Section 15-3702. REPORTING AND REPARING REQUIREMENTS FOR GAS LEAKS AND ODOR COMPLAINTS

 

3702.1The natural gas utility’s reporting and repair requirements for gas leaks and odor complaints shall follow four steps: (i) respond to all leaks and odor complaints; (ii) notify, by e-mail and telephone, OE and OPC; (iii) provide periodic updates to the initial notification; and (iv) submit written reports on the results of the leak detection and repair, and odor complaints.  The leak detection, classification, and repair personnel should meet the federal training requirements for natural gas operations, maintenance, and emergencies (49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 192).

 

3702.2The natural gas utility shall respond to (be at the site of) all gas leaks or customer reported odor complaint calls involving a strong gas leak, carbon monoxide, illness, broken service main or gaslight, fire in progress, explosion, uncontrolled appliance heat, steam or noise, gas blowing or hissing, second call, or pressure alarm, or presents an immediate or probable hazard to persons or property and requires immediate repair or continuous action until the conditions are no longer hazardous within fifty (50) minutes after the utility’s dispatch has been informed about the leak and/or odor complaint during business or non-business hours.  The natural gas utility shall respond to (be at the site of) all gas leaks or customer reported odor complaint calls involving a “medium” gas leak, noise, or a leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous at the time of detection, but requires scheduled repair based on probable future hazard, within sixty (60) minutes after the utility’s dispatch has been informed about the leak and/or odor complaint during business or non-business hours.  For gas leaks and customer reported odor complaint calls involving a “slight” gas leak, or a leak that is non-hazardous at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to remain non-hazardous, a response shall involve making a determination as to the severity of the gas leaks and/or reported odor complaints and indicating to the customer/caller when a representative will be at the site, but not later than ninety-five (95) minutes after the utility’s dispatch has been informed about the leak and/or odor complaint during business and non-business hours.  The natural gas utility shall provide the results to OE and OPC on a semi-annual basis. The natural gas utility shall provide explanations if these time limits are exceeded. 

 

3702.3 The natural gas utility shall report to OE and OPC by telephone and e-mail all natural gas leaks and customer reported odor complaint calls at the earliest practicable time, but not later than one (1) hour after the utility’s dispatch has been informed about and determined that the odor complaint resulted from a leak and/or the dispatch has determined that a leak has occurred on the utility’s gas system, with as much detailed information as possible.  To the extent all information required by Section 3702.5 is not available at the time of the initial communication, the natural gas utility shall within two (2) hours of the dispatch supplement its initial report with the additional information. Gas leaks found inside customers’ facilities and odor complaints where no leaks are found shall not be reported.  This reporting requirement applies to business and non-business hours. 

 

3702.4Each gas leak shall be categorized as Grade 1, 2, or 3. All leaks shall be classified with the following criteria:

(a) Grade 1:  A leak that presents an immediate or probable hazard to persons or property, and requires immediate repair or continuous action until the conditions are no longer hazardous;

 

(b)Grade 2: A leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous at the time of detection, but requires scheduled repair based on probable future hazard; and

(c) Grade 3: A leak that is non-hazardous at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to remain non-hazardous.

 

3702.5 Each telephone and e-mail report of a Grade 1 leak or a leak due to a gas-related odor complaint shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information:

(a)   A description of the type of leak(s);

(b)   The location of the leak(s), including street addresses;

(c)   The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak(s) occurred;

(d) The estimated number of customers and/or persons whose service was disrupted, if known;

(e) A preliminary assessment as to the cause of the leak(s), if known; and

 

(f)   The estimated time to repair the leak, if known. 

 

The natural gas utility shall provide regular updates, to OE and OPC, to the initial report as it receives more information.

 

3702.6 Each e-mail report of a Grade 2 leak shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information:

 

(a)   A description of the type of leak(s);

(b)   The location of the leak(s), including street addresses;

(c)   The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak(s) occurred;

(d) A preliminary assessment as to the cause of the leak(s), if known;  and

(e)   The estimated time to repair the leak(s), if known.

 

3702.7 Each e-mail report of a Grade 3 leak shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information:

 

(a)   A description of the type of leak(s);

(b)   The location of the leak(s), including street addresses; and

(c)   The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak(s) occurred.

