PSC 135.014 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; corrections in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2004, No. 578. PSC 135.015PSC 135.015 Interference with gas pipeline facilities. PSC 135.015(1)(1) A gas pipeline operator having any work upon, over, along, or under any public street, highway or private property near existing gas pipeline facilities shall give reasonable notice to another public utility or operator and shall exercise care when working in close proximity to such existing facilities. Sections 66.0831 and 182.0175, Stats., shall be observed where applicable. In all other cases such notice shall provide another public utility or operator with a reasonable opportunity to protect or alter its facilities and such work shall not proceed without an agreement concerning the location and nature of the proposed work. PSC 135.015(2)(2) Nothing in sub. (1) shall prevent a gas pipeline operator from proceeding as quickly as possible with any emergency construction work which might interfere with existing facilities. PSC 135.015 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2004, No. 578. PSC 135.016PSC 135.016 Leak survey reports. The federal department of transportation, office of pipeline safety, requires each operator of a distribution system or of a transmission system to submit an annual report for the preceding calendar year not later than March 15. The operators of such systems in this state shall submit a copy of these reports to the public service commission on or before the filing date as required by the federal regulations. In addition to this annual report and at the same time, the operators shall report the number of leaks which were found in customer-owned facilities by either a survey or complaint during the preceding calendar year. PSC 135.016 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. PSC 135.017PSC 135.017 Over-pressure protection. Over-pressure protection is required by 49 CFR 192.197 and shall apply to all installations in this state. PSC 135.017 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; CR 21-049: am. Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22. PSC 135.019PSC 135.019 Adoption of federal minimum pipeline safety standards by reference. PSC 135.019(1)(1) The federal department of transportation, office of pipeline safety, pipeline safety standards, as adopted through March 21, 2021, and incorporated in 49 CFR Parts 192, 193 and 199, including the appendices, are adopted as state pipeline safety standards and incorporated by reference into this chapter. PSC 135.019(2)(2) State additions to the federal pipeline safety standards are shown in subch. II. PSC 135.019(3)(3) Pursuant to s. 227.21, Stats., the attorney general and the legislative reference bureau have consented to the incorporation by reference of the provisions in 49 CFR Parts 192, 193 and 199, including the appendices. Copies are on file at the office of the public service commission, the secretary of state, and the legislative reference bureau. PSC 135.019(4)(4) All gas public utilities and gas pipeline operators shall file with the public service commission a copy of the manual of written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for emergency response required under 49 CFR 192.605(a). Each change in the manual shall be filed with the commission within 20 days after the change is made. PSC 135.019(5)(5) Prior to constructing gas pipelines, all gas public utilities and gas pipeline operators shall have on file with the public service commission a copy of the construction specifications or standards required under 49 CFR 192.303, welding procedures required under 49 CFR 192.225, and joining procedures required under 49 CFR 192.273. Each change in the specifications, standards, or procedures shall be filed with the public service commission within 20 days after the change is made. PSC 135.019 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; CR 03-099: am. (1) Register February 2004 No. 578, eff. 3-1-04; CR 06-106: am. (1) Register June 2007 No. 618, eff. 7-1-07; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2011 No. 662; CR 12-042: am. (1) Register December 2012 No. 684, eff. 1-1-13; CR 14-052: am. (1) Register April 2015 No. 712, eff. 5-1-15; CR 16-084: am. (1) Register September 2017 No. 741, eff. 10-1-17; CR 21-049: am. (1), cr. (5) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22. PSC 135.053PSC 135.053 General additions [49 CFR 192.53]. (aw) Some of the materials conforming to specifications approved for use under 49 CFR 192 may not have properties suitable for the lower portion of the temperature band covered by 49 CFR 192. Operators are cautioned to give attention to the low-temperature properties of the materials used for facilities to be exposed to unusually low ground temperatures or low atmospheric temperatures. Twenty inch steel pipe and larger, with a specified minimum yield strength of 52,000 p.s.i. or higher, shall be tested for fracture toughness in accordance with the applicable section of respective API standard under which it was produced, except for small lot purchases of pipe where testing for fracture toughness is impractical. (dw) When substantial quantities of pipe are acquired certified reports of chemical composition and physical properties shall be obtained; when the quantity of pipe involved is so limited that this requirement would be impractical, a certified statement shall be obtained setting forth the specification under which the pipe was manufactured.
PSC 135.053 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. (ew) Fittings in copper piping. Fittings in copper piping and exposed to the soil, such as service tees and pressure control fittings, shall be made of bronze, copper or brass.
PSC 135.125 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. PSC 135.163PSC 135.163 Compressor stations: design and construction additions [49 CFR 192.163]. (bw) All compressor station buildings shall be constructed of non-combustible materials.
(cw) Exits shall be provided in compliance with the requirements of the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, chs. SPS 361 to 366. Ladders shall not be used for exits. (ew) All electrical equipment and wiring installed in gas transmission and distribution compressor stations shall conform to the requirements of the state electrical code, chs. SPS 316 and PSC 114. PSC 135.163 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2004, No. 578; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2007 No. 616; correction in (2) and (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2012 No. 684; CR 21-049: am. (1) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22. (aw) Fire protection. Fire-protection facilities shall be provided as specifically directed by the department of safety and professional services and the local fire department. The operation of fire-protection facilities, such as pumps, shall not be affected by an emergency shutdown.
