API RP 80:2000(R2013) pdf download.Guidance for the Definition of Onshore Gas Gathering Lines
1 General
1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This industry standard provides a functional description of onshore gas gathering pipelines for the sole purpose of pro- viding users with a practical guide for determining the appli- cation of the definition of gas gathering in the federal Gas Pipeline Safety Standards, 49 CFR Part 192 , and state pro- grams implementing these standards. The definition of “gas gathering” reflects the varied nature of the gas industry throughout the country. Because of the regional and operational diversity within the gas industry, additional guidance—either within the regulation or through incorporation of a recognized industry standard—is neces- sary to ensure appropriate and consistent application of the gas gathering line definition. This Recommended Practice was developed as such a standard through the joint efforts of the regulated community.
1.2 BACKGROUND
1.2.1 A definition for “gathering line” was adopted as part of the federal Gas Pipeline Safety Standards in August 1970 to implement the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) issued a Notice of Pro- posed Rulemaking (Docket No. OPS-31, Notice 74-7; 39 Fed. Reg. 34569) on September 20, 1974, to clarify this defi- nition. Notice 74-7 was subsequently withdrawn because OPS determined that many words and phrases in the proposal were open to varied interpretation. On September 25, 1991, OPS again published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket No. PS-122, Notice 1; 56 Fed. Reg. 48505) to revise the regulatory definition of “gathering line.” A significant number of comments that opposed adoption of the definition as proposed were filed with the agency.
1.2.2 The Pipeline Safety Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-105), enacted October 24, 1992, and amended in 1996, directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to define the term “gathering line” in its gas pipeline safety regulations and to consider the merit of revising pipeline safety regulation of such lines. On March 11, 1999, DOT issued a Request for Comments that announced an electronic public discussion forum and subsequent written comment period to provide an opportunity for public input to allow DOT to decide whether and how to modify the definition and regulatory status of gas gathering lines for the purposes of pipeline safety regulation. (Docket No. RSPA-98-4868, Notice 1; 64 Fed. Reg. 12147.) The official comment period closed October 7, 1999.