HSC Press Release C038:02 - 22 August 2002
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) today announces a three-month consultation period seeking views from a wide range of organisations and individuals interested in proposals to amend the Pipelines Safety Regulations (1996) (PSR).
Amendments to PSR would put in place a legal commitment on pipeline operators to replace all gas-carrying iron pipes identified within the iron mains replacement programme within a finite period.
Kevin Allars, head of HSE's Hazardous Installations Policy Division, explains:
"When the iron mains replacement programme was announced in September 2001, we recognised that in order to give full legal effect we would need to review the existing regulations - this proposal comes as a result of that."
HSC will send the consultation document to:
1. Decisions to introduce the iron mains replacement programme were taken by HSE on 1 August 2001, following full consultation with Transco, OFGEM and Energywatch. HSE published a press notice on 18 September 2001 detailing its enforcement policy (and www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/gasmain.pdf)
2. The work of replacing the iron mains with plastic pipes is the responsibility of Transco, the UK's largest gas transporter. The work has been going on since 1977, during which time 61,000 kilometres of iron mains have already been replaced. A further 91,000 kilometres of 'at risk' iron mains still remain to be replaced. 'At risk' is defined as those iron mains laid within 30 metres of public habitation. The first five years of a finite programme for this remaining work has now been agreed between Transco and HSE.
3. Copies of the free consultation document Proposals for amendments to the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (CD183) will be available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/condocs/index.htm
All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office
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