According to recent presentations by DOT / OPS, OPS should complete their initial IMP inspections of 14 large pipeline operators by June, 2003. They will then have a “reset” meeting (also in June), where the results of these audits will be reviewed and enforcement actions will be decided. We can expect to see a lot of Notices of Amendment (NOAs) as a result. OPS intends to inspect all the other large pipeline operators from June 2003 to early 2004. OPS is also piloting their inspection process for small operators, using a different set of audit protocols. They are trying to match the depth of the inspection to the risk of the operator. A large pipeline operator can expect to have an audit that lasts 8 working days, divided among 2 OPS trips that are separated by 1 to 2 weeks.
Editor’s note: We haven’t heard any information concerning how the small operator audits are varying from the large operators – either in duration or scope. If you know something, we’d like to hear it!