Work in the protective zones of gas pipelines

The Vitebsk Regional Department for Supervision of Safe Work in Industry reminds business entities that by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 25.10.2022
No. 726, the "Regulations on the Procedure for Establishing Protective Zones of Gas Distribution System Facilities, Their Sizes and Modes of Use" (hereinafter - Regulations) have been approved.

Protective zone of the gas pipeline – a plot of land located between two parallel lines running on both sides of the gas pipeline axis.

According to the Regulations, the following sizes of protective zones are defined:

• along high-pressure gas pipelines of category I - in the form of a plot of land limited 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 plot of land limited by conditional lines running 7 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
• along medium-pressure gas pipelines - in the form of a plot of land limited by conditional lines running 4 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
• along low-pressure gas pipelines - in the form of a plot of land limited by conditional lines running 2 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;
• along underwater crossings of gas pipelines - in the form of a water space from the water surface to the bottom, enclosed between parallel planes, spaced 50 meters from the axes of the outer threads of the gas pipeline crossings on each side;
• around buildings of GRP, SHRP, territories of AGZS, RU, and group cylinder installations - in the form of a plot of land limited by a conditional line, set back 10 meters from the boundaries of the territories of the specified facilities in all directions.

According to paragraph 640 of the Rules for Ensuring Industrial Safety in the Field of Gas Supply, approved by the resolution of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 05.12.2022 No. 66, when carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protective zones of gas distribution system facilities, the safety of gas pipelines and structures must be ensured.

In the boundaries of hazardous zones it is prohibited:

-to move, dismantle, bury, damage markers of underground gas pipeline routes and locations of network structures on them, control and measuring points;

-to open manholes of gas wells and covers, gates of RU
and doors of GRP, SHRP, gas pipeline corrosion protection stations, to open and close valves and shut-off devices, to disconnect and connect power supply and telemechanics of gas pipelines;

-to create dumps, to pour aggressive liquids, including acid, salt, and alkali solutions;

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

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

-to throw anchors, to pass with released anchors, chains, lots, and trawls, to conduct trawling with rigid and semi-rigid trawls;

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

-to hold any events related to a large gathering of people not engaged in performing permitted works in the established manner;

-to carry out 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;

-to plant, grow, or allow the growth of trees within:

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

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

An interested legal entity or individual entrepreneur, if necessary to carry out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protective zone of a gas distribution system facility, must submit a request for permission to the gas supply organization or its structural unit in written or electronic form through the single portal of electronic services:

a request for permission to carry out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protective zone of a gas distribution system facility;

a project for the work that meets the requirements of legislation on architectural, urban planning, and construction activities.

The gas supply organization (its structural unit) considers the request for work, the project for the work, and makes a decision on issuing permission to the legal entity or individual entrepreneur or on refusing to issue it (on refusing to carry out the administrative procedure) within the time frame 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 dated September 24, 2021 No. 548 (5 working days, and if a request is sent to other state bodies, other organizations – 15 working days).

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who have received permission are obliged to comply with (fulfill) the requirements (conditions) specified in it for carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks in the protective zone.

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 term for carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks exceeds or has exceeded three months.

Work in the protective zone is carried out in the presence of the work supervisor and a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility) in the manner specified in the permit.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs carrying out repair, construction, and earthworks in protective zones must, no later than one day before the start of work, in the manner specified in the permit, call a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility) to the work site.

Agricultural work in protective zones is carried out by land users with prior notification of the owners of gas distribution system facilities about their commencement.

We draw the attention of business entities that according to Article 18.34 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses dated January 6, 2021 No. 91-3, with 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: for individuals from ten to forty basic units, for individual entrepreneurs – up to fifty basic units, for legal entities – up to two hundred basic units.

The Vitebsk Regional Department of Gospronnadzor.