49 C.F.R. § 192.383 Excess flow valve customer notification.
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) Definitions. As used in this section: Costs associated with installation means the costs directly connected with installing an excess flow valve, for example, costs of parts, labor, inventory and procurement. It does not include maintenance and replacement costs until such costs are incurred. Replaced service line means a natural gas service line where the fitting that connects the service line to the main is replaced or the piping connected to this fitting is replaced. Service line customer means the person who pays the gas bill, or where service has not yet been established, the person requesting service. (b) Which customers must receive notification. Notification is required on each newly installed service line or replaced service line that operates continuously throughout the year at a pressure not less than 68.9 kPa (10 psig) and that serves a single residence. On these lines an operator of a natural gas distribution system must notify the service line customer once in writing. (c) What to put in the written notice. (1) An explanation for the customer that an excess flow valve meeting the performance standards prescribed under §192.381 is available for the operator to install if the customer bears the costs associated with installation; (2) An explanation for the customer of the potential safety benefits that may be derived from installing an excess flow valve. The explanation must include that an excess flow valve is designed to shut off flow of natural gas automatically if the service line breaks; (3) A description of installation, maintenance, and replacement costs. The notice must explain that if the customer requests the operator to install an EFV, the customer bears all costs associated with installation, and what those costs are. The notice must alert the customer that the costs for maintaining and replacing an EFV may later be incurred, and what those costs will be, to the extent known. (d) When notification and installation must be made. (1) After February 3, 1999 an operator must notify each service line customer set forth in paragraph (b) of this section: (i) On new service lines when the customer applies for service. (ii) On replaced service lines when the operator determines the service line will be replaced. (2) If a service line customer requests installation an operator must install the EFV at a mutually agreeable date. (e) What records are required. (1) An operator must make the following records available for inspection by the Administrator or a State agency participating under 49 U.S.C. 60105 or 60106: (i) A copy of the notice currently in use; and (ii) Evidence that notice has been sent to the service line customers set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, within the previous three years. (2) [Reserved] (f) When notification is not required. The notification requirements do not apply if the operator can demonstrate— (1) That the operator will voluntarily install an excess flow valve or that the state or local jurisdiction requires installation; (2) That excess flow valves meeting the performance standards in §192.381 are not available to the operator; (3) That the operator has prior experience with contaminants in the gas stream that could interfere with the operation of an excess flow valve, cause loss of service to a residence, or interfere with necessary operation or maintenance activities, such as blowing liquids from the line. (4) That an emergency or short time notice replacement situation made it impractical for the operator to notify a service line customer before replacing a service line. Examples of these situations would be where an operator has to replace a service line quickly because of— (i) Third party excavation damage; (ii) Grade 1 leaks as defined in the Appendix G–192–11 of the Gas Piping Technology Committee guide for gas transmission and distribution systems; (iii) A short notice service line relocation request. [Amdt.192–82, 63 FR 5471, Feb. 3, 1998; Amdt. 192–83, 63 FR 20135, Apr. 23, 1998]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 192—TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart H—Customer Meters, Service Regulators, and Service Lines
§ 192.383 Excess flow valve customer notification.
