25-12.045. Inactive Gas Service Lines

(1) An operator shall take the following actions for inactive gas service lines that have been used, but have become inactive without reuse:

(a) An operator shall take immediate action to protect persons and property if it determines that an inactive service line is an existing or probable hazard to persons or property, and shall retire and physically abandon said line within three months of that determination.

(b) If the operator determines that there is no prospect for reuse, the service line shall be retired and physically abandoned within three months of that determination.

(c) Annual risk assessments shall be made for all service lines that have been inactive for more than one year.

1. The annual risk assessments shall identify potential threats and shall rank risks using the operator’s Distribution Integrity Management Plan developed pursuant to 49 C.F.R. 192, Subpart P (2011) which is incorporated by reference in Rule 25-12.005, F.A.C. The annual risk assessments shall include the following required elements of the operator’s Distribution Integrity Management Plan in identifying threats: Presence of excess flow valves, incident and leak history, corrosion control records, continuing surveillance records, patrolling records, maintenance history, excavation damage experience, and any other data deemed relevant by the operator.

2. The annual risk assessments records shall be maintained by the operator for at least 10 years.

3. Inactive service lines that are identified in the annual risk assessments as potential threats with a high-risk ranking shall be retired and physically abandoned within six months after completion of the annual risk assessment.

(d) After a service line has been inactive for a period of two years, if there is a prospect for reuse of the service line, the operator shall verify that the service line is permanently marked to identify the operator’s name and phone number and shall take one of the following actions within six months:

1. Disconnect the service line from all sources of gas and physically abandon or remove;

2. A valve on the service line shall be locked in the closed position and the service line plugged to prevent the flow of gas; or

3. Remove the meter and plug the end of the service line to prevent the flow of gas.

(e) After a service line has been inactive for a period of five years, if the inactive service line is constructed of bare steel or cast iron or does not comply with current materials standards in 49 C.F.R. 192 (2011), the inactive service line shall be retired and physically abandoned within six months.

(f) After ten years of inactivity, service lines shall be retired and physically abandoned within six months.

(2) To physically abandon a service line, the operator must disconnect the service line from all sources of gas at the nearest point to the gas main. Where the appropriate governmental authority prohibits cutting pavement, the service line shall be disconnected at the nearest point not under a paved surface. The stub of the service line, the short section of the remaining service line to the main, shall be disconnected closer to the main or at the main, if at some later date it becomes accessible during normal operations.

(3) Records must be kept of the size, material, and location of all remaining service line stubs. These records must be readily available to personnel assigned to pipeline locating activities.

Rulemaking Authority 350.127(2), 368.03, 368.05(2) FS. Law Implemented 368.03, 368.05(2) FS. History–New 9-21-74, Repromulgated 10-7-75, Amended 10-2-84, Formerly 25-12.45, Amended 1-7-92, 3-18-13.