 

3702.8All Grade 1 leaks shall be promptly repaired.  If not repaired immediately, upon detection, the utility shall submit a weekly written report to OE and OPC regarding the status of and the utility’s progress in completing the leak repair.  The natural gas utility shall inform OE and OPC prior to making any changes to the estimated leak repair time(s).

 

3702.9Each written report concerning Grade 1 leaks or customer reported odor complaint leaks shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information as applicable to the incident:

(a) Address and location of the leak or odor;

(b) A description of the type of leak;

(c) Pressure involved (Transmission, High Pressure, Medium Pressure or Low Pressure);

(d) The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak has been identified;

(e) The time the utility received the first call regarding a gas leak or leak detection;

(f) The cause of the leak, if known;

(g) The actual repair time; and

(h) Any action taken to date.

 

3702.10Grade 2 leaks shall be monitored and reevaluated at least once every six months until cleared with no further signs of leak.  Depending on the location and magnitude of the leakage condition, reevaluation may be made earlier than six months.  If reevaluation of a Grade 2 leak indicates potential hazard, it shall be scheduled for repair within five (5) working days of completed evaluation.  For Grade 2 leaks that do not pose an immediate hazard, the utility shall schedule repairs within thirty (30) days.  Grade 2 leaks shall be repaired or cleared within one calendar year, but no later than 15 months from the date the leak was reported. 

 

3702.11Grade 3 leaks shall be monitored and reevaluated during the next scheduled leak survey, or within 15 months of the date reported, whichever occurs first, until the leak is regraded or cleared with no further signs of leak.

 

3702.12 Written reports for leaks classified as Grade 2 and Grade 3 shall be filed semi-annually with OCMS and OPC.  The report shall be submitted forty-five (45) days after the reporting period, starting with the six-month reporting period following the NGQSS’s adoption in Title 15 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).

 

3702.13 Each semi-annual written report concerning Grade 2 leaks, shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information as applicable:

(a)  Address and location of the leak or odor;

(b)   A description of the type of leak;

(c)  Pressure involved (Transmission, High Pressure, Medium Pressure

 or Low Pressure);

(d) The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak was identified;

(e) Assessment as to the cause of the leak(s); and

(f) The schedule and the status of repair of all Grade 2 leaks consistent with the standard provided in Section 3702.10.

3702.14 Each semi-annual written report concerning Grade 3 leaks, shall state clearly, at a minimum, the following information as applicable:

(a)  Address and location of the leak or odor;

(b)   A description of the type of leak;

 

(c)  Pressure involved (Transmission, High Pressure, Medium Pressure

 or Low Pressure);

(d)   The ward(s) and/or quadrant(s) where the leak was identified; and

(e)  The status of reevaluation and repair schedule, if applicable, of Grade 3 leaks, consistent with Section 3702.11.

3702.15The natural gas utility shall create and maintain database(s) for all gas leaks and customer reported gas-related odor complaints.  The database(s) shall be referred to as the “Leak Identification, Detection and Repair, and Odor Complaints (LIDAROC)”.  The database(s) shall contain, at a minimum, the grade of the leak, type of leak, location of the leak, the ward and/or quadrant where the leak occurred, estimated number of customers whose services were disrupted because of the leak, the cause of the leak, response time, estimated and actual time to repair the leak, and actions taken.  The natural gas utility shall incorporate all natural gas leaks and customer reported odor complaint calls into the database(s) within five (5) days of receipt of the gas-related odor complaint and/or determination that a leak has occurred on its gas system.  The database(s) shall be organized in a way that permits analysis of the data by the time taken to respond, repair, and resolve the gas leaks.

 

3702.16The natural gas utility shall update the database(s) after it has repaired and/or resolved the leak and customer reported odor complaints and shall submit an electronic and a hard copy of the database (s) to OE and OPC on a quarterly basis.

 

authority

D. C. Official Code § 2-505 (2001 Ed.)

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 7646 (September 25, 2009), incorporating text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 1827, 1835 (February 27, 2009); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 9562 (December 25, 2009), incorporating text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 8599 (October 30, 2009).