§ 60110. — Excess flow valves.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 49USC60110]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
SUBTITLE VIII--PIPELINES
CHAPTER 601--SAFETY
Sec. 60110. Excess flow valves
(a) Application.--This section applies only to--
(1) a natural gas distribution system installed after the
effective date of regulations prescribed under this section; and
(2) any other natural gas distribution system when repair to the
system requires replacing a part to accommodate installing excess
flow valves.
(b) Installation Requirements and Considerations.--Not later than
April 24, 1994, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe
standards on the circumstances, if any, under which an operator of a
natural gas distribution system must install excess flow valves in the
system. The Secretary shall consider--
(1) the system design pressure;
(2) the system operating pressure;
(3) the types of customers to which the distribution system
supplies gas, including hospitals, schools, and commercial
enterprises;
(4) the technical feasibility and cost of installing, operating,
and maintaining the valve;
(5) the public safety benefits of installing the valve;
(6) the location of customer meters; and
(7) other factors the Secretary considers relevant.
(c) Notification of Availability.--(1) Not later than October 24,
1994, the Secretary shall prescribe standards requiring an operator of a
natural gas distribution system to notify in writing its customers
having lines in which excess flow valves are not required by law but can
be installed according to the standards prescribed under subsection (e)
of this section, of--
(A) the availability of excess flow valves for installation in
the system;
(B) safety benefits to be derived from installation; and
(C) costs associated with installation, maintenance, and
replacement.
(2) The standards shall provide that, except when installation is
required under subsection (b) of this section, excess flow valves shall
be installed at the request of the customer if the customer will pay all
costs associated with installation.
(d) Report.--If the Secretary decides under subsection (b) of this
section that there are no circumstances under which an operator must
install excess flow valves, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the reasons for the decision not later than 30 days after the
decision is made.
(e) Performance Standards.--Not later than April 24, 1994, the
Secretary shall develop standards for the performance of excess flow
valves used to protect lines in a natural gas distribution system. The
Secretary may adopt industry accepted performance standards in order to
comply with the requirement under the preceding sentence. The standards
shall be incorporated into regulations the Secretary prescribes under
this section. All excess flow valves shall be installed according to the
standards.
(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1316; Pub. L. 104-
304, Secs. 8, 20(j), Oct. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 3800, 3805; Pub. L. 107-
355, Sec. 21(1), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 3010.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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60110(a).............................. 49 App.:1672(j)(5). Aug. 12, 1968, Pub. L. 90-481, 82 Stat.
720, Sec. 3(j); added Oct. 24, 1992,
Pub. L. 102-508, Sec. 104, 106 Stat.
3291.
60110(b).............................. 49 App.:1672(j)(1).
60110(c).............................. 49 App.:1672(j)(2).
60110(d).............................. 49 App.:1672(j)(3).
60110(e).............................. 49 App.:1672(j)(4).
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In subsection (a)(2), the words ``in a manner'' are omitted as
surplus.
In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words ``on when'' are
substituted for ``prescribing the circumstances, if any, under which''
to eliminate unnecessary words.
Amendments
2002--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107-355 substituted ``circumstances, if
any, under which an operator'' for ``circumstances under which an
operator'' in introductory provisions.
1996--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 20(j), substituted
``standards'' for ``regulations'' in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 8(1), which directed the
insertion of ``, if any,'' after ``circumstances'' in the first sentence
of subsection (b)(1), could not be executed because the word
``circumstances'' did not appear in subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 8(2), inserted ``, operating,
and maintaining'' after ``cost of installing''.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 20(j), substituted
``standards'' for ``regulations'' after ``prescribe'' in introductory
provisions.
Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 8(3), inserted ``,
maintenance, and replacement'' after ``installation''.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 20(j), substituted
``standards'' for ``regulations''.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-304, Sec. 8(4), inserted after first
sentence ``The Secretary may adopt industry accepted performance
standards in order to comply with the requirement under the preceding
sentence.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 60102 of this title.
