PHMSA Updates Gas Distribution Integrity Management FAQ’s

On February 9, 2011, PHMSA published several updates to the pipeline integrity FAQ’s for gas distribution pipelines. The revised FAQ’s are listed below.

A.7 Does the operator report the number of EFVs installed per year or the total number of EFVs installed on an operator’s system on the Annual Report form? Does the number include EFVs installed on services other than single-family residences?
Operators are to report the total number of EFVs installed in the system on service lines serving single-family residences and the estimated number of EFVs in their system at the end of the year. Both metrics are reported on the Annual Report form in Part E – Excess Flow Valve (EFV) Data. Operators may, but are not required, include EFVs installed on branched services serving single-family residences in the total. PHMSA revised the Annual Report form for the 2010 calendar year to accommodate this information.

C.4.b.2 Must each of the 8 threats be considered for every pipeline type?
Yes, an operator’s DIMP plan must consider each of the 8 threats for the pipeline system. The eight threats categories are corrosion, natural forces, excavation damage, other outside force damage, material or welds, equipment failure, incorrect operations, and other concerns that could threaten the integrity of its pipeline. Some threats may not be relevant to all pipe types or all operators’ circumstances. Some threats may apply but are not obvious. For example, corrosion is not a threat to plastic facilities but could be a threat to tracer wires, transition fittings, or to short pieces of metal main or services in a plastic system. Material or weld failures could apply to plastic (the brittle failure issue and potential for faulty fusion joints, for instance). Excavation damage occurs regardless of the pipe material.

C.4.g.1 When must operators start collecting and maintaining records with data needed for performance measures?
Reportable performance measures are to be submitted via the Gas Distribution Annual Report for Calendar Year 2010 which covers activities from January 1, 2010 thru December 31, 2010. The 2010 calendar year Annual Report is due by March 15, 2011.

C.4.g.2 When are performance measures due on Annual Reports?
The reportable performance measures are to be submitted via the 2010 Gas Distribution Annual Report form which is due by March 15, 2011. An operator also must report this information to the state pipeline safety authority if a state exercises jurisdiction over the operator’s pipeline.

Mar. 15, 2011 – Operators use proposed revised Gas Distribution Annual Report form, PHMSA F 7100.1-1 (12-05). It contains fields for reportable performance measures for the 2010 calendar year. Mechanical fitting failures are not to be reported for calendar year 2010.

Mar. 15, 2012 – Annual Report for calendar year 2011 must contain the required data for reportable performance measures from January 1, 2011 thru December 31, 2011.

C.5.4 Since there is a new form for mechanical fitting failures, do these failures still need to be reported under Part C of the Annual Report?
Yes, in addition to the new reporting requirements for hazardous mechanical fitting failures on the new Gas Distribution Mechanical Fitting Failure Form (PHMSA F–7100.1–2), both the number of total leaks and the number of hazardous leaks eliminated or repaired during the year due to mechanical fittings are still reported in “Part C – Total Leaks and Hazardous Leaks Eliminated/Repaired During Year.”

PHMSA created the new Mechanical Fitting Failure Report form [PHMSA F 7100.1-2] to address the new annual reporting requirement established by DIMP for hazardous leaks on mechanical fittings. Mechanical fitting failure reporting is due March 2012 for CY2011, Operators may submit data periodically throughout the year (preferred) or in one submission prior to March of the year following the failure. The online system for the new Mechanical Fitting Failure Report form [PHMSA F 7100.1-2] is now in operation.

NOTE:
Online submission via PHMSA Portal is required unless an alternative reporting method is granted by PHMSA. More information is available at PHMSA’s, Office of Pipeline Safety website, Pipeline Safety Community, and click the “ Online Data Entry” hyperlink listed in the first column.