Pennsylvania Code › Title 52 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part I - Public Utility Commission › Subpart C - Fixed Service Utilities › Chapter 59 - GAS SERVICE › SERVICE AND FACILITIES › Section 59.36 - Abandonment of inactive service lines

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
A public utility shall have a plan for abandoning
						inactive service lines under 49 CFR 192.727 (relating to
						abandonment or inactivation of facilities) as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent
						amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under §
											59.33 (relating to safety), and
						shall have a copy of its plan available for inspection. The plan shall require
						the following:
(1) Service lines which
					 are not constructed of noncorrosive material or part of a cathodic protection
					 system which have been inactive for 3 months and for which there is no prospect
					 of reuse shall be scheduled for abandonment under
					 49 CFR
					 192.727 as of May 1, 1986 and subsequent
					 amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under §
											59.33, as soon as practicable but
					 not later than 6 months after it has been determined there is no prospect for
					 reuse.
(2) Service lines which have
					 been inactive for 3 months and for which there is a reasonable prospect of
					 future use shall be shut off under
					 49 CFR
					 192.727(d) as of May 1, 1986
					 and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission
					 under § 59.33. A review of the status of inactive lines shall be made
					 annually, at periods not exceeding 15 months. Lines which no longer qualify for
					 retention shall be abandoned under paragraph (1).
(3) Inactive service lines shall be leakage
					 surveyed periodically under 49 CFR 192.723 (relating to
					 distribution systems; leakage surveys and procedures) as of May 1, 1986 and
					 subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under
					 § 59.33. An inactive service line found to be leaking shall be abandoned
					 immediately if hazardous. If the leak is not hazardous, the line shall be
					 abandoned within 3 months or repaired within this time period if the line is
					 constructed of noncorrosive material or part of a cathodic protection
					 system.
(4) Unrecorded inactive
					 service lines discovered in the course of leakage surveillance, construction,
					 maintenance or inspection of facilities shall be abandoned as follows: If
					 leaking, abandon immediately; if not leaking, abandon as soon as practicable
					 but not more than 10 days after discovery.
(5) If a building is to be demolished or if
					 there will be a major excavation of property on which there is an active or
					 inactive service line, and if there is no reasonable prospect of future use,
					 the service line shall be abandoned at the main under paragraph (1). If there
					 is a reasonable prospect of future use, the service line may be abandoned at
					 the curb or property like and its status shall be reviewed annually, at periods
					 not exceeding 15 months, under paragraph (2). The service line shall be
					 disconnected either at the main or property line prior to demolition or
					 excavation.