(a) Construction and operation of facilities necessary to render direct natural gas service for use in the testing and purging of new natural gas pipeline facilities are exempted from the certificate requirements of section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, when the construction and operation of such facilities are conducted in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.(b) Operations undertaken to render direct natural gas service shall be terminated upon the completion of the purging or testing of the pipeline facilities. Persons undertaking any construction or operation of facilities or service under this section shall file an original and two copies of an annual statement, by February 1 of each year, describing their activities hereunder.43 FR 56544, Dec. 1, 1978, as amended at 60 FR 53065, Oct. 11, 1995