PHMSA Announces ANPRM on Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced in the Federal Register (25 August 2011) that it is considering whether changes are needed to the regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines. In particular, PHMSA is considering whether integrity management (IM) requirements should be changed, including adding more prescriptive language in some areas, and whether other issues related to system integrity should be addressed by strengthening or expanding non-IM requirements. Among the specific issues PHMSA is considering concerning IM requirements is whether the definition of a high-consequence area (HCA) should be revised, and whether additional restrictions should be placed on the use of specific pipeline assessment methods. With respect to non-IM requirements, PHMSA is considering whether revised requirements are needed on new construction or existing pipelines concerning mainline valves, including valve spacing and installation of remotely operated or automatically operated valves; whether requirements for corrosion control of steel pipelines should be strengthened; and whether new regulations are needed to govern the safety of gathering lines and underground gas storage facilities.

Additional issues PHMSA is considering are described below.

DATES: Persons interested in submitting written comments on this ANPRM must do so by 2 December 2011. PHMSA will consider late filed comments as far as practicable.

Within this ANPRM, PHMSA is seeking public comment on 14 specific topic areas in two broad categories.

1. Should IM requirements be revised and strengthened to bring more pipeline mileage under IM requirements and to better assure safety of pipeline segments in HCAs? Specific topics include:
• Modifying the definition of an HCA.
• Strengthening the Integrity Management requirements in part 192.
• Modifying repair criteria.
• Revising the requirements for collecting, validating, and integrating pipeline data.
• Making requirements related to the nature and application of risk models more prescriptive.
• Strengthening requirements for applying knowledge gained through the IM program.
• Strengthening requirements on the selection and use of assessment methods, including prescribing assessment methods for certain threats (such as manufacturing and construction defects, SCC, etc.) or in certain situations such as when certain knowledge is not available or data is missing.

2. Should non-IM requirements be strengthened or expanded to address other issues associated with pipeline system integrity? Specific topics include:
• Valve spacing and the need for remotely- or automatically-controlled valves.
• Corrosion control.
• Pipe with longitudinal weld seams with systemic integrity issues.
• Establishing requirements applicable to underground gas storage.
• Management of Change.
• Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Exemptions applicable to facilities installed prior to the regulations*.
• Gathering lines.
Each topic is discussed in more detail in the Federal Register notice.

*These exemptions relate to allowable maximum operating pressure for pipelines that were in service before the initial gas pipeline safety regulations were published. These pipelines are commonly known as ‘‘grandfathered’’ pipelines.  (See the Federal Register notice for more information.)

A copy of the Federal Register notice is attached.