Waivers
General Order (GO) 112-F is the “State of California Rules Governing Design, Construction, Testing, Operation, and Maintenance of Gas Gathering, Transmission, and Distribution Piping Systems." The rules build upon the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations, specifically, 49 CFR Parts 191, 192, 193, and 199.2. Section 101.3 of GO 112-F allows for a utility, in special circumstances, to submit an application to waive compliance with specific rules in accordance with Section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968.
Recent Approved Waivers
(updated March 27, 2025)
Jan. 30, 2025: Resolution GSRB-2; Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0009
In Resolution GSRB-2, the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) grants Rockpoint Lodi Gas Storage, LLC’s (Rockpoint) request for a waiver of 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §§ 192.53, 192.55, 192.105, 192.107, 192.109, 192.111, 192.113, 192.144, 192.149, 192.150, 192.463, and 192.6191 for one intrastate natural gas transmission pipeline segment connecting Rockpoint’s facilities that extends approximately 0.78 miles in San Joaquin County. The waiver allows Rockpoint to use FlexSteel pipes to remediate its 12-inch Site 6 Pipeline in its Lodi Gas Storage facility. This Resolution also imposes a number of conditions that Rockpoint must meet on an ongoing basis in order for the waiver to continue to be valid.
On March 27, 2025, Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(d), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0009 in which PHMSA does not object to issuance of Resolution GSRB-2 by the Commission.
Jan. 16, 2025: Resolution GSRB-1; Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0007
In Resolution GSRB-1, the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) grants Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) request for a waiver of 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §§ 192.611(a) and (d) and 49 CFR § 192.619(a)1 for one intrastate natural gas transmission pipeline segment totaling 419.1 feet in a rural, sparsely located area of San Bernardino County. The waiver allows PG&E to use various integrity management procedures and enhanced integrity management tools instead of replacing the pipeline segment, reducing operating pressure, or conducting a pressure test. This Resolution also imposes a number of conditions that PG&E must meet on an ongoing basis in order for the waiver to continue to be valid.
On March 18, 2025, Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(d), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0007 in which PHMSA does not object to issuance of Resolution GSRB-1 by the Commission.
Mar. 8, 2021: Resolution M-4850; Attachment A and Attachment B
This Resolution is issued to ratify the Executive Director’s action taken by letter dated January 11, 2021, granting Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) a three-month waiver, with conditions, of compliance with specific sections of 49 C.F.R. Parts 190 through 199, promulgated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), for certain SoCalGas gas pipeline facilities in its service territory due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific PHMSA regulations for which this waiver is applicable are identified in a table in the Executive Director’s January 11, 2021 letter, entitled “ATTACHMENT 1 (Revised).” The Executive Director’s January 11, 2021 letter modifies the interim approval granted in her previous letter dated October 8, 2020.
The effect of the waiver will be to allow SoCalGas a three-month extension, beginning January 11, 2021, to perform certain required inspection, maintenance and other compliance activities required by PHMSA regulations, where COVID-19 makes compliance impossible or where the risk to human health and safety due to COVID-19 outweighs the safety risk due to the compliance delay.
Sep. 10, 2020: Resolution M-4845; Attachment A
This Resolution is issued to ratify the Executive Director’s letter dated May 18, 2020 with a minor adjustment of eliminating the clause “or until one month after the Shelter-In-Place is lifted”. The Executive Director’s letter authorized PG&E’s request for a six-month extension from current due dates to complete Leak Surveys and Atmospheric Corrosion Inspections where a “Can’t Get In” (CGI) situation exists, due to the current COVID-19 social distancing requirements.
Aug. 31, 2020: Resolution M-4844; Attachment A
This Resolution is issued to ratify the Executive Director’s action by letter dated June 30, 2020 granting interim approval to Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) for an approximately two-month extension (from June 2020 to August 21, 2020) to complete 49 CFR 192.465(a) Leak Surveys and Atmospheric Corrosion natural gas transmission line inspections where a “Can’t Get In” (CGI) situation exists.
Recent Denied Waivers
(updated March 20, 2025)
Mar. 20, 2025: SED's Response to SoCalGas' 6-Month Assessment Extension Requests for L1017, L2051, L4002, and L5000
On December 31, 2024, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) requested for 6-Month Assessment Extensions (49 CFR §192.939) for L1017, L2051, L4002, and L5000. On March 20, 2025, after further review, the California Public Utilities Commission's Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) denied SoCalGas' requests.
On October 5, 2021, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) requested for Extensions of Reassessment Interval (49 CFR §192.939) for L-105B in Contra Costa County, and L-118G in Merced County. On October 19, 2021, after further review, the California Public Utilities Commission's Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) denied PG&E's requests.
On September 30, 2021, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) requested for Extensions of Reassessment Interval (49 CFR §192.939) for Line 300A at Milpitas Terminal in Santa Clara County, and Line 109 in Santa Mateo County. On October 5, 2021, after further review, the California Public Utilities Commission's Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) denied PG&E's requests.