The Wise Report
We all know to call 811 to mark underground lines before digging or drilling below 16 inches. House Bill 1818, the Commission’s Sunset Bill passed by the 85th Legislature last year, gives RRC authority over damage incidents on interstate pipelines that cross state boundaries. Previously, the Commission’s damage prevention authority was limited to intrastate pipelines that begin and end in Texas.
Effective February 12, 2018, excavators are required to notify the pipeline operator by calling the 811 notification center as soon as possible about any damage incidents, but no later than one hour after an incident. Excavators will also be required to call 911 if any natural gas or other product is released when an underground pipeline is struck. The amendments extend the deadline for pipeline operators and excavators to file a damage report with the Commission from the current 10 days to 30 days.
More information on these new rule requirements can be found at: http://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/43537/adopt-amend-ch18-interstate-hb-1818-jan232018-sig.pdf
Commissioners unanimously adopted these amendments to the RRC Underground Damage Prevention Rule at their January 23, 2018 conference. These rules are designed to protect the public from potentially hazardous incidents if underground natural gas or hazardous liquid pipelines are struck by excavation.