Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 956

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) On or before July 1, 2012, the commission shall open an appropriate proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding to establish compatible emergency response standards that owners or operators of commission-regulated gas pipeline facilities shall be required to follow for intrastate transmission and distribution lines. The commission shall establish the standards to ensure that intrastate transmission and distribution lines have emergency response plans that adequately prepare them for a natural disaster or malfunction that could cause injury to human life or property, with the purpose of minimizing the occurrence of both.

(b) The commission shall establish the compatible emergency response standards in consultation with the California Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Marshal, and members of California's first responder community including, but not limited to, members of the California Fire Chiefs Association.

(c) The compatible emergency response standards shall require owners or operators of intrastate transmission and distribution lines to implement emergency response plans that are compatible with the United States Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's regulations concerning emergency plans contained in Section 192.615 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and those plans shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following requirements:

(1) Emergency shutdown and pressure reduction shall be utilized whenever deemed necessary and appropriate by the owners or operators to minimize hazards to life or property. An owner or operator shall notify appropriate first responders of emergency shutdown and pressure reduction.

(2) During an emergency response effort, the incident commander may direct coordination between first responders and owners or operators to ensure timely and ongoing communication on decisions for emergency shutdown and pressure reduction.

(3) Owners or operators of intrastate transmission and distribution lines shall establish and maintain liaison with appropriate fire, police, and other public officials to do all of the following:

(A) Learn the responsibility and resources of each government organization that may respond to a gas pipeline emergency, including, but not limited to, the role of the incident commander in an emergency.

(B) Acquaint the officials with the owner's or operator's ability in responding to a gas pipeline emergency.

(C) Identify the types of gas pipeline emergencies of which the owner or operator notifies the officials.

(D) Plan how the owner or operator and officials can engage in mutual assistance to minimize hazards to life or property.

(E) Identify and update information on individual personnel responsible for the liaison with the appropriate first responder organizations.

(4) Owners and operators of intrastate transmission lines shall provide the State Fire Marshal and the chief fire official of the applicable city, county, city and county, or fire protection district with instructions on how to access and utilize the National Pipeline Mapping System developed by the United States Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, utilizing data submitted pursuant to Section 60132 of Title 49 of the United States Code, to improve local response capabilities for pipeline emergencies.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - California Code, Public Utilities Code - PUC § 956 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/public-utilities-code/puc-sect-956/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard