Actions in Conexus Protective Zones

In accordance with the Protection Zone Law, transmission gas pipelines have exploitation and safety protection zones. The main task of exploitation protection zones is to ensure efficient and safe exploitation of transmission line and its development possibilities. But the main task of safety protection zones is to ensure the safety of environment and people during the exploitation of these objects and in case of possible accidents, and the safety of objects located in their vicinity.

1. Exploitation Protection Zones

In accordance with Protection Zone Law section 22, exploitation protection zones around gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites are specified in order to ensure the exploitation of gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites. The following exploitation protection zones are specified for the transmission gas lines and their objects:

1.1. exploitation protection zones along gas lines with pressure above 1.6 megapascals consists of a land area and airspace, which is delimited by notional vertical planes on both sides from the axis of the gas line – at distance of 15 metres from the axis of the gas line;

1.2. exploitation protection zones around gas regulation stations consists of land area and airspace, which is delimited by notional vertical planes outside the outer walls of these buildings, enclosures or delimitation constructions – at distance of 6 metres;

1.3. Around anode earthing of electrochemical anticorrosion protection equipment – at distance of 4 metres from the earthing grid.

2. Safety protection zones

In accordance with Protection Zone Law section 32.2, safety protection zones around gas lines with pressure above 1.6 megapascals, around gas regulation stations, gas regulation points, gas measuring stations, natural gas compressor stations, natural gas collection points, gas storage bores, liquefied hydrocarbon gas cylinders warehouses and trade places, motor vehicle gas filling stations are specified to reduce the possible negative impact on humans in case of accidents of these equipment and structures. Transmission gas lines and their objects have the following safety protective zones:

2.1.   around gas lines, around gas regulation stations and gas measuring stations – safety protection zone consists of a land area and airspace which is delimited by notional vertical planes on both sides from the axis of the gas line or notional vertical planes outside the outer walls of these buildings, enclosures or delimitation constructions, for the gas line with diameter:

  1. to 300 mm – at distance of 75 metres;
  2. from 300 mm to 600 mm – at distance of 125 metres;
  3. from 600 mm to 800 mm – at distance of 150 metres;

2.2.  around gas lines with pressure above 1,6 megapascals and gas regulation and measuring stations if these gas lines and stations are built or reconstructed after 1 September 2002, is specified by means of building project calculation, but not less than:

1) 25 metres from the axis of the gas line – around gas lines with pressure above 1.6 megapascals;

2) 100 metres – around gas regulation and measuring stations.

3. Restrictions in exploitation protection zones

In accordance with Protection Zone Law section 56, the following restrictions are specified in the exploitation protection zones around the gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites in addition to ones mentioned in sections 35 and 58.2 of this law:

3.1.   it’s prohibited to establish landfill sites;

3.2.   it’s prohibited to drop heavy objects, to throw out and pour out acid substances and corrosion causing substances, fuel and lubrication materials;

3.3.   it’s prohibited to carry out works related with detonation and acquisition of mineral resources;

3.4.   it is prohibited to block up and delimit service roads and accesses to gas lies, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites with fences;

3.5.   it is prohibited to walk along above-water gas line transitions;

3.6.   it is prohibited to perform works connected with flooding of the land;

3.7.   it is prohibited to go with cast anchors or nets, to determine fishing areas and to fish, to catch marine animals and to obtain marine plants using deepwater tools in the protection zones along underwater gas lines;

3.8.   it’s prohibited to grow trees and bushes in the areas that are stated in the protection zones determination methods;

3.9.   it’s prohibited to build any kinds of buildings;

3.10. it’s prohibited to place storage facilities of feed-stuff, mineral fertilisers, dangerous chemical substances and chemical products, timber, flammable, highly and extremely flammable substances, products and materials;

3.11. it’s prohibited to locate petrol stations;

3.12. it is prohibited to arrange quaysides for ships, barges and floating cranes, as well as to perform dredging work and drawing of soil;

3.13. It is prohibited to disturb, by any activity, the employees of the gas supply undertaking who perform maintenance, repair, reconstruction, accident prevention works or elimination of the consequences thereof in the protection zone;

3.14. it’s prohibited to do the following if no written agreement is concluded with the owners of gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites:

3.14.1. perform works with fire ad flame, hammer piles, use impact devices with power exceeding 100 kilowatts,

3.14.2. to carry out earthworks deeper than 0.3 metres, but in cultivated soils – deeper than 0.45 metres, as well as to perform  amelioration and ground grading works,

3.14.3. to perform geological, geodesic and other research works connected with making of drillings and ground sampling (except soil samples),

3.14.4. to construct, restore or rebuild engineering structures;

3.14.5. to arrange carriageways and carriageway crossings,

3.14.6. to perform other works that disturb the servicing of gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites or that may damage these objects.

