Interpretation Response #PI-76-037 ([Northwest Pipeline Corporation] [John M. Viehweg])
Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.
Interpretation Response Details
Response Publish Date:
Company Name: Northwest Pipeline Corporation
Individual Name: John M. Viehweg
Location State: UT Country: US
View the Interpretation Document
Response text:
Jul 14 1976
Mr. John M. Viehweg
Chief Engineer
Northwest Pipeline Corporation
P.O. Box 1526
Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Dear Mr. Viehweg:
This responds to your letter of April 28, 1976, informing us of you plans for additional LNG
facilities and asking for clarifications regarding standards incorporated by reference in 49 CFR
Part 192. As you are aware, Mr. Beheshti of your company discussed these issues with this
Office earlier in April. At that time, a copy of the Federal "Regulations for the Transportation of
Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline," 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192, and all subsequent amendments
were forwarded to you.
Your first question asks if adoption of NFPA 59A-1975 is likely in the near future.
Answer: Amendment 192-22, "Incorporation by Reference," shows that the 1972 edition of
NFPA 59A will become the referenced standard effective July 1, 1976. Because we are presently
developing independent Federal regulations for LNG facilities, it is unlikely that the 1975 edition
will be adopted. However, for planning your new facilities, you may wish to consider that the
LNG regulations propose to include or exceed any more stringent requirements set forth by the
NFPA 59A-1975 edition.
Your following Questions 2 through 5 cite specific examples where a standard which is
incorporated by reference in Appendix A in turn incorporates other standards by reference.
Because the criteria which you request in Question 5 also applies to your other questions, it is
presented at this point as follows:
Criteria
Where conformance with applicable requirements of a referenced standard is set forth as a
regulation under Part 192, only the specific edition cited in Appendix A has the standing of a
Federal regulation.
Where standards are incorporated in turn through a chain of references originating from
applicable requirements of the standard first referenced, the appropriate edition is determined as
follows:
(a) If the standard is also referenced in Appendix A and is applicable for the same
purposes as prescribed by Part 192, then the edition specified in Appendix A is the Federal
regulation.
(b) If, however, the standard is not referenced in Appendix A, or is referenced in
Appendix A but is applicable for purposes other than as prescribed by Part 192, then either
the edition specified in the reference chain, or if not specified, the edition that would have
been in effect on the effective date of the referential standard, is the appropriate referent
standard.
Question 2 asks if either edition may be used when the specified edition of a referent standard
incorporated through a chain of references differs from the edition referenced in Appendix A.
Answer: No, only one is applicable as determined by the foregoing criteria.
In Question 3 the circumstances are similar, except that the referent standard is not referenced in
Appendix A, and you ask if a later edition than that which is specified may be used.
Answer: No, because the later standard has not been subject to necessary rule-making
procedures. Criteria set forth in paragraph (b) above applies to this determination.
Question 4 is similar to Question 3, except that the edition of the referent standard incorporated
through a chain of references is not specified by the referential standard but is referenced in
Appendix A, and asks if a later edition than that which is specified in Appendix A may be used.
Answer: In accordance with the criteria, if the standard referenced in both Appendix A and a
reference chain is applicable for the same purpose, then the edition referenced in Appendix A
must be used, and the answer to your question is "no." If, however, a reference chain
incorporates a standard for prescribing requirements which are not applicable to the regulations of
Part 192, then the reference standard must be a particular edition, which may be either an earlier
or later edition than that referenced in Appendix A, as determined by the criteria.
Question 5 asks when a standard referenced in Appendix A successively incorporates a standard
which in turn incorporates another standard and referent standards are neither specified by edition
nor referenced in Appendix A, what criteria should an operator use in determining the applicable
edition?
Answer: The criteria requested is presented earlier. Determination of the appropriate edition of
the referent standard is accordingly dependent on applicability and not necessarily on being
referenced in Appendix A.
Question 6 asks if addenda or revisions to the applicable edition of a standard may be used.
Answer: Concordant with the answer to Question 3, such modifications may not be used unless
specifically incorporated by reference.
We trust this satisfactorily answers your questions and thank you for your interest in pipeline
safety.
Sincerely,
Cesar DeLeon
Acting Director
Office of Pipeline
Safety Operations