2012 California Codes
PUC - Public Utilities Code
DIVISION 2 - REGULATION OF RELATED BUSINESSES BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION [3901 - 5513]
CHAPTER 4.1 - Enforcement of Federal Pipeline Safety Standards for Propane Operators
Section 4451

  

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Supplier” means a person or corporation, other than a public utility, who sells propane and arranges for its delivery to the operator’s tank.

(b) “Distribution system” means a system of pipes, operated by a person or corporation other than a public utility, serving 10 or more customers, within a citywide area, an apartment house, a condominium, a cluster of homes, a shopping center, a combination of any of the above, a mobilehome park with two or more customers, or any system if a portion of the system is located in a public place, which is connected to a tank or tanks, for the purpose of distribution of propane to the end customers.

(c) “Operator” means the owner of the mobilehome park or the distribution system, or the designated responsible employee, manager, or legal representative.

(d) “Tank” means a vessel for the storage and distribution of propane.

(e) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(f) “Local enforcement agency” means the city, county, or city and county that has assumed the responsibility for the enforcement of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18300) of Part 2.1 of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code.

(g) “Federal law” or “federal pipeline standards” means the Federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U.S.C. Sec. 1671 et seq.) and the regulations contained in Parts 190, 191, and 192 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(h) “Propane” means propane gas, also known as liquid petroleum gas or LPG.

(i) “NFPA 58” means National Fire Protection Association Standard number 58, which covers rules and standards for propane service. The Legislature finds and declares that NFPA 58 is overseen by a national committee that ensures that the standard incorporates the latest in current and approved technology.

(j) “Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission.

(k) “General Order (or GO) 112” means the commission’s general order that sets out rules governing design, construction, testing, maintenance, and operation of utility gas gathering, transmission, and distribution piping systems. GO 112 incorporates, by reference, all the pertinent federal laws defined in subdivision (g).

(l) “Public place” means any system supplying two or more customers where any portion is under a public right of way.

(m) “Trust fund” means the propane safety inspection and enforcement trust fund established pursuant to Section 4462.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 651, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1997.)