{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-257.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-257.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-257.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-257.2.html"}],"law_id":72279,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72279,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2","catch_line":"Gas pipeline safety","history":"1994, c. 12; 2005, c. 35.","full_text":"A\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall have the authority to regulate the safety of master-metered gas systems, landfill gas transmission or distribution facilities transmitting or distributing landfill gas off premises from a solid waste management facility permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality, and other gas pipeline facilities used in intrastate pipeline transportation, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws, owned or operated by any person, limited liability company, business entity or association of individuals. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town.B\n\nFor the purposes of pipeline facilities used in the intrastate transportation of gas, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person, limited liability company, business entity or association of individuals failing or refusing to obey Commission orders relating to the adoption or enforcement of regulations for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of intrastate pipeline facilities and temporary or permanent injunctions issued by the Commission shall be fined such sums not exceeding the fines and penalties specified by 49 U.S.C. § 60122 (a)(1), as amended. Should the operation of such order be suspended pending an appeal, the period of such suspension shall not be computed against the person in the matter of his liability to fines or penalties. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town.C\n\nWith respect to the gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town, the Commission is authorized to act for the United States Secretary of Transportation to conduct safety inspections pursuant to the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., to the extent authorized by certification or agreement with the Secretary under 49 U.S.C. § 60106 of the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended. After each inspection, an exit interview with any county, city, or town shall be conducted prior to promptly reporting to the United States Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not authorize the Commission to impose civil penalties or fines on any county, city, or town and shall not authorize the Commission to exercise jurisdiction over the rates, charges, services, facilities, or service territory of any county, city, or town providing gas service except as is otherwise provided by law.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":260362,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall have the authority to regulate the safety of master-metered gas systems, landfill gas transmission or distribution facilities transmitting or distributing landfill gas off premises from a solid waste management facility permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality, and other gas pipeline facilities used in intrastate pipeline transportation, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws, owned or operated by any person, limited liability company, business entity or association of individuals. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":260363,"text":"For the purposes of pipeline facilities used in the intrastate transportation of gas, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person, limited liability company, business entity or association of individuals failing or refusing to obey Commission orders relating to the adoption or enforcement of regulations for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of intrastate pipeline facilities and temporary or permanent injunctions issued by the Commission shall be fined such sums not exceeding the fines and penalties specified by 49 U.S.C. § 60122 (a)(1), as amended. Should the operation of such order be suspended pending an appeal, the period of such suspension shall not be computed against the person in the matter of his liability to fines or penalties. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":260364,"text":"With respect to the gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town, the Commission is authorized to act for the United States Secretary of Transportation to conduct safety inspections pursuant to the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., to the extent authorized by certification or agreement with the Secretary under 49 U.S.C. § 60106 of the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended. After each inspection, an exit interview with any county, city, or town shall be conducted prior to promptly reporting to the United States Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not authorize the Commission to impose civil penalties or fines on any county, city, or town and shall not authorize the Commission to exercise jurisdiction over the rates, charges, services, facilities, or service territory of any county, city, or town providing gas service except as is otherwise provided by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15336,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pipelines and Other Works","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13238,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:03","permalink":{"id":249035,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15336,"identifier":"5","token":"56\/10\/5","url":"\/56\/10\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13238,"edition_id":1,"name":"Heat, Light, Power, Water and Other Utility Companies Generally","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:30","permalink":{"id":248721,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13238,"identifier":"10","token":"56\/10","url":"\/56\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86555,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257","catch_line":"Manner of installing underground utility lines","url":"\/56-257\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257","metadata":false},{"id":61480,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.1","catch_line":"Means of locating nonmetallic underground conduits","url":"\/56-257.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.1","metadata":false},{"id":72279,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2","catch_line":"Gas pipeline safety","url":"\/56-257.2\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2","metadata":false},{"id":60030,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2:1","catch_line":"Projects presenting material risk to public safety; licensed professional engineers; regulations","url":"\/56-257.2_1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":87245,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-257.3\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.3","metadata":false},{"id":58377,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.4","catch_line":"Report by the State Corporation Commission on investigation of natural gas utilities incident","url":"\/56-257.4\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.4","metadata":false},{"id":59346,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.5","catch_line":"Manner of installing underground utility lines through agricultural operation","url":"\/56-257.5\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.5","metadata":false},{"id":67342,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-258","catch_line":"Who to permit laying of pipelines in roads","url":"\/56-258\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-258","metadata":false},{"id":79586,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-259","catch_line":" Rights-of-way, etc., may be contracted for; location of easements of public service corporations","url":"\/56-259\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-259","metadata":false},{"id":68525,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-259.1","catch_line":"Instruments conveying easements to public service corporations","url":"\/56-259.