1. (a) The operator of a park gas piping system is responsible for complying with the federal regulations in addition to this chapter. A permit is not required from the enforcement agency for the installation of cathodic protection if the existing gas piping system is not otherwise altered.

   1. (b) Plans and specifications for the installation of a metallic gas piping system shall specify methods of protecting buried or submerged pipe from corrosion, including cathodic protection, unless it can be demonstrated that a corrosive environment does not exist in the area of installation. The design and installation of a cathodic protection system shall be carried out by, or under the direction of, a person qualified by experience and training in pipeline corrosion methods so that the cathodic protection system meets the requirements of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 191 and 192.

      1. (1) All buried or submerged metallic gas piping shall be protected from corrosion by approved coatings or wrapping materials. All gas piping protective coatings shall be approved types, machine applied, and conform to recognized standards. Field wrapping shall provide equivalent protection and is restricted to those short sections and fittings necessarily stripped for threading or welding. Risers shall be coated or wrapped to a point at least six (6) inches above grade.
      2. (2) All metallic gas piping systems shall be installed in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the enforcement agency, including provisions for cathodic protection. When the cathodic protection system is designed to protect only the gas piping system, the gas piping system shall be electrically isolated from all other underground metallic systems or installations. When a cathodic protection system is designed to provide all underground metallic systems and installations with protection against corrosion, all such systems and installations shall be electrically bonded together and protected as a whole.
      3. (3) When non-metallic gas piping is installed underground, a locating tape or No. 18 AWG or larger copper tracer wire shall be installed with and attached to the underground piping for the purpose of locating the piping system. The locating tape or tracer wire shall terminate above grade at an accessible location at one or more ends of the piping system. Every portion of a plastic gas piping system consisting of metallic risers or fittings shall be cathodically protected against corrosion.

   This chapter does not prohibit the installation of cathodic protection systems and requirements for corrosion control of buried or submerged metallic gas piping systems required by the federal regulations in existing systems. If there is any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the federal regulations, the provisions of the federal regulations shall prevail.

A park gas piping distribution system is subject to the Pipeline Safety Law of 1994 and regulations adopted by the Office of Pipeline Safety Operations. The applicable regulations are contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 191 and 192.

Note: Authority cited: Section 18865, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Section 18873.4, Health and Safety Code.

History

1. New section filed 7-6-2004; operative 7-6-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 28).