The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Integrity Management Inspection Protocols for hazardous liquid pipeline operators have been revised to reflect rule changes made in July 2007. These protocols are being used to inspect operators for compliance with all aspects of the Integrity Management Rule §195.452.
The rule changes require that operators notify PHMSA when a pressure reduction is in place for more than 365 days (Protocols 4.01 and 4.02); increased the maximum re-assessment interval to 5 years, “not to exceed 68 months” (Protocol 7.02), and clarified the use of alternate methods of calculating pressure reduction when the ASME/ANSI B31.4 Section 451.7 is not applicable (e.g., defects other than corrosion) (Protocol 4.01 and 4.02). Additional minor changes were made to the protocols. Please reference RCP’s newsletter article on the updated protocols in the August 2007 edition of DOT Pipeline Compliance News.
To help illustrate updates and organizational changes to the protocols, a cross-reference table between the updated protocols and the protocol set used for previous Integrity Management inspections is now available.
For a copy of the updated protocols or the Protocol Cross-Reference Table, contac Jessica Roger.