Section R14-5-207. Master Meter System Operators

A.      Applicability: This Section applies to the construction, recon- struction, repair, emergency procedures, operation, and main- tenance of all master meter systems.

B.       An operator of a master meter system shall comply with this Section as a condition of receiving service from a provider. Noncompliance with this Section by an operator of a master meters system constitutes grounds for termination of service by the provider when informed in writing by the Office of Pipeline Safety. In case of an emergency, the Office of Pipeline Safety may give the provider oral instructions to terminate ser- vice, with written confirmation to be furnished within 24 hours.

C.      Each operator of a master meter system shall comply with all applicable requirements of 49 CFR 192, as incorporated by reference in R14-5-202.

D.      An operator of a master meter system shall:

1.        Establish an Operation and Maintenance Plan, including an emergency plan; and

2.        At all times, maintain a copy of the Operation and Main- tenance Plan at the master meter system location.

E.       An operator of a master meter system shall:

1.        Ensure that no part of a gas pipeline system is constructed under a building and that no building is placed over any portion of a gas pipeline system; and

2.        Upon discovering that a building is located over a portion of a gas pipeline system, complete one of the following within 180 days:

a.         Remove the building from over the pipeline,

b.        Relocate the pipeline, or

c.         Discontinue service to the portion of the pipeline system located under the building.

F.       An operator of a master meter system shall not install Acrylo- nitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) or aluminum pipe in the mas- ter meter system.

G.      An operator of a master meter system that constructs a pipeline or any portion thereof using plastic pipe shall install, at a mini- mum, a 14-gauge coated or corrosion resistant, electrically conductive wire as a means of locating the pipe while it is underground. Tracer wire shall not be wrapped around the plastic pipe. Tracer wire may be taped or attached to the pipe in another manner, provided that the adhesive or attachment is not detrimental to the integrity of the pipe wall.

H.      An operator of a master meter system that constructs an under- ground pipeline using plastic pipe shall bury the installed pipe with at least 6 inches of sandy type soil, free of any rock or debris, surrounding the pipe for bedding and shading, unless the pipe is otherwise protected as approved by the Office of Pipeline Safety. Steel pipe shall be installed with at least 6 inches of sandy type soil, free of any debris or materials injuri- ous to the pipe coating, surrounding the pipe for bedding and shading, unless the pipe is otherwise protected as approved by the Office of Pipeline Safety.

I.        An operator of a master meter system that constructs an under- ground pipeline using plastic pipe shall install the pipe with

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sufficient slack to allow for thermal expansion and contrac- tion. In addition, all plastic pipe and fittings for use in an area with service temperatures above 100º F shall be marked CD, CE, CF, or CG as required by ASTM D2513 (1995), incorpo- rated by reference in R14-5-202 and available from the Office of Pipeline Safety.

J.        An operator of a master meter system shall qualify welding procedures and shall ensure that welding of steel pipelines is performed in accordance with API Standard 1104, as incorpo- rated by reference in 49 CFR 192.7 and R14-5-202, by welders qualified pursuant to API Standard 1104.

K.      An operator of a master meter system shall ensure that all repair work performed on an existing master meter system complies with this Article.

L.       An operator of a master meter system shall:

1.        Ensure that each underground steel pipeline is protected against external corrosion with an external protective coating meeting the requirements of 49 CFR 192.461;

2.        When installing a new underground steel pipeline system, before placing the new pipeline system into service, pro- vide a cathodic protection system designed to protect the new pipeline system in its entirety;

3.        When repairing, partially replacing, or relocating an existing underground steel pipeline system, within  45 days after completing the repair, replacement, or reloca- tion, provide a cathodic protection system designed to protect the pipeline system; and

4.        Ensure that each cathodic protection system has a voltage of at least negative 0.85 volts direct current (-0.85Vdc) as measured using a saturated copper-copper sulfate half cell.

M.     An operator of a master meter system shall ensure that no por- tion of an underground gas system is installed less than 8 inches away from any other underground structure.

N.      At least 30 days before commencing construction of any pipe- line, an operator of a master meter system shall file with the Office of Pipeline Safety a Notice of Construction that includes at least the following information:

1.        The dates projected for commencing and completing con- struction,

2.        The size and type of pipe to be used,

3.        The location of construction, and

4.        The MAOP for the new pipeline.

O.      An operator of a master meter system shall:

1.        Perform leakage surveys at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year, using leak detection procedures approved by the Office of Pipeline Safety;

2.        Except for LPG, perform each leakage survey in accor- dance with ASME Guide for Gas Transmission and Dis- tribution Pipeline System, Guide Material, Appendix G- 11-1983, other than 4.4(c), as incorporated by reference in R14-5-202(Q);

3.        For LPG, perform each leakage survey in accordance with ASME Guide for Gas Transmission and Distribution Pipeline System, Guide Material, Appendix G-11A-1983, as incorporated by reference in R14-5-202(Q); and

4.        Repair each grade 1 leak immediately upon discovery, each grade 2 leak within 30 days of discovery, and each grade 3 leak within one year of discovery.

