Commission – This is added as a “shorthand" way of referring to the Public Service Commission.
Distribution center – This is added to aid in defining transmission lines, the definition for which uses this previously undefined term.
Master meter system – This incorporates the federal definition and adds a clarification that is in line with the current federal enforcement policy.
Qualified person – This is added to clarify the phrase.
135.013 – General additions
Under this provision, utilities must conduct certain surveys of master meter operator systems and master meter system operators must have certain repairs done. This will aid in inspections and commission work with master meter operators. It will also increase public safety. The requirement is intended to attach to the facility, not the owner. So, if a utility performs inspections of a facility and then the facility is sold, the utility does not have to do them again for the new owner.
135.055 – Steel pipe addition
This was deleted as the process mentioned is no longer used to make steel.
135.103 – General addition
Cast iron pipes present a major leak problem due to frost heave. Except for maintenance of old mains, no new cast iron pipe has been installed since the 1950s. This provision has been changed to state that operators may no longer install or operate cast iron pipe. It specifically refers to pipe and does not prohibit the installation or use of cast iron components such as valves and fittings.
135.161 – Supports and anchors addition
Under this provision, builders must use non-combustible materials when constructing regulator station buildings. This matches a requirement that already exists for compressor stations. This provision ensures greater safety in case of a fire at a regulator station.
135.173 – Compressor stations: ventilation addition
This was deleted as unnecessary because it is now covered by other local, state and federal codes.
135.181 – Distribution line valves additions
(1) This provision will ensure that relighting occurs in a timely manner after an outage occurs. There is a federal requirement that valves be placed to assist in a quick shutdown. In Wisconsin, due to the winters, it is also important to have guidelines for quick relighting.
(2) This change removes as unnecessary a decades-old grandfather clause.
135.195 – Protection against accidental overpressuring additions
(4w) (i) This was deleted as unnecessary because these devices are no longer used.
(dw) This was added to ensure that the gas system operates during flood emergencies.
(ew) This was added to ensure that there is no overpressuring in case of monitoring regulator failure.
135.197 – Control of the pressure of gas delivered from high-pressure distribution systems additions
(fw) Under this provision, operators are required to have a monitor that indicates when a service regulator fails so that the operator knows there is no overpressure protection there. This is required immediately for new installations, and provides 10 years for existing regulators.
(gw) This provision is necessary given the climate and conditions in Wisconsin.
135.199 – Requirements for design of pressure relief and limiting devices additions
(2)(gw) This adds a standard for venting gas into the atmosphere in a safe manner and in a manner that helps prevent tampering.
(jw) This language clarifies that the provision only applies to district regulator stations, not all regulator stations. Operators with district regulator stations using the operator monitor form of regulation must provide a method to indicate the failure of the operating regulator, and must check district regulator monitors once a month.
135.225 – Welding procedures addition and 135.227 – Qualification of welders
These provisions eliminate Appendix C of
49 CFR 192 and section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as options for qualifying welders. Instead, the rule requires welders to be qualified under requirements developed specifically for pipeline welders.
135.273 – General
This provision prohibits the use of a compression-style coupling to join steel pipe during initial construction or as a permanent repair.
135.279 – Copper pipe addition
This provision is eliminated as unnecessary because the type of piping addressed is no longer used.
135.305 – Inspection General
This provision clarifies current inspection standards.
135.323 – Casing addition
This provision about casings is deleted because it is redundant.
135.325 – Underground clearance additions
This provision applies the same underground clearance standard to mains that currently exists for transmission lines. It also clarifies that a building may not be put over an existing in-service main or transmission line. Currently, the provision only states that a line cannot be put beneath a building.
135.327 – Cover additions
Under this provision, an operator must ensure that code-required coverage of mains and transmission lines is maintained when a road is reconstructed.
135.351 – Scope additions
Under this provision, an operator must have written procedures for the installation and inspection of service lines, regulators and meters.
