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In This Issue

  1. Public Awareness Workshop: ** Attention **
  2. Need to make sure your Public Awareness Program meets API RP 1162 standards?
  3. Gas Gathering Workshop
  4. Utility Accommodation for Rail Facilities in Texas State ROWs
  5. Will your SPCC Plan pass an EPA inspection based on the new SPCC Inspectors’ Guidance document?
  6. Texas Damage Prevention
  7. Integrity Management Services
  8. Technical Advisory Committee Meetings – Workshops
  9. O & M Manual Up-To-Date?
  10. OPS issues revised FAQ’s for Public Awareness Programs
  11. Need to Update your Response Plan (FRP, ICP or OSRP)?
  12. PHMSA Response to NTSB on SCADA Issues
  13. RCP Services Spotlight — Gas Gathering Jurisdictional Determination
  14. Need to Update Your Current Operator Qualification Program?

PHMSA Response to NTSB on SCADA Issues

On April 26th, PHMSA submitted their response to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding recommendations resulting from their study entitled “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) in Liquid Pipelines”. The NTSB recommended the following:

  • P-05-1: Require operators of hazardous liquid pipelines to follow the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice 1165 [API RP 11651 for the use of graphics on the SCADA screens.
  • P-05-2: Require pipeline companies to have a policy for the review / audit of alarms.
  • P-05-3: Require controller training to include simulator or non-computerized simulations for controller recognition of abnormal operating conditions, in particular, leak events.
  • P-05-4: Change the liquid accident reporting form (PHMSA F 7000-1) and require operators to provide data related to controller fatigue.
  • P-05-5: Require operators to install computer-based leak detection systems on all lines unless engineering analysis determined that such a system is not necessary.

The first four recommendations are being addressed through communications of the CCERT Study and public workshops as mentioned in the article above (Technical Advisory Committee Meetings – Workshops)

“This week PHMSA intends to announce in the federal Register a public workshop in June to discuss opportunities to enhance the safety of pipeline control and findings from the CCERT Project. The workshop is a forum to discuss the adequacy of current regulations, some new concepts for improvement of control room management and operations, and for industry to provide feedback on any enhancements PHMSA offers for discussion on the topic. PHSMA would like to hear from the public and industry its experiences related to pipeline management processes, human fatigue issues, controller qualification training and other programs to assure the effective control of pipelines.”

PHMSA has addressed the Computer-Based Leak Detection recommendation (P-05-5) as follows:

“The integrity management rule for hazardous liquid pipelines requires operators to have a means to detect leaks on its pipelines system. To the extent an operator uses a computer-based leak detection system., the operator’s system must comply with API Recommended Practice 1 130. Forty-six percent of PHSMA7s first round of inspections of integrity management programs revealed inadequate use of prevention and mitigation measures, including leak detections, in the program elements. As a result, our second of inspections will include discussion of mandated use of computer-based leak detection at the public meeting on the CCERT Project this coming summer. This discussion will enable us to provide a more informed response to this recommendation at a later date.”