Work in gas pipeline protection zones

The Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate for Safe Operation in Industry reminds economic entities that the Regulation on the procedure for establishing security zones of gas distribution system facilities, their sizes and the regime of their use (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation) was approved by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 25.10.2022 No. 726.

Gas pipeline security zone is a land plot located between two parallel lines running on both sides of the gas pipeline axis.

According to the Regulation, the following sizes of security zones are defined:

along high-pressure gas pipelines of category I – in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 10 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
along high-pressure gas pipelines of category II – in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 7 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
along medium-pressure gas pipelines – in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 4 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
along low-pressure gas pipelines – in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 2 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
along underwater gas pipeline crossings – in the form of a water area from the water surface to the bottom, enclosed between parallel planes, offset from the axes of the extreme threads of the gas pipeline crossings by 50 meters on each side;
around gas distribution points (GRPs), gas regulating points (SHRPs), liquefied gas filling stations (AGZS), distribution units (RU) and group cylinder installations – in the form of a land plot bounded by a conditional line offset from the boundaries of the territories of the specified facilities by 10 meters in all directions.

In accordance with clause 640 of the Industrial Safety Rules in the Field of Gas Supply, approved by the Decree of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 05.12.2022 No. 66, when carrying out repair, construction and excavation work in the security zones of gas distribution system facilities, the integrity of gas pipelines and structures must be ensured.

Within the boundaries of hazardous zones, it is prohibited to:

- move, dismantle, cover, or damage markers of underground gas pipeline routes and locations of network facilities on them, as well as control and measuring points;

- arbitrarily open gas well and manhole covers, gates of switchgear and doors of gas distribution points, gas distribution points, gas pipeline corrosion protection stations, open and close valves and shut-off valves, disconnect and connect gas pipeline power supply and telemechanics systems;

- create dumps, pour aggressive liquids, including solutions of acids, salts, and alkalis;

- store materials and equipment, including for temporary storage, along the underground gas pipeline route within 2 meters on both sides of its axis;

- destroy structures and devices that protect gas pipelines and facilities on them from damage;

- drop anchors, pass with anchors, chains, sounding leads, drag dredges, conduct trawling with rigid and semi-rigid trawls;

- make fires and place any open or closed sources of fire;

- carry out any events involving large gatherings of people not engaged in work permitted in the established manner;

- carry out the construction of buildings, structures, and facilities in violation of the minimum distances to gas distribution system facilities established by technical regulatory legal acts, including building codes, and other rules;

- plant, grow, or allow trees to grow within:

1 meter on both sides of the axis of an underground polyethylene gas pipeline with a diameter of up to 63 mm inclusive;
2 meters on both sides of the axis of an underground steel gas pipeline regardless of its diameter, and an underground polyethylene gas pipeline with a diameter of more than 63 mm.

- carry out repair, construction, and earthworks without a permit issued by the gas supply organization (unless otherwise specified by the Regulations).

An interested legal entity or individual entrepreneur, if repair, construction, and earthworks are necessary in the protection zone of a gas distribution system facility, provides to the gas supply organization or its structural unit, in written or electronic form via the unified portal of electronic services, the following to obtain a permit:

an application for a permit to carry out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protection zone of a gas distribution system facility;

a work execution project that complies with the requirements of the legislation on architectural, town-planning, and construction activities.

The gas supply organization (its structural unit) reviews the application for carrying out works and the work execution project and makes a decision to issue a permit to the legal entity or individual entrepreneur or to refuse its issuance (refuse to perform the administrative procedure) within the period established in subparagraph 3.15.1 of paragraph 3.15 of the unified list of administrative procedures carried out in relation to business entities, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of September 24, 2021, No. 548 (5 working days, and in case of sending a request to other state bodies, other organizations – 15 working days).

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who have obtained a permit are obliged to comply with (fulfill) the requirements (conditions) for carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protection zone specified therein.

Upon expiration of the permit, the interested party has the right to apply, in the manner established by these Regulations, for a new permit if the duration of repair, construction, and earthworks exceeds or has exceeded three months.

Works in the protection zone are carried out in the presence of the work supervisor, as well as a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility), in the manner determined by the permit.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks in protected zones are obliged to summon a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility) to the work site no later than one day before the commencement of work, in the manner determined by the permit.

Agricultural work in protected zones is carried out by land users with prior notification of its commencement to the owners of the gas distribution system facilities.

We draw the attention of economic entities to the fact that, in accordance with Article 18.34 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses dated January 6, 2021, No. 91-3, taking into account amendments and additions, violation of the rules for the protection of main and other pipelines entails the imposition of a fine in the following amounts: on an individual – from ten to forty basic units, on an individual entrepreneur – up to fifty basic units, on a legal entity – up to two hundred basic units.

Vitebsk Regional Directorate of Gospromnadzor.