  1. Restrictions in safety protection zones

In accordance with Protection Zone Law section 58.2, the following restrictions are specified in the safety protection zones around gas lines with pressure above 1.6 megapascals, around gas regulation stations, gas regulation points, gas measuring stations, natural gas compressor stations, natural gas collection points, gas storage bores, liquefied hydrocarbon gas cylinders warehouses and trade places, motor vehicle gas filling stations:

4.1. It is prohibited to construct new buildings or rebuild non-residential building into residential ones, and rebuild the existing building if no written agreement is concluded with the owner of gas lines, gas supply equipment and structures, gas warehouses and storage sites;

4.2. It is prohibited to open new sports, education and recreation buildings or institutions or rebuild the existing buildings into sports, education and recreation buildings or institutions;

4.3. It is prohibited to arrange sports grounds and recreation areas;

4.4.  it is prohibited to organize public events;

4.5.  it is prohibited to carry out other works (or activities) that disturb to ensure the safety of environment and persons during exploitation of gas lines, gas regulation stations, gas regulation points, natural gas compressor stations, gas storage sites, liquefied hydrocarbon gas cylinders warehouses and trade places or motor vehicle gas filling stations and in case of the potential accidents;

4.6. owner of the gas line together with the motorway manager ensures the stop prohibition for vehicles in the safety protection zones along a gas line with pressure above 1.6 megapascals.

5. General restrictions in the protection zones

General restrictions in the protection zones are specified in the Protection Zone Law section 35, but the special ones in the Protection Zone Law sections 56 and 58.2.

In accordance with Protection Zone Law section 35 part two, if a protection zone has been specified for an object, the owner of it is allowed to perform activities necessary for the exploitation, repair, renovation and reconstruction of the relevant object. The land owner or legal possessor shall be notified thereof in writing at least two weeks before the commencement of the activities, except for rectification of accidents or activities for the elimination of the consequences thereof, which may be performed at any time. The Protection Zone Law section 35 part seven prescribes that in protection zones, legal persons and natural persons shall fulfil the legal requests of the owner of the relevant object.

Section 35 part six prescribes that both legal persons and natural persons, performing activities in the protection zones in which it is necessary to protect the objects from damage, to rebuild or move, the protection, rebuilding or displacement activities shall be performed after co-ordination with the owner or possessor of the relevant object, namely, the joint-stock company "Conexus Baltic Grid".

In respect of the provisions of Protection Zone Law section 35 part six, the joint-stock company “Conexus Baltic Grid” states that all natural and legal persons, when performing the works in a protection zone, has the following obligations:

5.1. to submit the plan (project) of works to be performed in the transmission gas line protection zone and reconcile it with the Gas Management of the joint-stock company “Conexus Baltic Grid” and call a representative from the Gas Management (tel. 67819033, 67819032, fax 67819009, e-mail parvade@conexus.lv) 5 days before the commencement of works and familiarize with the object and specifics of the works to be performed;

5.2. staff who participates in performance of works in the transmission gas line protection zone must have a work performance instruction and work performance permit (agreement about the provisions for performance of earth works in the gas line protection zone) agreed in writing with the joint-stock company “Conexus Baltic Grid”.

6. The Protection Zone Law section 61 part eleven prescribes that the owner or manager of an immovable property ensures the owner or manager with access to the object and its protection zone to provide the maintenance of the protection zone and perform the works required for exploitation, repair, restoration and reconstruction of the relevant object.

7. Non-compliance with the requirements of the Protection Zones Law may cause a transmission gas line emergency conditions the consequences whereof may be the destruction of material values and persons, and extended interruption of gas supply to the consumers thus the natural and legal persons violating the aforementioned requirements can be held liable as prescribed in the normative acts.

8. Issues related with the performance of works in the transmission gas line and in the protection zones of their objects shall be settled in the Gas Managements of the joint-stock company “Conexus Baltic Grid” in Riga, Stigu Str.14, LV-1021.

Mans of communication:

tel.67819032, fax 67819009, parvade@conexus.lv – records-keeping secretary;

tel. 67819017 – 24-hours operators