California Government Code

§ 51018

GOV § 51018 Effective Jan 1, 2023Div. 1 · Title 5 · Part 1 · Ch. 5.5

Statute text

(a)Every rupture, explosion, or fire involving a pipeline, including a pipeline system otherwise exempted by subdivision (a) of Section 51010.5, and including a pipeline undergoing testing, shall be immediately reported by the pipeline operator to the fire department having fire suppression responsibilities and to the Office of Emergency Services.

(b)(1) The Office of Emergency Services shall immediately notify the State Fire Marshal of the incident, who shall immediately dispatch State Fire Marshal employees to the scene. The State Fire Marshal or the employees, upon arrival, shall provide technical expertise and advise the operator and all public agencies on activities needed to mitigate the hazard.

(2)For purposes of this subdivision, the Legislature does not intend to hinder or disrupt the workings of the “incident commander system,” but does intend to establish a recognized element of expertise and direction for the incident command to consult and acknowledge as an authority on the subject of pipeline incident mitigation. Furthermore, it is expected that the State Fire Marshal will recognize the expertise of the pipeline operator and any other emergency agency personnel who may be familiar with the particular location of the incident and respect their knowledgeable input regarding the mitigation of the incident.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 536, Sec. 10. (AB 2931) Effective January 1, 2023.