The Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT / PHMSA) issued a final rule modifying the integrity management regulations for hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission pipelines. The modifications include.
- Adding an eight-month window to the period for reassessing hazardous liquid pipelines;
- Modifying notification requirements for operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines;
- Repealing a requirement for gas operators to notify local authorities;
- Allowing alternatives in calculating pressure reduction when making an immediate repair on a hazardous liquid pipeline.
The Final Rule is effective August 16, 2007.
This action is intended to improve pipeline safety by clarifying the integrity management regulations and providing operators with increased flexibility in implementing their integrity management programs (IMP). The affected sections include:
49 CFR Part 192– Transportation of Natural & Other Gas by Pipeline
§192.933 What actions must an operator take to address integrity issues?
Notification Requirements of Pressure Reduction: PHMSA has clarified that the notification requirements apply to certain pressure reductions for IMP remediation requirements, and has added a requirement for notification when a pressure reduction exceeds 365 days:
- §192.933(a)(1) Temporary Pressure Reduction
If an operator is unable to respond within the time limits for certain conditions, they must temporarily reduce the operating pressures of the pipeline or take other action that ensures the safety of the covered segment. An operator must determine any temporary reduction in operating pressure by using one of the following: ASME/ANSI B31G; AGA Pipeline Research Committee Project PR-3-805 (“RSTRENG”); or reduce the operating pressure to a level not exceeding 80 percent of the level at the time the condition was discovered.
An operator must notify PHMSA if the schedule for evaluation and remediation cannot be met; and they must also notify a State pipeline safety authority when either a covered segment is located in a State where PHMSA has an interstate agent agreement, or an intrastate covered segment is regulated by that State. - §192.933(a)(2) Long Term Pressure Reduction
If a pressure reduction exceeds 365 days, a gas transmission pipeline operator must notify PHMSA and provide technical justification that the continued pressure reduction will not jeopardize the pipeline’s integrity. The operator must also notify a State pipeline safety authority when either a covered segment is located in a State where PHMSA has an interstate agent agreement, or an intrastate covered segment is regulated by that State. - §192.933(c) Schedule for evaluation and remediation
PHMSA has modified the wording to be consistent with the wording in the IMP notification requirements. There is no change in the requirement. With the revised wording, this section will now require an operator to explain why it cannot meet its schedule for evaluation and remediation of a condition and that the changed schedule will not jeopardize public safety. - Requirement for gas operators to notify local authorities has been repealed.
49 CFR Part 195 – Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline
§195.452 Pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas.
Notification Requirements of Pressure Reduction: PHMSA has clarified that the notification requirements apply to certain pressure reductions for IMP remediation requirement, and has added a requirement for notification when a pressure reduction exceeds 365 days:
- §195.452(h)(1)(i) Temporary pressure reduction.
An operator must notify PHMSA if they cannot meet the schedule for evaluation and remediation required under §195.452(h)(3) and cannot provide safety through a temporaryreduction in operating pressure. - §195.452(h)(1)(ii) Long-term pressure reduction.
When a pressure reduction exceeds 365 days, the operator must notify PHMSA and explain the reasons for the delay, in addition to taking remedial action to ensure the safety of the pipeline. - §195.452(h)(3) Schedule for evaluation and remediation.
PHMSA has modified the wording to be consistent with the wording in the IMP notification requirements. There is no change in the requirement. With the revised wording, this section will now require an operator to explain why it cannot meet its schedule for evaluation and remediation of a condition and that the changed schedule will not jeopardize public safety or environmental protection. - §195.452(h)(4)(i) Immediate repair conditions.
An operator must calculate the temporary reduction in operating pressure using the formula in section 451.7 of ASME/ANSI B31.4, if applicable. If not applicable to the anomaly, or if the formula results in a calculated pressure higher than the original operating pressure, an operator must use an alternative acceptable method to calculate a reduced operating pressure. - §195.452(j)(3) Assessment intervals.
PHMSA has added an eight-month window to the hazardous liquid pipeline five-year time frame for operators to complete reassessments – giving operators flexibility in scheduling and completing reassessments without compromising pipeline safety.