PHMSA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which seeks to update the reporting requirements for operators of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Highlights of the proposed changes include the following:

• Modify the scope of part 191 to reflect previous regulatory changes made for the definition of gas gathering lines.
• Change the definition of a gas pipeline “incident” to require an operator to report an explosion or fire not intentionally set by the operator. The proposal also establishes a volumetric basis of 3,000 MCF for reporting unexpected or unintentional gas loss.
• Require all pipeline and LNG operators to submit reports electronically unless the operator can demonstrate this creates undue burden and hardship.
• Require operators of LNG facilities to submit incident and annual reports, similar to hazardous liquid and gas pipeline operators.
• Create a new pipeline facility identification registry designed to eliminate the existing problems associated with the current Operator Identification (OPID) data. PHMSA will require all regulated pipeline and LNG operators to obtain Operator Identification (OPID) numbers, and require all existing operators to re-apply for OPID numbers, even if these OPID numbers already exist. Also, PHMSA will require notice for new transmission pipeline construction greater than 10 miles or project costs greater than $5 million. Certain changes to pipeline and LNG facilities will require 60 days notice, including changes in operating entity, acquisition or divestiture of 50 or more miles of existing pipeline facilities, and any modification to existing pipeline facilities costing $5 million or more,
• Require operators to use a new standardized form and electronically submit Safety-Related Condition Reports and Offshore Pipeline Condition Reports.
• Revise the annual reporting requirements for gas transmission pipeline operators. This will include merging the Semi-Annual Performance Measures Report with the gas transmission annual report. In doing so, the Semi-Annual Performance Measures Report will be eliminated while the annual report will include the equivalent data. Several other changes will be made to the gas transmission annual report, including: revised leak cause categories to include those listed in ASME B31.8S, add information for miles of gathering lines by Type A and Type B gathering; class location information by SMYS, volume of commodity transported, and type of commodity transported.
• Modify hazardous liquid operator telephonic notification of accidents to require operators to have and use a procedure to calculate and report a reasonable initial estimate of released product and to provide an additional telephonic report to the National Response Center if significant new information becomes available during the emergency response phase.
• Revise the existing hazardous liquid annual report data requirements to include this information on a state-by-state basis for each state in with their pipelines traverse. This includes basic infrastructure data as well as integrity management data that is granulated down to a state-by-state basis.
• Remove obsolete provisions that would conflict with the proposal to require electronic submission of all reports.
• Update OMB control numbers assigned to information collections.

Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-2008-0291 and be submitted by August 31, 2009. To request a copy of the NPRM, contact Jessica Roger.