(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, including, but not limited to, Section 51012.3, each pipeline operator shall file with the State Fire Marshal, on or before July 1, 2000, an inspection, maintenance, improvement, or replacement assessment for the following:
(1) Any pipeline or pipeline segments built before January 1, 1960.
(2) Any pipeline installed on or after January 1, 1960, for which regular internal inspections cannot be conducted, or which shows diminished integrity due to corrosion or inadequate cathodic protection.
(b) When preparing any assessment required by subdivision (a), the operator shall give priority to older pipelines located in densely populated areas, pipelines with a high-leak history, pipelines located near existing seismic fault lines, or, pipelines in areas with identified ground formations.
(c) On or before January 1, 1998, the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee and pipeline operators, shall establish evaluation criteria for use by a pipeline operator when conducting any assessment required by subdivision (a).
(d) A pipeline inspection, maintenance, improvement, or replacement assessment developed pursuant to this section may incorporate any information on regulatory requirements or existing public policies that could act as barriers to the inspection, maintenance, improvement, or replacement of pipelines, including, but not limited to, findings from the studies required pursuant to Section 51015.05.
(e) Nothing in this section is intended to require the replacement of a pipeline.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 973, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)