(1) Every person whose job duties or responsibilities include the classification of natural gas leaks shall be trained and qualified pursuant to 49 CFR Part 192.805 to ensure proper leak classification.
(2) Each Gas Company shall classify natural gas leaks utilizing established gas leak classification criteria and a method to determine sub-surface gas migration as set forth in the Gas Companies’ operating procedures within a reasonable amount of time of discovery, taking into consideration the following:
(a) the operating pressure of the Pipeline;
(b) the size of the leak migration pattern;
(c) the population density; and
(d) the proximity to buildings and structures.
(3) Each Gas Company shall assess a grade to all reported natural gas leaks as follows:
(a) Grade 1 Leak. A Grade 1 Leak shall be a leak that represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or property. Grade 1 leaks require the immediate commencement of repair and continuous action until the conditions are no longer hazardous, the source of the leak is eliminated, and permanent repairs have been completed. Whenever appropriate and feasible, a Gas Company shall notify the fire department and chief law enforcement officer in each city or town where a Grade 1 Leak is identified.
(b) Grade 2 Leak. A Grade 2 Leak shall be a leak that is recognized as nonhazardous to persons or property at the time of detection, but justifies scheduled repair based on probable future hazard. The Gas Company shall repair Grade 2 leaks or replace the Pipeline within 12 months from the date the leak was classified. All Grade 2 leaks shall be reevaluated by a Gas Company at least once every six months until eliminated; provided however, that the frequency of reevaluation shall be determined by the location and magnitude of the leakage condition.
(c) Grade 3 Leak. A Grade 3 Leak shall be a leak that is recognized as nonhazardous to persons or property at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to remain non-hazardous. The Gas Company shall reevaluate Grade 3 leaks during the next scheduled survey, or within 12 months from the date last evaluated, whichever occurs first, until the leak is eliminated or the Pipeline is replaced. A municipal or state public safety official may request a reevaluation of a Grade 3 leak prior to the next scheduled survey, or sooner than 12 months of the date last evaluated, if the official reasonably believes that the Grade 3 leak poses a threat to public safety. Each Gas Company shall repair or eliminate Grade 3 leaks located on non-GSEP facilities that are initially classified on January 1, 2018 or later, other than those that were designated as environmentally significant in accordance with 220 CMR 114.07(1), within eight years.
(4) Each Gas Company shall file a plan with the Department to eliminate Grade 3 leaks on non-GSEP facilities that existed prior to January 1, 2018, in either its next Annual Service Quality Report, if required to submit such report, or on March 1, 2020. The Gas Companies shall thereafter submit an update in each subsequent Annual Service Quality Report, or annually on March 1st, until all such leaks are eliminated.
Amended by Mass Register Issue 1387, eff. 3/22/2019.
Amended by Mass Register Issue 1389, eff. 3/22/2019.