Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 420 - SAFETY STANDARDS FOR NATURAL GAS AND LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITY OPERATORS › Section 407-420-2 - Definitions

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Building.
"Building" means
				any structure that is regularly or periodically occupied by people.
B.
Chapter 130
"Chapter 130"
				means Chapter 130 of the rules of the MPUC, 65-407 C.M.R. ch. 130.
C.
Chapter 140.
"Chapter 140"
				means Chapter 140 of the rules of the MPUC, 65-407 C.M.R. ch. 140.
D.
Chapter 895.
"Chapter 895"
				means Chapter 895 of the rules of the MPUC, 65-407 C.M.R. ch. 895.
E.
Consolidated Rock.
"Consolidated rock" means rock that is firm and coherent, solidified, or
				cemented, such as granite, gneiss, limestone, shale, or sandstone that has not
				been decomposed by weathering.
F.
Critical Valve.
"Critical valve" means any valve whose use may be
				necessary for the safe operation of a distribution system.
G.
DIMP.
"DIMP" means an
				operator's Distribution Integrity Management Program written plan required as
				part of 49 C.F.R., Subpart P.
H.
Enclosure.
"Enclosure" means a protective structure that protects
				its contents from intrusion and/or weather.
I.
Gas.
"Gas" means natural gas,
				flammable gas, or gas which is toxic or corrosive including mixtures of propane
				and air when introduced to natural gas transmission and distribution systems,
				but not distribution systems dedicated exclusively to liquefied propane
				gas.
J.
Gas Safety
				Staff.
"Gas Safety Staff" means the MPUC Director of Consumer Assistance
				and Safety, the MPUC Gas Safety Manager, MPUC Pipeline Safety Inspectors, and
				any MPUC Staff Attorney or Utility Analyst assigned by the MPUC to regularly
				support the MPUC's pipeline safety program.
K.
Global Positioning System
				(GPS).
"Global positioning system" or "GPS" means a satellite navigation
				system used to determine the ground position of an object.
L.
Independent Proctor.
"Independent Proctor" means a representative of an outside testing or
				qualifying organization or agency administering a given test, or, if testing is
				not administered by an outside organization or agency, a supervisor, manager,
				or consultant directly employed by the operator.
M.
Leakage Survey.
"Leakage
				Survey" means a survey of gas facilities employing industry accepted testing
				equipment and effective procedures, including atmospheric tests in available
				openings and bar holes to locate leaks in gas systems.
N.
Leak Progression Map.
"Leak
				Progression Map" means a map of the transmission and distribution system of the
				operator, drawn to a suitable scale, upon which there is indicated in a
				suitable code the leaks found to exist in the system during an indicated
				reporting period.
O.
Main.
"Main" means a distribution line that serves as a common
				source of supply for one or more service lines.
P.
MAOP.
"MAOP" means Maximum
				Allowable Operating Pressure pursuant to
				49
				C.F.R. §
										192.619.
Q.
Master Meter System.
"Master
				Meter System" means a pipeline system for distributing gas within a definable
				area, such as, but not limited to, a mobile home park, housing project, or
				apartment complex, where the operator purchases metered gas from an outside
				source for resale through a gas distribution pipeline system to supply gas
				using equipment operated by the ultimate consumer who either purchases the gas
				directly through a meter or by other means, such as by rents.
R.
MPUC.
"MPUC" means the Maine
				Public Utilities Commission.
S.
NFPA.
"NFPA" means the National Fire Protection Association, and
				any number following "NFPA" (e.g., "NFPA 54") refers to the applicable code or
				standard published by the NFPA.
T.
Operator.
"Operator" means a person who operates gas pipeline
				facilities on his or her own behalf, or as an agent designated by the owner.
				Operator includes all operators of gas utilities defined as a "Gas Utility" in
				 35-A M.R.S.
				§102(8), all operators
				of gas pipelines as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 192 except liquid propane gas
				distribution systems, and all operators of natural gas pipeline utilities as
				defined as "Natural Gas Pipeline Utility" in
				35-A M.R.S.
				§102(10).
U.
Pipeline System.
"Pipeline
				system" means all parts of those physical facilities through which gas moves in
				transportation, including, but not limited to, pipe, valves, and other
				appurtenances attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator
				stations, delivery stations, holders, and fabricated assemblies.
V.
PHMSA.
"PHMSA" means U.S.
				Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
				Administration.
W.
Pipe
				Appurtenance.
"Pipe Appurtenance" means any instrument or equipment
				permanently affixed to a natural gas transmission line, main, or service line.
				Pipe appurtenances include, but are not limited to, valves, tees, and
				couplings.
X.
Prosecutorial
				Staff
. "Prosecutorial Staff" means MPUC Staff assigned as advocates in
				an enforcement proceeding under this Chapter. Prosecutorial Staff are parties
				to an enforcement proceeding under this Chapter and are not "advisory staff" as
				that term is used in Title 35-A of the Maine Revised Statutes and Chapter 110
				of the MPUC's Rules.
Y.
Service Line.
"Service Line" means the distribution line that
				transports gas from a common source of supply, such as a main, to an individual
				customer meter or to multiple customer meters as defined in
				49 C.F.R. §
										192.3. A service line ends at the outlet of
				the customer meter or at the connection to a customer's piping, whichever is
				furthest downstream, or at the connection to customer piping if there is no
				meter.
Z.
Underground
				Obstruction.
"Underground obstruction" means one or more sub-surface
				structures, including other utility infrastructure, that would require the
				lowering of the natural gas facility to a depth greater than 48" to obtain
				separation distances required by this Chapter. Consolidated rock is not an
				underground obstruction.