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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 20. Public Utilities And Telecommunications
Agency 5. State Corporation Commission
Chapter 360. Licensed Professional Engineer to Exercise Responsible Charge over Certain Natural Gas Engineering Projects
12/22/2024

20VAC5-360-30. Use of professional engineers.

A. Any gas pipeline engineering plans or specifications for engineering work or services that (i) involve gas pipeline facilities, as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 USC § 60101 et seq., as amended and adopted by the commission in the commission's pipeline safety standards pursuant to § 56-257.2 of the Code of Virginia, and the federal pipeline safety laws and (ii) may present a material risk to public safety must be produced by or under the direct charge and supervision of a professional engineer with sufficient knowledge of a gas company's natural gas distribution system, and such plans or specifications must bear the professional engineer's stamp, in accordance with § 54.1-406 of the Code of Virginia.

B. A professional engineer must ensure that the plan or specification conforms to the applicable pipeline safety laws, regulations, and standards, and the review and use of a professional engineer's stamp must comply with the professional and ethical obligations set forth in Virginia.

C. Engineering services involving gas pipeline facilities and that present a material risk to public safety shall include:

1. New installation of district pressure regulator stations, compressor stations, or gate stations.

2. Reconfiguration or physical facility changes, other than routine operating adjustments and like-kind replacements, performed at district pressure regulator stations, compressor stations, or gate stations that alter or modify the configuration or overpressure protection of equipment.

3. Installation, uprating, repair, or abandonment of intrastate transmission pipelines.

4. Any distribution main piping modifications or replacement work falling within established district regulator awareness zones as established by each operator.

5. Construction or maintenance work on distribution mains, other than routine maintenance, inspections, and minor adjustments, that changes the system operating pressure and requires a bypass or a change in the system operating pressure that involves more than two tie-ins.

6. Installation of distribution mains where such mains attach to bridges or other engineered structures.

7. Installation of distribution mains, including replacements and extension projects, that are within or cross any public right-of-way.

8. Installation or abandonment of service lines connecting to transmission lines or installation or abandonment of service lines connecting to high-pressure distribution mains with a MAOP that exceeds 100 psig.

9. Installation of peak shaving facilities, to include any modifications or reconfigurations that would alter such a facility's pressure delivery characteristics.

10. Any other project in the judgment of the operator that poses a material risk to public safety.

D. A professional engineer's stamp is not required for emergency work, but a professional engineer's stamp is required after the emergency has been resolved if the remaining work or services are on a project that presents a material risk to public safety.

E. Incorporation of Guidelines into Operations and Maintenance Procedures: Each public service company shall incorporate the provisions of this chapter into its written procedures as required under 49 CFR Part 192 and the commission's pipeline safety standards.

Statutory Authority

§§ 12.1-13 and 56-257.2:1 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. January 1, 2022.

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