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The Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate for Safe Operation in Industry reminds business entities that the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of October 25, 2022, No. 726, approved the "Regulations on the Procedure for Establishing Protection Zones of Gas Distribution System Facilities, the Sizes and Conditions of Their Use" (hereinafter - the Regulations). In accordance with the Regulations, the following sizes of protection zones are defined:

- along high-pressure gas pipelines of Category I - in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 10 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;

- along high-pressure gas pipelines of Category II - in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 7 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;

- along medium-pressure gas pipelines - in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 4 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;

- along low-pressure gas pipelines - in the form of a land plot bounded by conditional lines running 2 meters from the gas pipeline axis on each side;

- along underwater gas pipeline crossings - in the form of a water area from the water surface to the bottom, enclosed between parallel planes, located 50 meters from the axes of the extreme lines of the gas pipeline crossings on each side;

- around buildings of gas distribution points (GRPS), gas distribution units (SHRPS), territories of liquefied gas filling stations (AGZSS), distribution points (RU) and group cylinder installations - in the form of a land plot bounded by a conditional line located 10 meters from the boundaries of the territories of the specified facilities in all directions.

Within the boundaries of hazardous zones, the following are prohibited:

- moving, dismantling, backfilling, damaging indicators of underground gas pipeline routes and the locations of network facilities on them, and control and measurement points;

- unauthorized opening of gas well manholes and covers, gates of distribution points (RU), doors of gas distribution points (GRPS), gas distribution units (SHRPS), gas pipeline corrosion protection stations, opening and closing valves and shut-off valves, disconnecting and connecting power supply and telemechanics systems of gas pipelines;

- creating dumps, pouring aggressive liquids, including solutions of acids, salts, and alkalis;

- storing materials and equipment, including for temporary storage, along the route of an underground gas pipeline within 2 meters on each side of its axis;

- destroying structures and devices that protect gas pipelines and facilities on them from damage;

- dropping anchors, passing with anchors, chains, lots, dredges deployed, conducting trawling with rigid and semi-rigid trawls;

- lighting fires and placing any open or closed sources of fire;

- conducting any events associated with large gatherings of people not engaged in performing work permitted in the established manner;

- carrying out construction of buildings, structures and facilities with violation of minimum distances to gas distribution system objects established by technical normative legal acts, including building codes, and other rules;

- carrying out planting, cultivation, allowing trees to grow within:

1 meter on each side of the axis of an underground polyethylene gas pipeline with a diameter of up to 63 mm inclusive;

2 meters on each side of the axis of an underground steel gas pipeline regardless of its diameter, an underground polyethylene gas pipeline with a diameter of more than 63 mm.

- carrying out repair, construction and earthworks without a permit issued by the gas supply organization (unless otherwise determined by the Regulations).

An interested legal entity or individual entrepreneur, if it is necessary to carry out repair, construction and earthworks in the protection zone of a gas distribution system object, to obtain a permit, submits to the gas supply organization or its structural unit in written or electronic form through the unified portal of electronic services:

an application for a permit to carry out repair, construction and earthworks in the protection zone of a gas distribution system object;

a work execution project that complies with the requirements of the legislation on architectural, town-planning and construction activities.

The gas supply organization (its structural unit) considers the application for carrying out work, the work execution project and makes a decision to issue a permit to the legal entity or individual entrepreneur or to refuse to issue it (to refuse to perform an administrative procedure) within the period established in subparagraph 3.15.1 of paragraph 3.15 of the unified list of administrative procedures carried out in relation to business entities, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of September 24, 2021 No. 548 (5 working days, and in case of sending a request to other state bodies, other organizations – 15 working days).

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who have received a permit are obliged to comply with (fulfill) the requirements (conditions) specified therein for carrying out repair, construction, and excavation work in the protection zone.

Upon expiration of the permit, the interested party has the right to apply, in the manner established by these Regulations, for a new permit if the duration of repair, construction, and excavation work exceeds or has exceeded three months.

Work in the protection zone is carried out in the presence of the work supervisor, as well as a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility) in the manner determined by the permit.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs carrying out repair, construction, and excavation work in protection zones are obliged, no later than one day before the commencement of work, in the manner determined by the permit, to summon a representative of the gas supply organization (owner of the gas distribution system facility) to the work site.

Agricultural work in protection zones is carried out by land users with prior notification of its commencement to the owners of the gas distribution system facilities.

We draw the attention of business entities to the fact that, in accordance with Article 18.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus dated January 6, 2021, No. 91-3, taking into account amendments and additions, violation of the rules for the protection of main and other pipelines entails the imposition of a fine in the following amounts: on an individual – from ten to forty basic units, on an individual entrepreneur – up to fifty basic units, on a legal entity – up to two hundred basic units.

Vitebsk Regional Department of Gosgortekhnadzor.