Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 16.18 Excavations and Encroachments

The provisions of this chapter apply to permits for the making, or causing to be made, in any highway, of excavations, and for the placing, constructing, testing, repairing, changing, monitoring, removing or abandoning of facilities or encroachments. The provisions of this chapter also apply to written emergency plans for owners or operators of pipelines used to convey toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids, and mandatory membership in a one-call notification system.

(Ord. 12038 § 4, 1979: Ord. 11581 § 5, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 801, 1940.)

When a one-call notification system is operational in the unincorporated territory of Los Angeles County, no person shall maintain and operate a pipeline designed to carry hazardous substances below the surface of a highway unless said person is a member of the system. Such person shall provide to the commissioner such proof as required that said person is a member of the system in Los Angeles County. For the purpose of this section, electrical facilities shall not be considered hazardous.

(Ord. 12038 § 5, 1979: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 801.1, 1940.)

Each applicant for an excavation or encroachment permit shall file with the application a plat in quintuplicate showing the highways in which the proposed excavation, facility or encroachment will be placed, together with the exact location and dimensions of the proposed excavations, or the specifications and characteristics of the facility or encroachment, together with any other details which the commissioner requires. When excavations are made for service connections or for the location of trouble in conduits, cable or pipe, or for making repairs thereto, the commissioner may waive the filing of a plat. Approved plats shall become public records.

(Ord. 1 1581 § 6, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802, 1940.)

Except as provided in Section 16.18.041, the following minimum depths of cover below existing, finished or proposed gutter grade shall be required for all underground pipelines within the roadway area:

A.

Local Streets.

24 inches for service pipelines;

30 inches for all pipelines transporting nonhazardous substances;

30 inches for electrical facilities;

42 inches for all pipelines transporting hazardous substances as defined in Section 16.04.080.

B.

Master Plan Highways.

24 inches for service pipelines;

36 inches for pipelines transporting nonhazardous substances;

42 inches for electrical facilities;

42 inches for pipelines transporting hazardous substances, as defined in Section 16.04.080.

(Ord. 85-0207 § 2, 1985: Ord. 82-0268 § 1, 1982: Ord 11581 § 7, 1977: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802.1, 1940.)

commissioner.

A minimum depth of cover of 18 inches below existing or proposed edge of gutter grade shall be permitted for cable TV and telephone conduits designed pursuant to special requirements of the road commissioner, and to be placed in existing roadways as follows:

A.

Mainline cable conduit in a four- to five-inch-wide trench located adjacent to the concrete gutter (three from the edge of curb if no gutter exists);

B.

Service cable conduits crossing the roadway from the mainline to serve users on the opposite side of local streets when installed by an acceptable boring method.

(Ord. 82-0268 § 2, 1982.)

A.

After initial installation under this Division 1 of any pipeline used or to be used to carry toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids, such pipeline shall be subject to a hydrostatic pressure test as provided herein before it is placed in operation. The duration of the hydrostatic test for this purpose shall not be less than 24 hours.

B.

After repair or replacement of any pipeline used or to be used to carry toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids, made necessary to repair leaks or breaks, or replacements made necessary for changes required by improvements within the roadway, the affected portion of the pipeline shall be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure test as provided herein before placing in operation. The duration of the hydrostatic test for this purpose shall be not less than 24 hours. However, no such test is required for a minor repair which does not require removal of the pipeline from operation. If the affected section is isolated and tested hydrostatically, pressure test of the tie-in welds is not required; however, tie-in welds shall be examined by radiographic means.

C.

No pipeline subject to this Division 1 used or to be used to carry toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids and over 10 years of age shall be operated beyond the successive ensuing 12-month period of time unless retested annually by a hydrostatic pressure test or other test means acceptable to the commissioner. The duration of the periodic test for this purpose shall not be less than four hours.

D.

Each pressure test, either initial or retest, shall be in accordance with the American National Standard Institute's Code for Pressure Piping, Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems (ANSI B 31.4) in its latest revision. The commissioner may authorize the use of a liquid petroleum that does not vaporize rapidly (i.e., flash point over 150 degrees Fahrenheit or 66 degrees Centigrade) as a test medium. Pressure tests after initial installation of pipelines and before they are placed in operation shall show no unexplained loss. Annual or retest pressure tests shall not show an hourly loss, for each section of the pipeline under test at the time, in excess of either 10 gallons, or the sum of one gallon and an amount computed at a rate in gallons per mile equivalent to one-tenth of the nominal internal diameter of the pipe.

E.

The commissioner may grant administrative waiver or other relief to an owner or operator under this Division 1 as to the periodic pressure testing of any pipelines as herein provided if owner or operator can demonstrate that such testing will cause the unreasonable unscheduled shutdown of plants, terminals, refineries or other facilities of which such pipelines constitute an integral part.

F.

In addition to the foregoing requirements, any pipeline authorized by this Division 1 and subject to pressure testing shall be subjected to a pressure test by the owner or operator at any time as may be required by the commissioner in the interest of public safety.

G.

Within 30 days after completion of any test made pursuant to the provisions of this Division 1, the owner or operator shall submit a certified report of such text for the commissioner's review. The report shall show the date of test, description of portion of pipeline tested (identified with respect to county highways), and the test data. The report shall be sufficient in detail to permit analysis of test results and determination of compliance with the applicable provisions of the ordinance codified in this division or any other applicable ordinance, rule or regulation. The report shall also contain any other test information as may be specifically requested by the commissioner.

(Ord. 12038 § 6, 1979: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802.2, 1940.)

