Code of Massachusetts Regulations
220 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Title 220 CMR 113.00 - Operation, Maintenance, Replacement, and Abandonment of Cast Iron Pipelines
Section 113.06 - Replacement of Cast-iron Pipe at Trench Crossings

Universal Citation: 220 MA Code of Regs 220.113

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

(1) Cast-iron pipe, eight inches or less in nominal diameter, that is exposed and undermined by a trench crossing the pipeline shall be replaced immediately:

(a) When there is less than 24 inches of cover; or

(b) When there is 24 inches or more of cover and the trench widths set forth in Table 1 are exceeded.

Table 1

Maximum Allowable Trench Width

Depth of Cover:

2 to 4 feet

4 feet or more

Nominal Pipe Diameter

4 inches or less

3 feet

4 feet

6 inches

4 feet

6 feet

8 inches

5.5 feet

8 feet

The trench width shall be determined by the distance along the centerline of the exposed pipe.

(2) The minimum length of the replacement shall be equal to the trench width plus twice the distance from the top of the pipe to the bottom of the crossing trench, extending equally on both sides of the crossing trench.

(3) When cast-iron pipe is intersected by a trench and the pipe must be replaced in accordance with 220 CMR 113.06, the pipe shall be surveyed daily for gas leakage and monitored daily until the pipe is replaced.

(4) At the operator's discretion, cast-iron pipe does not have to be replaced to comply with 220 CMR 113.06(1)(b) when a pipe segment is exposed and undermined in a shallow trench crossing, provided that:

(a) the backfill supporting and surrounding the pipe shall be thoroughly compacted for the full trench width and for a distance equal to 1/2 of the trench width on both sides of the centerline of the pipe;

(b) the backfill shall be free of objectionable material or debris, such as, but not limited to, pavement, frozen soil, trash and rocks; and

(c) The backfilling techniques used to comply with 220 CMR 113.06(4)(a) and (b) shall be included in the operator's operating and maintenance plan.

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