Public Meetings on Managing Challenges with Pipeline Seam Welds and Improving Pipeline Risk Assessments and Recordkeeping

[Docket ID PHMSA-2011-0125]

Recent pipeline incidents involving seam weld anomalies and gaps in data and recordkeeping are driving a stronger focus on better managing these challenges. PHMSA is holding important public meetings to discuss its review of inspection reporting and incident findings in these areas. In addition, these public meetings are part of PHMSA’s efforts to address the Secretary of Transportation’s “Call to Action” to address pipeline infrastructure risks, drive for more aggressive safety efforts and to be more transparent when executing these safety measures. These public meetings are designed to provide an open forum for exchanging information on the challenges associated with pipeline seam welds and improving pipeline risk assessments and recordkeeping.

On July 20, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, PHMSA will host a meeting on Managing Challenges With Pipeline Seam Welds. This meeting will not be webcasted. The objectives for the meeting include:

1. Further determining the nature and extent of the seam weld issue from industry and government data.
2. Presenting perspectives on how anomalies in seam welds are identified and managed employing risk assessments, technology and standards or best practices.
3. Presenting the scope of a recently awarded PHMSA research study on seam welds.
4. Providing specifically designed working groups to further craft the scope for this PHMSA research study and other related topics.

Preliminary Agenda:
8 a.m. Welcome
8:10 a.m. Panel 1: What is the Nature/Extent of the Issue?
9:40 a.m. Break
9:55 a.m. Panel 2: Identifying/Managing Seam Weld Challenges
11:10 a.m. Presentation: Seam Weld Research Project and Input/Refinement of this Targeted Research
12 p.m. Lunch-On your Own
1:30 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions)

• Working Group 1: Identifying Gaps in Risk Assessments
• Working Group 2: Identifying Gaps in Technology
• Working Group 3: Identifying Gaps with Assessment Methods

4 p.m. Adjournment

On July 21, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, PHMSA will host a meeting on Improving Pipeline Risk Assessments and Recordkeeping. This meeting will be webcasted. The objectives for the meeting include:

1. Provide a U.S. and International regulatory perspective on pipeline integrity risk assessments.
2. Provide an operator overview of the challenging factors with conducting risk assessments, canvassing effective approaches, and case studies.
3. Identify options with addressing interactive threats, legacy pipelines and approaches for dealing with recordkeeping gaps.

Preliminary Agenda:
8 a.m. Welcome
8:10 a.m. Panel 1: U.S. & Canadian Regulatory Perspective on Risk Assessments
9:30 a.m. Panel 2: Pipeline Operator Perspective on Risk Assessments
Break taken during panel 2
11:30 a.m. Lunch-On your Own
1 p.m. Panel 3: How Should Recordkeeping Gaps Influence Risk Assessments?
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. Panel 4: Identifying Interactive Threats and Understanding Options
4:30 p.m. Summary and Adjournment

Please visit http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/ and click on these public meetings to register.

These public meetings will be held at The Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203, Phone: 703-717-6200. Please contact the Westin to reserve a room using “USDOT/PHMSA” for the room block name at the rate of $157/night. This room rate is available for Tuesday night July 19 and Wednesday night July 20 until the reserved rooms at this rate are taken. A very limited number of rooms are available at this rate on July 21.

For further information contact: Robert Smith by e-mail or by phone at 919-238-4759.