Section 29.12. Pipelines.

 

(1)   Location and alignment. The crossing location and alignment for pipeline installations or modifications shall be as follows:

(a) A pipeline shall not be located where conditions are unsuitable for pipeline crossings. Unsuitable locations include: in deep cuts, near footings of bridges or retaining walls, across drainage facilities where water flow may be obstructed, within the basin of an underpass drained by a pump or in wet or rocky terrain where it is difficult to bury the pipeline.

(b) Longitudinal pipeline installations or modifications shall be within 5 feet of the outer limits of the department railroad property.

(c) Vertical and horizontal clearances between the pipeline and the railroad and between the pipeline and other utility facilities shall be sufficient to permit maintenance of the pipeline, the railroad and all other utility facilities. Except in unusual circumstances, the pipeline shall be located outside the 45 ° cone of support for the footings of existing structures.

(2)   Depth.

(a) Crossings. For transverse installations or modifications, the vertical distance between the low point of the railroad cross section, usually the flow line of the ditch, and the top of the pipeline, or the pipeline casing when required, may not be less than 3 feet, unless special, suitable pipeline cover or protection is provided, or casing when required, and the base of the rails may not be less than 4 feet 6 inches on secondary or industrial tracks and may not be less than 5 feet 6 inches on main tracks.

(b) Longitudinal installations. For longitudinal installations or modifications, the vertical distance from the finished railroad property surface to the top of the pipeline, or casing when required, shall be at least 54 inches if within 50 feet of the track centerline and shall be at least 24 inches if more than 50 feet from the track centerline. These distances may not be reduced unless the pipeline is satisfactorily protected, such as with concrete, metal or other durable casing.

(c) Alternate location. If the minimum burying depths stated in pars. (a) and (b) are infeasible because of other utility facility placement, the water table, topographical features or an ordinance, a utility may locate the pipeline elsewhere so that the minimum burying depths stated are met.

(3)   Appurtenance requirements.

(a) Facilities appurtenant to pipelines, including manholes, vents, drains, markers, and valve and regulator pits, not located at the department railroad property boundary lines, shall be installed or modified so that their uppermost surfaces are flush and parallel to the adjacent surface.

(b) If a vent pipe is required, it shall be located and constructed so as not to interfere with railroad use or maintenance and shall not be concealed by vegetation. Vent pipes shall be placed as close as practicable to an existing fence or to a department railroad property boundary line.

(c) No drain for a casing, tunnel, or gallery enclosing a carrier of liquids, liquefied gas, or heavy gas may be located upon department railroad property.

(d) A utility shall place readily identifiable markers, conforming to all applicable Wisconsin administrative code requirements, at the location at which any department railroad property line is crossed by one of the utility's pipelines carrying any flammable, corrosive, expansive, energized or unstable contents.

(4)   Casing requirements.

(a) Casing required. A utility shall place its carrier in casing in the following circumstances:

1. Casing is required by the AREA, industry or company codes or policies or by public agency codes, laws or ordinances;

2. The minimum burying depth is less than that specified in sub. (2) ;

3. Future inserting, removing, replacing or maintaining of a carrier may be required and open trench construction is to be avoided;

(b) Casing standards.

1. A casing shall be designed to support the load of the railroad and of any superimposed loads. Casing shall meet at least minimally applicable design requirements.

2. Casing under railroad tracks and across department railroad property shall conform with the AREA.

3. If additional tracks are constructed in the future or the railroad operator determines that the roadbed should be widened, the casing shall be extended correspondingly to meet the requirements of subd. 2. The utility shall pay all costs of the extension.

4. The casing, when sealed, shall be properly vented. Vent pipes shall conform with the AREA.

5. Rigid casing or suitable bridging shall be used where track support would be impaired by a buried flexible carrier pipe.

6. The casing when sealed shall be sealed at the ends with a flexible material to prevent water or debris from entering the space between the casing and the carrier. If an end of a casing is below the ground, it shall be suitably sealed to the outside of the carrier pipeline.

(5)   Uncased pipelines. Gas lines may be uncased as long as the installation complies with the AREA. An uncased pipeline other than gas lines may be installed or modified beneath a department railroad facility if the installation or modification is made by open trench construction, if the carrier pipeline is not pressurized and if the utility agrees in writing to the following:

(a) To abandon in place, in a manner acceptable to the department, that segment of the pipeline beneath the tracks in which a leak or break develops;

(b) To tunnel, jack or dry bore any required replacement segment; and

(c) To provide for and comply with the following wherever applicable:

1. The pipeline shall conform to the material and design requirements of the utility industry, the AREA and of the applicable governmental codes and specifications. The pipeline shall be designed to support the load of the railroad and of any superimposed loads.

2. Satisfactory bridging, concrete slabs, enclosures, tunnels, boxing or other appropriate measures shall be used to protect existing uncased pipelines that, because of their shallow burial or their location, may be vulnerable to damage from railroad operations.

(6)   Trenched construction.

(a) Trenched construction of pipelines may be by open excavation or plowing. The construction shall:

1. Restore the structural integrity of the railroad facility;

2. Avoid deforming the pipeline;

3. Assure that the trench does not trap excessive moisture or become a drainage channel; and

4. Assure that the railroad drainage is not blocked by backfill.

(b) In all trenched construction, a utility shall conform to the American railway engineering association's manual for railway engineering standards for earthwork, culverts or other utility work.

(c) As a special condition of the permit, a railroad operator may require that backfill and track resurfacing be performed by the railroad operator's forces or under its direction at the expense of the utility.

(7)   Untrenched construction. A utility may install or modify a pipeline by tunneling, boring and jacking, coring or dry boring. Untrenched construction shall extend beneath the entire track zone. Boring shall result in a close fit to the casing or to the pipeline. The utility shall maintain the minimum satisfactory distances between the centerline of the track and the headers.

(8)   Adjusting existing pipelines. A utility shall adjust any of its existing pipelines as follows:

(a) The pipeline shall be protected as is required for a new pipeline by subs. (4) and (5) .

(b) The pipeline shall be relocated if the pipeline bedding is depressed by railroad loads or if the pipeline may be damaged because of insufficient cover.

(c) If the pipeline is too weak to support superimposed railroad loads, the pipeline shall be replaced by stronger pipe or protected in some other reasonable manner acceptable to the department.

(d) A railroad operator shall notify a utility of any railroad construction affecting the utility's pipelines. The utility shall be responsible for the security of each existing pipeline within the construction zone. If there are unusual utility facility hazards or if heavy construction equipment is used, the utility shall provide either a temporary protective cover of earth or a bridge over the pipeline.

(e) The utility shall bear all expenses incurred in adjusting utility facilities. This may include a new permit fee and reimbursement to the railroad operator for its expenditures.

Cr. Register, December, 1985, No. 360 , eff. 1-1-86; am. (1) (b), (2) (b), (4) (a) 1., (b) 2. (intro.), 4. and 6., (5) (intro.) and (c) 1., r. (4) (a) 2., 5. to 8., (b) 2. a. to d., renum. (4) (a) 3. and 4. to be (4) (a) 2. and 3., Register, January, 1999, No. 517 , eff. 2-1-99.

Note

The American Railway Engineering Association manual material is on file at the offices of the Department of Transportation, the Secretary of State, and the Legislative Reference Bureau. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1