P.       In the event of an unknown failure of a gas pipeline resulting in a master meter operator’s being required to provide a report under subsection (Q) and in the operator’s removing a portion of the failed pipeline, the following shall occur:

1.        The operator shall retain the portion of failed pipeline that was removed;

2.        The operator shall telephonically notify the Office of Pipeline Safety of the removal within two hours after the removal is completed, providing the following informa- tion:

a.         Identity of the failed pipeline,

b.        Description and location of the failure,

c.         Date and time of the removal,

d.        Length or quantity of the removed portion,

e.         Storage location of the removed portion, and

f.         Any additional information about the failure or the removal of the portion of the failed pipeline that is requested by the Office of Pipeline Safety;

3.        Within 48 hours after receiving telephonic notification pursuant to subsection (Q)(2), the Office of Pipeline Safety shall:

a.         Determine, based on the information provided by the operator and the availability, adequacy, and reli- ability of any pipeline testing laboratory operated by the operator, whether it is necessary to have the removed portion of pipeline tested at an independent laboratory; and

b.        Telephonically notify the operator either:

i.         That the operator must have the removed por- tion of pipeline tested, in accordance with Office of Pipeline Safety directions, by an inde- pendent laboratory selected by the Office of Pipeline Safety as provided in subsection (P)(6), to determine the cause or causes of the failure; or

ii.        That the operator is not required to have the removed portion of pipeline tested by an inde- pendent laboratory and instead must conduct testing in its own pipeline testing laboratory, after which the operator may discard the removed portion of pipeline;

4.        After providing telephonic notice as provided in subsec- tion (P)(3)(b), the Office of Pipeline Safety shall confirm its notification in writing;

5.        If the Office of Pipeline Safety directs testing by an inde- pendent laboratory:

a.         The Office of Pipeline Safety shall:

i.         Determine, as provided in subsection (P)(6), the independent laboratory that will do the test- ing and the period of time within which the testing is to be completed;

ii.        Determine, based on the available information concerning the failure, the number and types of tests to be performed on the removed pipeline; and

iii.      Notify the operator of its determinations;

b.        The operator shall:

i.         Contact the selected independent laboratory to arrange the scheduling of the required tests;

ii.        Notify the Office of Pipeline Safety, at least 20 days before the date of the tests, of the date and time scheduled for the laboratory tests;

iii.      At the request of the Office of Pipeline Safety, ensure that a representative of the Office of Pipeline Safety is permitted to observe any or all of the tests;

iv.       Ensure that the original test results are provided to the Office of Pipeline Safety by the indepen- dent laboratory within 30 days after the tests are completed; and

v.        Pay for the independent laboratory testing; and

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6.        In determining an independent laboratory to perform test- ing required under subsection (P), the Office of Pipeline Safety shall:

a.         Submit to at least three different independent labora- tories written requests for bids to conduct the test- ing;

b.        Consider each responding laboratory’s qualifications to perform the testing, as demonstrated by:

i.         Past experience in performing the required test or tests according to ASTM International stan- dards; and

ii.        Any recognition that a laboratory may have received from a national or international labo- ratory accreditation body, such as through a certification or accreditation process;

c.         Wait to select an independent laboratory until:

i.         The Office of Pipeline Safety has received writ- ten bids from at least three different indepen- dent laboratories; or

ii.        Thirty days have passed since the date of the request for bids, whichever comes sooner; and

d.        Select the independent laboratory that offers the optimum balance between cost and demonstrated ability to perform the required test or tests.

Q.      An operator of a master meter system shall:

1.        Telephonically notify the Office of Pipeline Safety, at 602-262-5601 during normal working hours or at 602- 252-4449 at all other times, at the earliest practicable moment following discovery of any of the following related to the operator’s master meter system:

a.         An event involving a release of gas from a pipeline, along with any of the following:

i.         A death or personal injury requiring hospital- ization;

ii.        Injury to any individual resulting in the individ- ual’s loss of consciousness;

iii.      Estimated property damage, including  the value of all released gas, in excess of $5,000;

iv.       Unintentional estimated gas loss of 3 million cubic feet or more;

v.        An explosion or fire not intentionally set by the operator;

vi.       A news media inquiry;

vii.     An evacuation; or

viii.    An outage;

b.        An event involving overpressure of a pipeline sys- tem where a pipeline operating at less than 12 PSIG exceeds MAOP by 50%, where a pipeline operating between 12 PSIG and 60 PSIG exceeds MAOP by 6 PSIG, or where a pipeline operating over 60 PSIG exceeds MAOP plus 10%;

c.         An event involving permanent or temporary discon- tinuance of service to a master meter system or any portion of a master meter system due to a failure of a leak test; or

d.        An event that is significant, in the judgment of the operator, even though it does not meet any of the cri- teria listed in subsections (Q)(1)(a) through (c);

2.        Include the following information in a telephonic report under subsection (Q)(1):

a.         The names of the operator and the person making the report;

b.        The job title of the person making the report;

c.         The telephone numbers of the operator and the per- son making the report;

d.        A description of the type and location of the event;

e.         The time of the event;

f.         The number of fatalities and personal injuries, if any; and

g.        All other significant facts that are known by the operator and are relevant to the cause of the event or the extent of the damages; and

3.        Not later than April 15 of each year, submit to the Office of Pipeline Safety an annual report for the prior calendar year, completed on Commission Form MM-04: “Annual Report for Calendar Year 20_ , Small Operators of Gas Distribution System,” which is included herein as Exhibit A.

R.      The Commission may waive compliance with any of the requirements of this Section upon a finding that such a waiver is in the interest of public and pipeline safety.

S.       To ensure compliance with all applicable provisions of this Article, the Commission or an authorized representative thereof, may enter the premises of an operator of a master meter system to inspect and investigate the property, books, papers, electronic files, business methods, and affairs that per- tain to the operation of the master meter system.

Historical Note

New Section R14-5-207 renumbered from Section R14- 5-205 and amended by final rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 75, effective December 16, 2013 (Supp. 13-4).

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