BEFORE THE UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In the Matter of the Request by Puget )
Sound Energy for a Waiver to Use an ) DOCKET NO. UG-971313
Existing Coated Steel Casing Pipe to  )
Encase a Twelve Inch Diameter Natural ) ORDER GRANTING
Gas Pipeline (WAC 480-93-115).  ) WAIVER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )

 On August 21, 1997, Puget Sound Energy filed a request for a waiver of WAC 
480-93-115, Casing of pipelines, to allow the Company to use an existing coated 
steel casing pipe in which a twelve inch diameter, wrapped steel, natural gas 
pipeline has been encased.  The aforementioned coated casing is located beneath 
the Interstate 5 Highway in Pierce County in the vicinity of McChord Air Force 
Base.

FINDING OF FACT

 1. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) installed a 42 inch diameter, 0.537 inch wall 
thickness, coated steel pipe beneath the Interstate 5 Highway during the months 
of November and December in 1996 for the purpose of providing a casing in which 
a high pressure natural gas pipeline and other utilities may be inserted.  The 
project was completed in January, 1997.

 2. The aforementioned casing is approximately five feet below the highway 
roadbed and is located in an unincorporated area of Pierce County in the 
vicinity of McChord Air Force Base at a point where 112 Street SW (if extended) 
would intersect the interstate highway.

 3. The pipeline is supported inside the casing by non-conductive pipe rollers 
and one inch diameter steel rods welded to the inside of the casing.  End seals 
were placed at the ends of the casing to prevent, or at least minimize, the 
incursion of water and other extraneous material into the casing. 

 4. A magnesium ribbon anode, approximately 375 feet in length, has been placed 
adjacent to the pipeline inside the casing, supported by the carrier pipe 
supports, and electrically isolated from the carrier pipe and the pipe supports.

 5. A pipeline coating has been applied to the natural gas pipeline that is 
resistant to abrasion and moisture and has a high dielectric strength.  Test 
wires have been attached to the carrier pipe and casing as well as to a 
reference electrode that has been placed inside the casing next to the carrier 
pipe, to verify that the appropriate cathodic protection current is applied to 
the pipeline and no short circuits exist between the carrier pipeline and the 
casing.  The monitoring shall coincide with the time of the year that could 
result in the greatest amount of soil moisture, more specifically, during the 
months of October through May.




Docket UG-971313                      Page 2


ORDER

THE COMMISSION ORDERS:

 1. The request by  Puget Sound Energy for a waiver of WAC 480-93-115, Casing 
of pipelines, shall be granted to allow the Company to use an existing coated 
steel casing pipe in which a twelve inch diameter, wrapped steel, natural gas 
pipeline has been encased.  The aforementioned coated casing is located beneath 
the Interstate 5 Highway in Pierce County in the vicinity of McChord Air Force 
Base.

 2. The Commission retains jurisdiction over this matter to effectuate the 
provisions of this order.


DATED at Olympia, Washington and effective this 31st day of December, 1997.


WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION        



       
   ANNE LEVINSON, Chair                            


       
RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commission          


       
WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commission