PSC 135.171 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register December 2018 No. 756. (1w) There shall be compliance with the state heating, ventilation, and air conditioning code, ch. SPS 364. PSC 135.173 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2012 No. 684. (bw) The distance between the valve and the regulator or regulators shall be sufficient to permit the operation of the valve during an emergency such as a large gas leak or a fire in the station. These valves shall be in accessible locations neither closer than 25 feet nor more than 1,500 feet distant from each regulator station.
PSC 135.181 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. (dw) In the design of vaults and pits for pressure limiting, pressure relieving and pressure regulating equipment, the installed equipment shall be protected from damage, such as that resulting from an explosion within the vault or pit, which may cause portions of the roof or cover to fall into the vault.
(ew) Vault or pit openings shall be located so as to minimize the hazards of tools or other objects falling upon the regulator, piping, or other equipment. The control piping and the operating parts of the equipment installed shall not be located under a vault or pit opening where workers can step on them when entering or leaving the vault or pit, unless such parts are suitably protected. Whenever a vault or pit opening is to be located above equipment which could be damaged by a falling cover, a circular cover should be installed or other suitable precautions taken.
PSC 135.183 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. (4w) The outside end of the ducts shall be equipped with a suitable weatherproof fitting or vent-head designed to prevent foreign matter from entering or obstructing the duct. The effective area of the openings in such fittings or vent-heads shall be at least equal to the cross-sectional area of a 4-inch duct. The horizontal section of the ducts shall be as short as practical and shall be pitched to prevent the accumulation of liquids in the line. The number of bends and offsets shall be reduced to a minimum and provisions shall be incorporated to facilitate the periodic cleaning of the ducts.
PSC 135.187 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. PSC 135.189PSC 135.189 Vaults: drainage and waterproofing additions [49 CFR 192.189]. (aw) Nevertheless, vault equipment shall always be designed to operate safely, if submerged.
(cw) Electrical equipment in vaults shall conform to the applicable requirements of the state electrical code, chs. SPS 316 and PSC 114. PSC 135.189 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2012 No. 684. (3w) Suitable types of protective devices to prevent overpressuring of high-pressure distribution systems include:
(i) Spring-loaded relief valves of types meeting the provisions of the ASME Unfired Pressure Vessel Code.
(ii) Pilot-loaded back-pressure regulators used as relief valves, so designed that failure of the pilot system or control lines will cause the regulator to open.
(iii) Spring loaded diaphragm-type relief valves.
(iv) A monitoring regulator installed in series with the primary pressure regulator.
(v) A series regulator installed upstream from the primary regulator, and set to continuously limit the pressure on the inlet of the primary regulator in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 192.201. (vi) An automatic shut-off device installed in series with the primary pressure regulator, and set to shut off in accordance with the provisions of 49 CFR 192.201. This device shall remain closed until manually reset. It may not be used where it might cause an interruption in service to a large number of customers. (4w) Suitable types of protective devices to prevent overpressuring of low-pressure distribution systems include:
(i) A liquid seal relief device that can be set to open accurately and consistently at the desired pressure.
(ii) A series regulator, as described in s. PSC 135.195 (3w) (v).
(iii) An automatic shut-off device, as described in s. PSC 135.195 (3w) (vi).
(iv) A pilot loaded back-pressure regulator, as described in s. PSC 135.195 (3w) (ii).
(v) A monitoring regulator, as described in s. PSC 135.195 (3w) (iv).
(cw) Suitable types of protective devices to prevent overpressuring of gas pressure holders, pipelines and other facilities that might at times be bottle tight include:
(1) Spring-loaded relief valves of types meeting the provisions of the ASME Unfired Pressure Vessel Code.
(2) Pilot-loaded back-pressure regulators used as relief valves, so designed that failure of the pilot system or control lines will cause the regulator to open.
PSC 135.195 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2004, No. 578; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2011 No. 662. PSC 135.197PSC 135.197 Control of the pressure of gas delivered from high-pressure distribution systems additions [49 CFR 192.197]. After 49 CFR 192.197(c), insert: (dw) The service regulator shall be of a type that is capable under normal operating conditions of regulating the downstream pressure within the limits of s. PSC 134.23 and of limiting the build-up of pressure under no-flow conditions to 50% or less of the discharge pressure maintained under flow conditions. (ew) In addition to the provisions of 49 CFR 192.197(a) and (b), if the maximum actual operating pressure of the distribution system is greater than low pressure and is equal to or less than 60 p.s.i.g., a suitable protective device shall be installed to prevent unsafe overpressuring of the customer’s appliances should the service regulator fail. These devices may be installed as an integral part of the service regulator or as a separate unit. Some of the suitable types of protective devices to prevent overpressuring of customers’ appliances are: (1) A monitoring regulator.
(2) A relief valve.
(3) An automatic shut-off device.
(fw) Breather vents shall be provided on all service regulators.
PSC 135.197 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99. PSC 135.199PSC 135.199 Requirements for design of pressure relief and limiting devices additions [49 CFR 192.199]. (ew) In addition, the outlet ports shall be insect-proof and consideration shall be given to all exposures in the immediate vicinity including windows or locations where gas can enter confined areas;
(1) Lock the stop valve in the open position. Instruct authorized personnel of the importance of not inadvertently leaving the stop valve closed and of being present during the entire period that the stop valve is closed so that they can lock it in the open position before they leave the location.
(2) Install duplicate relief valves, each having adequate capacity by itself to protect the system and arrange the isolating valves or 3-way valve so that mechanically it is possible to render only one safety device inoperative at a time.