135.353(aw) – Customer meters and regulators: location addition
Under this provision, for a new installation an operator must install a meter outside and as close as possible to the building wall, unless doing so is physically impracticable.
135.361 – Service lines: installations additions
This provision applies the 12-inch clearance requirement to service lines and requires that the code-required coverage is maintained when a road is reconstructed.
135.365 – Service lines: location of valves additions
This provision clarifies when an operator must have an outside valve in a readily accessible location and when an operator must install an underground service valve as close as possible to the main.
135.375 – Service lines: plastic addition
This provision has been deleted because it is redundant. It is in the federal code now.
135.379 – New service lines not in use additions
Under this provision, an operator may not turn on gas service until a customer is ready to use it.
135.461 – External corrosion control: protective coating addition
Under this provision, where appropriate given soil conditions, an installer must use a current drain test to inspect a coating after using a boring, driving or similar installation method.
135.465 – External corrosion control: monitoring addition
Under this provision, an operator must take remedial action within 12 months of discovering problems within the cathotic protection system.
135.481 – Atmospheric corrosion control: monitoring addition
Under this provision, an operator must take remedial action within 12 months of discovering atmospheric corrosion. This change is made because, generally, pipeline repairs must be made by the next reporting cycle. While in many cases this is 12 months, atmospheric corrosion inspections only take place every 3 years. This is too long to wait for repairs to be made, so 12 months was chosen.
135.503 – General requirements additions
Under this provision, an operator must pressure test all pipelines to a minimum of 90 p.s.i.g., unless federal law requires more stringent testing.
135.506 – Strength test requirements for steel pipeline
This provision lowers the minimum test pressure for transmission lines from 90% of system maximum yield strength to 85%. Prefabricated assemblies and station piping are exempted from the testing requirement.
135.511 – Test requirements for service lines addition
This provision increases the minimum test pressure to 90 p.s.i. for reinstated service lines.
135.517 – Records additions
Under this provision, an operator must include the test date on each test record and keep the records as long as the pipeline is in service.
135.605 – Procedural manual for operations, maintenance and emergencies
Under this provision, operators must have a written quality control procedure for evaluating third parties performing operation and maintenance activities.
135.613 – Continuing surveillance additions
This change reduces the requirement for surveying when repaving to allow a recent prior test to suffice as the leakage survey. It also ends the requirement that property abutting streets be tested.
135.614 – Damage prevention program addition
Under this provision, all operators must report damage to a national central body (Common Ground Alliance), and information so reported must be available to the commission upon request.
135.615 – Emergency plans
Under this provision, an operator must respond immediately to reports of carbon monoxide. Also, an operator must meet different emergency response times for higher and lower density areas, and a report to the commission is required when response times significantly exceed the specified times.
135.623 – Maximum allowable operating pressure: low-pressure distribution systems addition
Under this provision, beginning in 2015 an operator may not operate a low-pressure distribution system.
135.705 – Transmission lines: patrolling additions
Under this provision, operators must clear and maintain transmission line rights-of-way.
135.706 – Transmission lines: leakage
Under this provision, all leak surveys of all transmission lines in all class locations must be conducted using an acceptable leak detection device. A vegetation survey is not acceptable.
135.707 – Line markers for mains and transmission lines addition
Under this provision, an operator must place a transmission line marker every quarter mile outside of urban areas.
135.721 – Distribution systems: patrolling addition
Under this provision, a utility must perform a hazard survey every three years if it is using an automated meter reading system. The utility must conduct that survey in a different year than the leak survey or atmospheric corrosion survey.
135.722 – Distribution mains: markers
Under this provision, an operator must place distribution main markers every quarter mile outside of urban areas.
135.723 – Distribution systems: leakage surveys additions
This provision clarifies leak survey requirements and requires that an operator perform a leak survey every 3 calendar years when an automated meter reading system is being used. It also specifies that a vegetation survey is not a sufficient leak survey.
