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(a) Purpose.

(1) This section applies to pipelines including flowlines, off-location flowlines, crude oil transfer lines, off-location produced water flowlines, and gathering systems.

(b) Easements.

(1) All pipeline rights-of-way (ROW) or easements shall be located outside existing and future road ROWs (except for crossings) based on the latest available roadway information.

(c) License agreements.

(1) License agreements are required for all crossing of city ROW and city easements.

(d) Stormwater management.

(1) For total project disturbances over one acre, operator must apply for and obtain a city stormwater and erosion control permit. Erosion and sedimentation control is required.

(e) General requirements.

(1) Following construction, the site shall be left in as good a condition as prior to construction, and operator shall work with the applicable surface owner on restoration. Operator shall restore the site to a substantially similar condition as it existed prior to construction unless otherwise agreed by the city in writing.

(2) All new pipelines shall have the legal description of the location recorded with the clerk and recorder of the county within 30 days of completion of construction and provide the city GIS feature classes in the projection identified by the city.

(3) Operator will submit to the city all records and plans required to be submitted to PHMSA or the PUC, including those related to inspections, pressure testing, pipeline accidents, and other safety incidents.

(4) Once the pipelines are no longer in use, they shall be properly abandoned as required by applicable COGCC, PUC or PHMSA rules. All pipelines installed greater than 50 years ago shall be properly abandoned or recertified by a third party, and the certification shall be provided to the city.

(f) Pipeline location requirements.

(1) Pipeline location requirements allow the city to properly exercise its land use authority. Operator is responsible for locating all existing (both city and other party) and city-proposed utility crossings and ensure a minimum vertical separation of five feet below said crossing. The city will provide evidence of existing and proposed, if applicable, utility crossings during the permit application process. If, during the crossing design, a reduced vertical separation is requested due to site-specific factors, the city engineer can approve a crossing with as little separation as five feet or other distance when applicable, feasible, and appropriate. Some crossing locations may be subject to additional requirements, including enhanced stabilization. The city engineer can approve utility crossings that infringe on a 10-foot clear space as needed.

(2) All pipeline utility crossings shall be perpendicular or a minimum crossing angle of 60 degrees.

(3) Horizontal offsets to all existing and proposed city utilities shall be a minimum of 10 feet edge to edge with the exception of critical infrastructure or planned critical infrastructure, then the horizontal offset shall be a minimum of 30 feet. Offsets shall be measured from the pipe/utility itself. The city will provide evidence of existing and proposed, if applicable, utility crossings and critical infrastructure during the permit application process. Construction equipment is not allowed on top of critical infrastructure unless additional protection, as approved by the city, is applied.

(4) The pipeline shall not have an undue adverse effect on existing and future development on the surrounding area as set forth in applicable city master plans and shall mitigate negative impacts on the surrounding area to the greatest extent feasible.

(5) The nature and location or expansion of the pipeline will not unreasonably interfere with any significant wildlife habitat and will not unreasonably affect any endangered wildlife species, unique natural resource, known historical landmark, or archaeological site within the affected area.

(6) No adverse impact from stormwater runoff to the public ROWs, or water supply, and/or surrounding properties will result because of the pipeline.

(7) Operator shall mitigate any conflicts with any mutual irrigation ditch and/or structures used to transport water within the easement or ROW of the pipeline.

(8) No pipeline shall be constructed in any zoning district until approved by the city.

(9) Pipeline route shall follow quarter-sections or existing ROW and may not traverse properties diagonally unless the diagonal distance is less than 250 feet or unless agreed to by landowner or developer, with coordination of the city. For all routes on a nonplatted parcel of land that do not meet the criteria in this paragraph, the operator shall consult the city as to an acceptable pipeline route.

(10) No pipelines shall be allowed in city ROW, with the exception of ROW crossings, and the edge of the closest pipeline to city ROW must be a minimum distance of 30 feet. Any pipeline which is located within an easement obtained on or after the date of the OGMP, and within an existing and/or future ROW, shall be moved at the expense of the operator and/or permitted upon receipt of notice by the city of its intent to improve or construct a roadway within the ROW.

(11) Maximum pipeline corridor width shall be 75 feet. The city engineer may approve a different width when applicable, feasible, and appropriate. Temporary construction easements are not included in maximum width.

(12) Unless infeasible, all pipelines shall be sited a minimum of 150 feet away from general residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, as well as the high-water mark or floodplain of any water of the United States as defined by the EPA. This distance shall be measured from the nearest edge of the pipelines. Off-location flowlines, and crude oil transfer lines that pass within 150 feet of general residential, commercial, and industrial buildings or the high-water mark or floodplain of any water of the United States as defined by the EPA shall incorporate leak detection, secondary containment, or other mitigation, as appropriate. The mitigation plan for such pipelines shall be submitted to the city.

(13) Floodways, creeks, ditches, and other conveyances shall be bored underneath at a depth no less than 20 feet as determined by a professional engineer stamped geotechnical report and horizontal directional drilling design.

(14) The pipeline buried depth shall be a minimum of 48 inches for all pipes outside of the city ROW. All pipes within the arterial city ROWs shall be a minimum of 20 feet depth. All pipes within all other city ROWs shall be a minimum of 15 feet depth. All pipelines installed beneath public ROW shall be bored unless a variance request is otherwise approved by the city engineer and the oil and gas manager. Table 135-38-1 summarizes these requirements:

Table 135-38-1. Pipeline Burial Depths

Area

Minimum Cover (feet)

Required Construction Method

Outside of public ROW or floodplains

4

Not Specified

Public ROW crossings

20

Bored

Within the arterial city ROWs

20

Bored

All other city ROWs

15

Bored

Floodplains

20

Bored

Floodways, creeks, ditches, and other conveyances

20

Bored

(15) Operators of natural gas gathering lines must submit an air quality plan detailing how the operator will prevent or minimize and mitigate emissions.

(g) Testing and maintenance.

(1) All phases of construction shall be inspected by operator's third-party inspectors. (Ord. No. 2021-15, § 16, 6-14-2021)