Pipeline Safety: Underwater Abandoned Pipeline Facilities:

On September 8, 2000, OPS issued a rule that will require the last operator of an abandoned natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility that is located offshore or crosses under, over or through a commercially navigable waterway to submit a report of the abandonment to the Secretary of Transportation. The results of this final rule will be a Congressionally mandated central depository of information about underwater abandoned pipeline facilities that the Secretary of Transportation will make available to appropriate Federal and State agencies. The information in the report must contain all reasonably available information related to the facility, including information in the possession of a third party. The report must contain the location, size, date, method of abandonment, and a certification that the facility has been abandoned in accordance with all applicable laws.

This rule becomes effective October 10, 2000. Reports for pipelines abandoned prior to October 10, 2000, must be submitted by April 10, 2001. Reports can be submitted by mail, fax or e-mail to the Information Officer, Research and Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation, Room 7128, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington DC 20590; fax (202) 366-4566; e-mail, roger.little@rspa.dot.gov. The preferred method to submit data on pipeline facilities abandoned after October 10, 2000 is to the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) in accordance with the NPMS "Standards for Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Operator Submissions." The complete final rule can be downloaded as a pdf file: (65-54440)