Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 118, Sec. 4. (SB 237) Effective January 1, 2026.
(a)Any existing oil pipeline that is six inches or larger that has been idle, inactive, or out of service for five years or more, shall not be restarted without passing a spike hydrostatic testing program.
(b)(1) (A) The hydrostatic spike test shall be at least 139 percent of the maximum operating pressure of the pipeline and shall not exceed 80 percent of the specific minimum yield strength, as determined appropriate by the State Fire Marshal.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), at the operator’s request, the minimum hydrostatic spike test pressure may be lower than 100 percent of
the specified minimum yield strength if the maximum operating pressure of the pipeline is correspondingly reduced.
(i)Pursuant to this subparagraph the hydrostatic spike test shall be at least 139 percent of the reduced maximum operating pressure of the pipeline, as determined appropriate by the State Fire Marshal.
(ii) The hydrostatic spike test shall be performed in segments to ensure every elevation point is tested.
(2)If the specified minimum yield strength is unknown, the specified minimum yield strength shall be determined pursuant to Section 195.106(b) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations before performing the hydrostatic spike test.
(c)The hydrostatic spike test shall be no more than 15 minutes, and be immediately followed by a hydrostatic test, which shall be held for a minimum of eight hours and meet the requirements of the State Fire Marshal.
(d)The hydrostatic and hydrostatic spike test shall be performed in segments to ensure every elevation point is tested.
(e)All tests shall be performed by a qualified testing company that is compliant with this chapter, as determined by the State Fire Marshal.
(f)The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement this section.
(g)The requirements of this section shall become operative
upon the effective date of this statute.
(h)The State Fire Marshal shall post on its public internet website information fully characterizing the parameters and results of each hydrostatic spike test performed, subject to any such information deemed confidential and proprietary, no less than 30 calendar days after each hydrostatic spike test is conducted pursuant to this section.
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