Block valves shall be installed on each new main at locations along the pipeline system that will minimize damage from accidental product discharge. Said location shall be appropriate for the terrain and the population density of the area.

(Ord. 12038 § 7, 1979: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802.3, 1940.)

As provided in the American National Standard Institute's Code for Pressure Piping, Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems (ANSI B 31.4) in its latest revision, a cathodic protection system shall be installed for all new ferrous pipelines used to carry toxic, corrosive or flammable substances other than utility gases in order to mitigate corrosion deterioration that might result in structural failure. The cathodic protection system for all new ferrous pipelines carrying utility gases shall be installed in accordance with General Order No. 112-C of the Public Utilities Commission of the state of California. A test procedure shall be developed by the owner or operator to determine whether adequate cathodic protection has been

achieved and submitted to the commissioner for approval. Reports of cathodic protection evaluation in accordance with such approved procedure shall be made available annually for review by the commissioner.

(Ord. 12038 § 8, 1979: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802.4, 1940.)

A.

Each owner or operator of a pipeline used or to be used to convey toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids shall have a written emergency plan approved and on file with the county forester and fire warden. The plan shall be in accordance with the American National Standard Institute's Code for Pressure Piping, Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems (ANSI B 31.4) in its latest revision.

B.

The plan shall include but not be limited to the following elements:

A "liaison" element for intercommunications between public agencies and pipeline owners or operators to provide for prompt coordinated remedial action, and the dissemination of information as to the location and ownership identification of pipelines based on the best available records and plans;

A "spill contingency" element to limit the extent of accidental product discharge by which pipeline owners or operators shall involve themselves in a cooperative pipeline leak notification emergency action system;

A "leak detection" element by which the pipeline owners or operators can monitor the flow of their product and can divert, reduce or stop the flow of said product at the first indication of a product leak;

A "first-on-the-scene emergency containment" element, in cooperation with other pipeline owners or operators, to be utilized until arrival of the affected pipeline owner's or operator's personnel. "First-on-the-scene" costs shall be borne by the owner or operator of the facility, and shall be reimbursed to the organization effecting the emergency containment.

(Ord. 12038 § 9, 1979: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 802.5, 1940.)

Immediately upon completion of the work necessitating the excavation, facility or encroachment permitted by any permit issued, the permittee shall promptly and in a workmanlike manner restore the area affected by his activity to a condition satisfactory to the commissioner.

(Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 803, 1940.)

A permittee shall refill an excavation in the manner which is satisfactory to the commissioner and is most effective to accomplish thorough consolidation and enable the highway to be restored to a condition equivalent to that in which it was prior to the excavation.

(Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 804, 1940.)

Upon completion of the refilling of the excavation, or completion of the cut or fill, the permittee shall so notify the commissioner in writing on a form prescribed by the commissioner. Whenever a plat was required by Section 16.18.030 and there were substantial deviations approved during the work from the dimensions or locations as shown on the plat, the permittee shall transmit to the commissioner a concise "as-built plat" upon completion of his work, showing the accurate location, depth and size of the facility or encroachment so laid, removed or abandoned.

(Ord. 11581 § 9, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 805, 1940.)

Every application shall contain a statement, signed by the applicant, that if any facility or encroachment placed in the excavation or the facility or encroachment for which a permit is issued interferes with the future use of the highway by the general public, then the applicant and his successors or assigns will at his own expense remove or relocate to a location satisfactory to the commissioner such facility or encroachment. The statement signed by the applicant will not apply in cases when the applicant has an easement superior to the highway easement at the time of application and can furnish evidence when required of such superior easement.

(Ord. 11581 § 10, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 806, 1940.)

Nothing in this Division 1 prohibits any person from maintaining by virtue of any law, ordinance or permit, any facility or encroachment in any highway, or from making such excavation as may be necessary for the preservation of life or property if the person making such excavation applies for a permit not later than the next business day.

(Ord. 11581 § 11, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 807, 1940.)

The commissioner shall require all lines for the transmission and distribution of standard television or audio signals to be placed underground in highways when all power and telephone lines are underground, and shall also require underground installation in all instances except where the applicant provides satisfactory proof of permission to use existing pole lines or where the commission finds that the remoteness of the area or other conditions render underground installation impractical or infeasible.

(Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 808, 1940.)

The commissioner may establish such requirements as he may find necessary to apply to the work to be done by any person in order to prevent interference with users of the highway and with holders of other permits.

(Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 809, 1940.)

A.

Each applicant for a permit to abandon in place or remove any facility or encroachment in the highway shall do so under terms and conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The permit application shall include a plat or other suitable means describing the facility or encroachment to be abandoned or removed, and indicating its exact location. Permission to abandon a facility or encroachment without removing shall be subject to removal within one year after the effective date of the abandonment if the facility or encroachment may interfere with a present or future public improvement. If it is determined that the facility or encroachment should be removed, the permittee or its successor in interest shall remove it at its expense or pay county for the cost of such removal. Permittee shall leave any abandoned facility or encroachment in a safe condition.

B.

In addition to the foregoing, abandonment in place of a pipeline used to convey toxic, corrosive or flammable liquids will be subject to the following requirements:

The pipeline shall be thoroughly purged of liquids and vapors and filled with an inert material that will remain in a solid or semisolid state if any portion of the pipeline is cut or removed in the future.

The permittee shall file a certificate with the commissioner that said requirements have been complied with and the abandoned pipeline has been left in a safe condition.

(Ord. 12038 § 10, 1979: Ord. 11581 § 12, 1977: Ord. 9349 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 3597 Ch. 8 § 810, 1940.)