(1) Each gas pipeline company must submit a written request and receive commission approval prior to:

(a) Operating any gas pipeline at greater than five hundred psig if the gas pipeline is within five hundred feet of any of the following places:

(i) A building that is in existence or under construction prior to the date authorization for construction is filed with the commission, if the building is not owned and used by the petitioning gas pipeline company in its gas operations; or

(ii) A high occupancy structure or area that is in existence or under construction prior to the date authorization for construction is filed with the commission; or

(iii) A public highway, as defined in RCW 81.80.010(3).

(b) Operating any gas pipeline at greater than two hundred fifty psig, up to and including five hundred psig, if the gas pipeline is within one hundred feet of either of the following places:

(i) A building that is in existence or under construction prior to the date authorization for construction is filed with the commission, if the building is not owned and used by the petitioning gas pipeline company in its gas operations; or

(ii) A high occupancy structure or area that is in existence or under construction prior to the date authorization for construction is filed with the commission.

(2) For proposed new construction of pipelines having the characteristics listed in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section, each gas pipeline company must demonstrate to the commission that it is not practical for the gas pipeline company to select an alternate route that will avoid such locations and that the gas pipeline company has considered the possibility of the future development of the area and has designed its gas pipeline accordingly.

(3) During the review process, each gas pipeline company must provide maps and records to the commission showing the exact location of the gas pipeline and the shortest direct distance to the places described in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section. Upon request of the commission, the gas pipeline company must provide the maintenance, construction, and operational history of the pipeline system and an aerial photograph showing the exact location of the gas pipeline in reference to places listed in subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section.