Texas Administrative Code
Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 1 - RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Chapter 18 - UNDERGROUND PIPELINE DAMAGE PREVENTION
Section 18.1 - Scope, Applicability, and General Provisions
Current through Reg. 49, No. 12; March 22, 2024
(a) This chapter implements the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) under Texas Natural Resources Code, § RSA 117.012, Texas Utilities Code, § RSA 121.201, and Texas Health and Safety Code, § RSA 756.126. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, this chapter applies to all persons engaged in or preparing to engage in the movement of earth in the vicinity of an underground pipeline containing flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas, a hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide.
(b) The requirements of this chapter are based on the presumption that an excavator will notify a notification center pursuant to, and that a pipeline operator will respond in accordance with, the provisions of Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 251, and the requirements of the notification center. However, compliance with the provisions of Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 251, and the requirements of a notification center does not necessarily constitute compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(c) Persons that are exempt from the provisions of Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 251, are required to comply with this chapter, unless the person is exempt under the subsection (d) of this section.
(d) This chapter does not apply to:
(e) This chapter also applies to movement of earth by tillage that exceeds a depth of 16 inches.
(f) Unless otherwise specified, all time periods used in this chapter shall be calculated from the time the original notification is given to the notification center.
(g) Unless otherwise specified, all time periods that are stated in days shall mean working days.
(h) Unless an excavator and an operator otherwise expressly agree in accordance with the requirements set forth in § RSA 18.3 of this title, relating to Excavator Notice to Notification Center, the life of a line locate ticket shall be 14 days.
(i) Unless otherwise expressly stated in this chapter, each excavator and each operator shall retain required records for at least four years. At a minimum, each operator and each excavator shall retain locate tickets and positive response notifications. Retention at a notification center is an acceptable method of retention for locate tickets.