§192.711 Transmission lines: General requirements for repair procedures.

(a)  Temporary repairs. Each operator [a person who engages in the transportation of gas.] must take immediate temporary measures to protect the public whenever:

(1)  A leak, imperfection, or damage that impairs its serviceability is found in a segment of steel transmission line [a pipeline or connected series of pipelines, other than a gathering line, that: (1) Transports gas from a gathering pipeline or storage facility to a distribution center, storage facility, or large volume customer that is not down-stream from a distribution center; (2) Has an MAOP of 20 percent or more of SMYS; (3) Transports gas within a storage field; or (4) Is voluntarily designated by the operator as a transmission pipeline. Note 1 to transmission line. A large volume customer may receive similar volumes of gas as a distribution center, and includes factories, power plants, and institutional users of gas.] operating at or above 40 percent of the SMYS [specified minimum yield strength is: (1) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with a listed specification, the yield strength specified as a minimum in that specification; or (2) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with an unknown or unlisted specification, the yield strength determined in accordance with § 192.107(b).]; and

(2)  It is not feasible to make a permanent repair at the time of discovery.

(b)  Permanent repairs. An operator must make permanent repairs on its pipeline [all parts of those physical facilities through which gas moves in transportation, including pipe, valves, and other appurtenance attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator stations, delivery stations, holders, and fabricated assemblies.] system according to the following:

(1)

(i) Non-integrity management repairs for gathering lines and offshore [beyond the line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast of the United States that is in direct contact with the open seas and beyond the line marking the seaward limit of inland waters.] transmission lines: For gathering lines subject to this section in accordance with § 192.9 and for offshore transmission lines, an operator must make permanent repairs as soon as feasible.

(ii) Non-integrity management repairs for onshore transmission lines: Except for gathering lines exempted from this section in accordance with § 192.9 and offshore transmission lines, after May 24, 2023, whenever an operator discovers any condition that could adversely affect the safe operation of a pipeline segment not covered by an integrity management program under subpart O of this part, it must correct the condition as prescribed in § 192.714.

(c)  Welded patch. Except as provided in §192.717(b)(3), no operator may use a welded patch as a means of repair.

[Amdt. 192-114, 75 FR 48604, Aug. 11, 2010; Amdt. 192-132, 87 52224, Aug, 23, 2022]