This regulation establishes requirements for the reporting of natural gas pipeline leaks and test failures by operators of transmission and distribution systems and by operators of gathering systems located in populated areas. This regulation supersedes all accident reporting requirements contained in the Interim Minimum Federal Safety Standards for the Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline, as set forth in Part 190 of this chapter. The substance of this regulation was issued as a notice of proposed rule making on July 8, 1969 (Notice 69-1, 33 FR. 11979). The public was also provided with copies of the forms that the Department proposed for submitting the prescribed reports. In response to these proposals, over 200 comments were submitted. All have been carefully considered and many have resulted in changes that should improve the usefulness of the regulation and the forms.