all earth disturbance activities associated with oil and gas gathering pipeline installations and supporting facilities including the construction right-of-way, work space areas, pipe storage yards, borrow and disposal areas, access roads and other necessary areas identified on the erosion and sediment control plan. The construction, installation, use, maintenance, repair and removal of oil and gas gathering pipelines under this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapters 102 and 105 (relating to erosion and sediment control; and dam safety and waterway management).
(b) Highly visible flagging, markers or signs shall be used to identify the shared boundaries of the limit of disturbance, wetlands and locations of threatened or endangered species habitat prior to land clearing. The flagging, markers or signs shall be maintained throughout earth disturbance activities and restoration or PCSM activities.
(c) The operator shall maintain topsoil and subsoil during excavation under the following, unless otherwise authorized by the Department:
(1) Topsoil and subsoil must remain segregated until restoration.
(2) Topsoil and subsoil must be prevented from entering watercourses and bodies of water.
(3) Topsoil cannot be used as bedding for pipelines.
(4) Native topsoil and imported topsoil must be of equal or greater quality to ensure the land is capable of supporting the uses that existed prior to earth disturbance.
(d) Backfilling of the gathering pipeline trench shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes soil compaction at the surface to ensure that water infiltration will be sufficient to support the establishment of vegetative growth to meet stabilization or restoration requirements.
(e) Equipment may not be refueled within the floodway or within 50 feet of any body of water.
(f) Materials staging areas must be located outside of a floodway or greater than 50 feet from any body of water, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Department.
(g) All buried metallic gathering pipelines shall be installed and placed in operation in accordance with 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart I or Part 195, Subpart H (relating to requirements for corrosion control; and corrosion control).
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