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-259.1","metadata":false},{"id":84814,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-260","catch_line":"Compensation for damages","url":"\/56-260\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-260","metadata":false},{"id":58402,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-260.1","catch_line":"Contract provisions exempting company from liability unlawful","url":"\/56-260.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-260.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61480,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.1","catch_line":"Means of locating nonmetallic underground conduits","url":"\/56-257.1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60030,"structure_id":15336,"section_number":"56-257.2:1","catch_line":"Projects presenting material risk to public safety; licensed professional engineers; regulations","url":"\/56-257.2_1\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-257.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 12<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2005, chapter 35<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57183,"section_number":"56-265.4:6","catch_line":"Furnishing non-utility gas service","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-265.4_6\/"},{"id":73330,"section_number":"56-555.2","catch_line":"Commission authority to conduct safety activities regarding interstate gas pipeline facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-555.2\/"},{"id":78392,"section_number":"56-623","catch_line":" Construction of transmission facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-623\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":249045,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72279,"identifier":"56-257.2","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2","url":"\/56-257.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-257.2\/","token":"56\/10\/5\/56-257.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Gas pipeline safety","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-257.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, the Commission<\/span> shall have the authority to regulate the safety of master-metered gas systems, landfill gas transmission or distribution facilities transmitting or distributing landfill gas off premises from a solid waste management facility permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality, and other gas pipeline facilities used in intrastate pipeline transportation, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws<\/span>, owned or operated by any person<\/span>, limited liability company<\/span>, business entity or association of individuals. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For the purposes of pipeline facilities used in the intrastate transportation of gas, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws<\/span>, and notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, any person<\/span>, limited liability company<\/span>, business entity or association of individuals failing or refusing to obey Commission<\/span> orders<\/span> relating to the adoption or enforcement of regulations for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of intrastate pipeline facilities and temporary or permanent injunctions<\/span> issued by the Commission<\/span> shall be fined such sums not exceeding the fines and penalties specified by 49 U.S.C. § 60122 (a)(1), as amended. Should the operation of such order<\/span> be suspended pending an appeal<\/span>, the period of such suspension shall not be computed against the person<\/span> in the matter of his liability to fines or penalties. The authority granted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the above-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws<\/span>.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> With respect to the gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by any county, city, or town, the Commission<\/span> is authorized to act for the United States Secretary of Transportation to conduct safety inspections pursuant to the federal pipeline safety laws<\/span>, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., to the extent authorized by certification or agreement with the Secretary under 49 U.S.C. § 60106 of the federal pipeline safety laws<\/span>, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended. After each inspection, an exit interview with any county, city, or town shall be conducted prior to promptly reporting to the United States Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not authorize the Commission<\/span> to impose civil penalties or fines on any county, city, or town and shall not authorize the Commission<\/span> to exercise jurisdiction<\/span> over the rates<\/span>, charges, services, facilities, or service territory of any county, city, or town providing gas service except as is otherwise provided by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGAS PIPELINE SAFETY (\u00a7 56-257.2)\n\nA. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall have the\nauthority to regulate the safety of master-metered gas systems, landfill gas\ntransmission or distribution facilities transmitting or distributing landfill\ngas off premises from a solid waste management facility permitted by the\nDepartment of Environmental Quality, and other gas pipeline facilities used in\nintrastate pipeline transportation, all as defined in the federal regulations\npromulgated under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal\npipeline safety laws, owned or operated by any person, limited liability\ncompany, business entity or association of individuals. The authority granted\nherein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the\nabove-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned\nor operated by any county, city, or town.\n\nB. For the purposes of pipeline facilities used in the intrastate transportation\nof gas, all as defined in the federal regulations promulgated under 49 U.S.C.\n§ 60101 et seq., as amended, and the federal pipeline safety laws, and\nnotwithstanding any other provision of law, any person, limited liability\ncompany, business entity or association of individuals failing or refusing to\nobey Commission orders relating to the adoption or enforcement of regulations\nfor the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of intrastate pipeline\nfacilities and temporary or permanent injunctions issued by the Commission shall\nbe fined such sums not exceeding the fines and penalties specified by 49 U.S.C.\n§ 60122 (a)(1), as amended. Should the operation of such order be suspended\npending an appeal, the period of such suspension shall not be computed against\nthe person in the matter of his liability to fines or penalties. The authority\ngranted herein shall be exercised in a manner that is not inconsistent with the\nabove-referenced federal regulations and pipeline safety laws.\n\t\t\tThis subsection shall not apply to gas systems and pipeline facilities owned\nor operated by any county, city, or town.\n\nC. With respect to the gas systems and pipeline facilities owned or operated by\nany county, city, or town, the Commission is authorized to act for the United\nStates Secretary of Transportation to conduct safety inspections pursuant to the\nfederal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq., to the extent\nauthorized by certification or agreement with the Secretary under 49 U.S.C.\n§ 60106 of the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et\nseq., as amended. After each inspection, an exit interview with any county,\ncity, or town shall be conducted prior to promptly reporting to the United\nStates Department of Transportation. This subsection shall not authorize the\nCommission to impose civil penalties or fines on any county, city, or town and\nshall not authorize the Commission to exercise jurisdiction over the rates,\ncharges, services, facilities, or service territory of any county, city, or town\nproviding gas service except as is otherwise provided by law.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 12; 2005, c. 35.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}