Confirmed by the decree N 249

of the Government of RA as of May 18, 2000

R U L E S

OF PROTECTION OF HIGHWAY PIPELINES

1. The rules herein contained specify the requirements of the protection of the highway pipelines transmitting natural and artificial hydrocarbon gases and condensates, liquefied hydrocarbon gases including industrial pipelines and collectors (hereinafter referred to as the pipelines) during the implementation of the activities and works within their safety zones.

2. The requirements of the rules herein apply to the following components and elements of the highway pipelines:

  • Branching and bypasses, valve fittings, bypass of natural and artificial obstructions, plants of junction of the pump and compressor stations, condensate collectors, pipelines with devices of methanol penetration,
  • Electrochemical stations protecting the pipelines from decay, processing telecommunications and structures, means of the pipelines remote control,
  • Electric transmission lines and valve fittings, power supply and remote control equipment having stations of electrochemical protection,
  • Fire safety equipment, erosion-preventive and protective constructions, tanks of condensates maintenance and degasification, overground and subterranean stores of oil, oil products, condensates and liquefied hydrocarbon, emergency emissionearth storages,
  • External plants of pipelines use,
  • Roads and helipads which are located in the direction of the pipelines section and the approaches to them, as well as the differential signs and pointers of the pipelines,
  • Main and intermediate pumping stations of transportation and fill up, collecting tanks, gas-distributing and compressor stations,
  • Subterraneangas-holders,
  • Fill up and drainage overpasses.

3. The boundaries of the pipelines shall be indicated by means of concrete or wooden differential stand signs at a height of 1,5-2 meters above the ground and on the visible distance from each other.

4. At the crossings of the pipelines with any kind of highways, the organizations in charge of the pipelines install prohibitory adequate signs prohibiting stops of the vehicles.

5. The organizations in charge of the pipelines shall submit documentation (statements) on the actual installation of the pipelines to the local governing authorities and the relevant authorities of the state government in the subsurface sphere for the registration in land-use, geological and mining maps.

6. The institutions and individuals performing activities within the safety zones of the pipelines are liable to implement the specified activities in compliance with the terms ensuring the security of the pipelines.

7. Within the safety zones of the pipelines, it is prohibited to implement activities entailing malfunction of the pipelines, damage to them or accidents, particularly

a) transferal, covering and breaking of the checking and measuring points of the distinguishing signs and alarm boards,

b) observation slots of monitoring of the cable links of non-serviced amplifying station, fence junction of overhead line hardware, stations of cathode and water-abrasive protection, linear and monitoring wells and other linear devices, opening doors, opening and closing taps and bolts, switch off or switch on of the means of communication, energy supply and remote control of the pipelines, c) heaping garbage of any kind, throwing out solutions of acids, salts and alkalis,

d) destruction of coast-protecting structure, culvert devices, earth and other structures, protecting the pipelines from decay and the adjacent territory and surrounding area from the emergency rinsing of the matters being transferred by the pipeline, e) construction of temporary structures, buildings and tree-planting,

f) burning fire and placing any kind of open or close source of fire,

g) enterprising activities entailing gathering of the people not engaged in the works allowed by the specified order.

8. In case of necessity of the areas and roads for the aims of the major repairs or renovation of the pipelines, construction of passages over them, the organizations in charge of the specified pipelines are liable to sign landed servitude agreement (right of use of the others' land with restrictions) with the owners of these territories in compliance with article 210 of the civil code of the Republic of Armenia.

The fulfillment of the repairing of the pipelines passing through the territory of the pools shall be arranged with the local or territorial governing authorities exploiting them or enforcing supervision of their use, except for the works related to the elimination of the emergency state of the pipelines.

9. In case the safety zone of the pipelines coincides with the area intended for the railways or motorways, safety zones of electric transmission network, territories of geological allotments of minerals mines sites, mining allotments and other objects, their maintenance and execution of exploitation works in the adjacent territories are carried by the managing organizations by bilateral agreement.

10. In case the boundary of the pipelines pass through the territory of the state forest reserves, the organizations in charge of the pipelines are liable to provide radio and telephone links between the forestry and the pipelines boundary.

11. In case of breakdown of the pipeline, the exploiting organization shall immediately take measures aimed at the elimination of the problem simultaneously notifying about it the local governing authorities and ecological and technological supervisory state authorities.

12. Upon the implementation of the planned or emergency repairing activities, the organizations in charge of the pipelines are liable to reimburse the damage caused to the nature and the land users in the order set forth by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia and bring the agricultural areas to the state ensuring their future purpose use.

13. During the discussions of the applications for provision of the lands for construction, the state and local governing authorities shall in advance arrange the nature and location of the construction with the organizations in charge of the pipelines.

14. The organizations in charge of the pipelines are liable to warn the institutions and individuals performing activities in the safety zones of the pipelines with violation of the requirements herein contained. In case the activities set forth above are not terminated, they are liable to apply to the competent State supervisory authorities.

15. The officials and individuals violating the requirements herein contained bear responsibility in conformity with the order stipulated by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.