In This Issue

Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (Gas Transmission Pipelines): Notice of public meeting

Editor’s note: this meeting has not been “officially announced” as of newsletter publication time, but we have heard from reliable sources that it will occur as described below. The on-line registration site mentioned below does not yet contain this meeting information, but should soon.

OPS will conduct a one-day public meeting to address issues raised at a recent workshop jointly organized by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation and the American Gas Association (AGA) on the proposed 49 CFR Part 192.763, “Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas”. This meeting is intended to give participants a better understanding of the proposed rule. OPS representatives will give an overview of the proposed regulation and will fully discuss identification of high consequence areas and moderate risk areas; confirmatory direct assessment methods; assessment schedules, and criteria for the performance approach to the program. RSPA/OPS is also seeking information on the costs and benefits of implementing the proposed requirements.

The meeting is open to all. There is no cost to attend. This meeting will be held on Friday March 14, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott At Metro Center hotel located at 775 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC; Tel: 202-737-2200); fax: 202-347-5886; website: www.marriott.com. You may register electronically for this meeting at: primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings. Please make your reservations as soon as possible as hotel rooms are limited. For other details on this meeting contact Janice Morgan at 202-366-2392.

The preliminary agenda for this meeting is as follows:

  • Pipeline Safety Legislation – The impact of the recently passed legislation on integrity management program requirements.
  • Overview of Proposed Regulation – The intent and structure of the proposed rule.
  • HCA Identification – The refinement of the definition of high consequence areas and moderate risk areas in the proposed rule.
  • Risk Assessment, Plan Development, and Data Integration – Proposed risk assessment, with particular emphasis on confirmatory direct assessment methods, and the proposed plan development process, identification of high consequence areas and moderate risk areas; confirmatory direct assessment methods; assessment schedules, and criteria for the performance approach to the program.
  • IMP Implementation & Data Integration.
  • Costs and Benefits – The draft regulatory evaluation.
  • Open Forum & Q&A.;