Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) Every person
whose job duties or responsibilities include the classification of natural gas
leaks shall be trained and qualified pursuant to 49 CFR Part 192.805 to ensure
proper leak classification.
(2)
Each Gas Company shall classify natural gas leaks utilizing established gas
leak classification criteria and a method to determine sub-surface gas
migration as set forth in the Gas Companies' operating procedures within a
reasonable amount of time of discovery, taking into consideration the
following:
(a) the operating pressure of the
Pipeline;
(b) the size of the leak
migration pattern;
(c) the
population density; and
(d) the
proximity to buildings and structures.
(3) Each Gas Company shall assess a grade to
all reported natural gas leaks as follows:
(a)
Grade 1 Leak. A Grade 1 Leak shall be a leak that
represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or property. Grade 1 leaks
require the immediate commencement of repair and continuous action until the
conditions are no longer hazardous, the source of the leak is eliminated, and
permanent repairs have been completed. Whenever appropriate and feasible, a Gas
Company shall notify the fire department and chief law enforcement officer in
each city or town where a Grade 1 Leak is identified.
(b)
Grade 2 Leak. A
Grade 2 Leak shall be a leak that is recognized as nonhazardous to persons or
property at the time of detection, but justifies scheduled repair based on
probable future hazard. The Gas Company shall repair Grade 2 leaks or replace
the Pipeline within 12 months from the date the leak was classified. All Grade
2 leaks shall be reevaluated by a Gas Company at least once every six months
until eliminated; provided however, that the frequency of reevaluation shall be
determined by the location and magnitude of the leakage condition.
(c)
Grade 3 Leak. A
Grade 3 Leak shall be a leak that is recognized as nonhazardous to persons or
property at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to remain
non-hazardous. The Gas Company shall reevaluate Grade 3 leaks during the next
scheduled survey, or within 12 months from the date last evaluated, whichever
occurs first, until the leak is eliminated or the Pipeline is replaced. A
municipal or state public safety official may request a reevaluation of a Grade
3 leak prior to the next scheduled survey, or sooner than 12 months of the date
last evaluated, if the official reasonably believes that the Grade 3 leak poses
a threat to public safety. Each Gas Company shall repair or eliminate Grade 3
leaks located on non-GSEP facilities that are initially classified on January
1, 2018 or later, other than those that were designated as environmentally
significant in accordance with
220
CMR 114.07(1), within eight
years.
(4) Each Gas
Company shall file a plan with the Department to eliminate Grade 3 leaks on
non-GSEP facilities that existed prior to January 1, 2018, in either its next
Annual Service Quality Report, if required to submit such report, or on March
1, 2020. The Gas Companies shall thereafter submit an update in each subsequent
Annual Service Quality Report, or annually on March
1st, until all such leaks are
eliminated.
