[Docket No. PHMSA–2011–0127]
The
Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) issued a Preliminary report on the “State of the National Pipeline
Infrastructure.” This preliminary report serves as an introduction to what
is known about our nation’s pipeline infrastructure, what we need to know
better, and what PHMSA is already doing and planning to do to address pipelines
of concern.
The report states that, “The vast majority of pipelines are in good
condition. . . And the overall trend in pipeline safety has been steadily
improving.” The report goes on to state that, “The percentage of pipe
that is or has become unfit for service is small, and the vast majority of
pipelines are well built, monitored, inspected, assessed, operated, and
maintained.”
Their statistics indicate that corrosion is the leading cause of releases on
gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines, followed by material/weld
failures, equipment failures, and excavation damage. For gas distribution
pipelines, which are concentrated in populated areas where excavation activity
is particularly active, excavation damage and other outside force damage are
the major causes.
Recent accidents in San Bruno, California and Allentown, Pennsylvania have
raised questions in the public’s mind about the safety of older pipelines.
PHMSA is taking a hard look at the causes and characteristics of these failures
to see how future incidents can be prevented. PHMSA is assessing how to
accelerate the replacement of pipe to ensure public safety and the reliability
of our critical pipeline system into the future.
The Department of Transportation has issued a call for action to identify pipe
with the poorest performing characteristics within our nation’s pipeline system
and to determine the course of action needed regarding the repair,
rehabilitation, or replacement of these pipelines; which may include the need
to:
- oversee the replacement of this pipe to ensure that it is being replaced
- oversee operators and take interim actions to step up the monitoring of these facilities to reduce the risk of incidents while the pipe is being replaced.
- expand funding for research and development of new tools to improve pipeline assessments.
- ensure through inspections that operators are performing these practices and performing them effectively.
PHMSA is planning a broad-based workshop in August to discuss
these issues, share experiences, and improve knowledge. This workshop may lead
to new or more stringent requirements for assessing and reducing pipeline
risks.
For a copy of this 12-page preliminary report, contact Jessica Roger.