65-407-420 Me. Code R. § 3

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024

Section 407-420-3 - Participation in Underground Utility Damage Prevention Program

A.Natural Gas and LNG Operator Participation

Operators in Maine must:

1. Comply with Chapter 895;

2. Maintain membership in a notification center that utilizes and promotes the 811 "one-call" notification system;

3. Promote the use of 811 and "Ok-to-Dig" notification processes for use by excavators; and

4. Report to the MPUC in accordance with Chapter 895 any damage to its underground facilities or a damage prevention incident utilizing an MPUC Underground Facility Incident Report Form.

B.Pipeline Facility Locator Training and Qualification

Operators must maintain documentation that each person utilized to locate the operator's underground pipeline facilities is properly trained and qualified. Such documentation must indicate the latest date the person completed or demonstrated:

1. The necessary knowledge and skills needed to use industry best practices developed by the Common Ground Alliance for locating and marking pipelines or other recognized industry authority;

2. Knowledge of state and local underground damage prevention regulations; and

3. Qualification in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 192, Subpart N.

C.Notation of Facilities on System Maps Using GPS Coordinates

1. Operators must provide GPS coordinate identifiers, referenced to the North American Datum of 1983, for the location of all facilities installed after January 1, 2012.

2. Operators must record coordinates for existing facilities whenever an underground facility is exposed.

3. Operators must obtain GPS location data for new facilities for critical valves, at intersections with service lines, main or other gas facilities, at any point of directional change and at intervals along a pipeline sufficient to achieve geospatial accuracy.

D.Location of Underground Facilities Where Trenchless Technology Is Used

As part of its Damage Prevention Program adopted pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 192.614, operators must maintain and follow written procedures for protecting existing underground facilities during directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation techniques. Use of trenchless technology has inherent risks and regardless of the protection method chosen by an operator, operators have an obligation to not damage or interfere with other underground utility facilities.

1.Underground Electric Facilities. When operators are installing natural gas facilities using directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation techniques, the operators' written procedures must require use of the exposed facility method described in Section 3(D)(2)(a) of this Chapter.

2.Sewer Facilities. When operators are installing natural gas facilities using directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation techniques, the operators' written procedures must require at least one of the following methods for positively locating underground sewer facilities (or two methods if using the relative elevation method for sewer service laterals and gravity sewer mains):

a. Exposed facility method. Operators must pothole and expose the underground facility at the gas crossing; the drill head, punch head, or plow must be visible in the pothole. The operator must document the distance between the punch head, drill head, or plow and the underground facility at all addresses/locations where this method was used. The exposed facility method is the only acceptable positive location method when using a punch, unless the punch head is equipped with a sonde.

b. Map and record method. Operators may use maps and records of sewer service laterals and mains to demonstrate that no conflict between the gas pipeline and the sewer service lateral or sewer main is possible. For example, if the gas service enters the front of a structure and a sewer service lateral exits the back of the same structure, the two utilities will not cross. The operator must document the criteria by which the lack of conflict was established and all addresses/locations where this method was used.

c. Sonde method. Operators may determine sewer service lateral and sewer main location and depth by a sonde transmitter at the crossed location. If operators use this method, the punch head or drill head must be equipped with a sonde and must be at least three feet from the sewer service lateral or sewer main. Operators must calibrate the sonde according to the manufacturer's specifications and at least as frequently as indicated by the manufacturer's specifications. Operators must document the sewer service lateral or sewer main depth and the punch head, drill head, or plow depth at each crossed location along with all addresses/locations where this method was used.

d. Relative elevation method (sewer service laterals only). Operators may determine the highest elevation of an individual sewer service lateral by entering the structure and verifying the sewer drain's elevation as it leaves the structure. The punch head or drill head must be equipped with a sonde, and the punch, drill, or plow must at all times be at least three feet above the highest sewer service lateral elevation. Operators must maintain the three-foot separation across the entire width of the property. Operators must calibrate the sonde according to the manufacturer's specifications and at least as frequently as indicated by the manufacturer's specifications. Operators must document the highest sewer service lateral elevation relative to the punch head, drill head, or plow elevation along with all addresses/locations where the operator used the relative elevation method.

e. Relative elevation method (gravity sewer mains only). The highest or lowest elevation of a sewer main may be determined by verifying the sewer main's elevation as it enters and leaves the manhole structures adjacent to the proposed crossing and interpolating to the proposed crossing point. The drilling head must be equipped with a sonde, and the drill must follow a path at least three feet above the highest calculated sewer main elevation or at least three feet below the lowest calculated sewer main elevation. The sonde must be calibrated before each locate according to the manufacturer's specifications. Operators must document all field measurements and calculations for the sewer main elevation relative to the drilling head elevation at all locations where this method was used. Operators must not use this method if the distance from the proposed crossing to the closest adjacent sewer manhole exceeds 200 feet.

f. Televising method. Operators may televise individual sewer service laterals and sewer mains after the gas pipe has been installed. Operators may not introduce gas into the new pipeline until the sewer service lateral or sewer main has been televised. Operators must document with an electronic, visual record of the televising along with a written report. Operators must correlate the sewer lateral connection (wye) location with the street address in a written report. Use of this method does not alleviate the operator's responsibility to obtain all practically obtainable information regarding the location of sewer service laterals and sewer mains prior to installation of a gas pipeline (e.g., maps, drawings, diagrams, or other records). Use of this method does not alter or supersede the requirements in this Chapter and in Chapter 895 regarding the separation of utility facilities.

3.Other Underground Facilities. For underground facilities other than electric or sewer, operators' written procedures must utilize the guidance material provided by the Gas Piping Technology Committee (GPTC) detailed in Guidance Material Appendix G-192-6, or other recognized industry standards.

4. When directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation techniques are conducted by third party excavators, operators' written procedures must require mandatory monitoring of these excavations when an operator is notified and the operator determines that the proximity of the proposed excavation could affect the integrity of the gas facility. Operators must train their operating personnel, including locators and others who monitor directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation activities, in the specific requirements and hazards associated with those activities.

5. Operators installing natural gas facilities using directional drilling and other trenchless technology installation techniques must implement a message, as part of their public awareness programs, to reach all stakeholders who may be involved in the clearing of obstructed sewer facilities. This stakeholder group must include, but is not limited to: residents, building owners, property management companies, municipal sewer operators, plumbing contractors, and equipment rental companies. Operators must implement the message prior to the introduction of natural gas to any facilities installed by trenchless technologies. The message must include the dangers associated with the cross boring of gas facilities through existing sewer and other utility facilities.

6. Operators' written procedures regarding the use of trenchless technology must be reviewed annually and modified as necessary to be consistent with industry best practices.

65-407 C.M.R. ch. 420, § 3