Section 29.10. Utility facility specifications.

 

(1)   Location.

(a) General. A utility shall always locate its utility facilities to minimize the need for subsequent adjustments to accommodate future railroad improvements and to allow for the later servicing or expanding of its utility facilities with minimal obstruction to or interference with the flow of railroad traffic.

(b) Longitudinal placement. Utility facility longitudinal installations or modifications shall be located on alignments uniformly parallel to and within 5 feet of the outer limits of the department railroad property. A different alignment may be approved if the department and railroad agree. No installation or modification may be approved within the track zone.

(c) Transverse crossings. Utility facilities shall cross the department railroad property on a line as nearly perpendicular to the railroad track alignment as is practicable.

(2)   Utility facility design and installation.

(a) General. The utility shall provide the department with a design of each utility facility to be installed or modified within the department railroad property. The department shall review the utility's facility design with respect to its location and to the manner of its installation or modification. The department shall also review the facility design with respect to the measures proposed to preserve safe and free railroad traffic flow, structural integrity of the railroad facilities, ease of railroad maintenance and the aesthetic appearance of the department railroad property.

(b) Utility facility design standards. The minimum new utility facility design, construction and operation standards shall be those found in the Wisconsin administrative code for the utility and the utility activity in question. If the codes, ordinances or laws of any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the utility or over its activities are more restrictive than this chapter, they shall govern. All new utility facility installations or modifications shall, as a minimum, meet the following requirements:

1. Electrical power and electronic communication utility facilities shall conform with ch. PSC 114 , Wis. Adm. Code.

2. Water lines shall conform with the specifications of the American water works association and chs. NR 110 and 811 , Wis. Adm. Code.

3. Pressure pipelines shall conform with the requirements of title 49, code of federal regulations, parts 192, 193, subparts A, B and D, attached as appendix 1, and 195, and ch. PSC 135 .

4. Liquid petroleum pipelines shall conform with the recommended practices of the American petroleum institute for pipeline crossings under railroads and highways.

(c) Drainage and other utility facilities. A utility shall take extreme care in installing or modifying a utility facility to avoid disturbing either existing drainage facilities or other previously installed underground utility facilities. Where appropriate, trenches for underground utility facilities shall be backfilled with previously excavated material, and necessary outlets shall be provided to prevent water entrapment. Underdrains shall be provided where necessary.

Cr. Register, December, 1985, No. 360 , eff. 1-1-86; correction in (2) (b) 2. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, August, 1996, No. 488 , eff. 9-1-96; am. (1) (b) and (2) (b) 3., Register, January, 1999, No. 517 , eff. 2-1-99.

Note

Copies of the National Electric Safety Code, the American Water Works Association specifications, 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 and the American Petroleum Institute recommended practices are 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