PHMSA proposes to revise the Federal
pipeline safety regulations to address human factors and other
components of control room management. The proposed rule would
require operators of hazardous liquid pipelines, gas pipelines, and
liquefied natural gas (LNG)to to assure controllers and control
room management practices and procedures maintain pipeline safety
and integrity. This proposed rule results from a PHMSA study of
controllers and controller performance issues known as the
Controller Certification Project (CCERT), a National Transportation
Safety Board study, safety-related condition reports, operator
visits and inspections, and inquiries. This rule would improve
opportunities to reduce risk through more effective control of
pipelines and require the human factors management plan mandated by
the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of
2006 (PIPES Act). These regulations would enhance pipeline safety
by coupling strengthened control room management, including
automated control systems, with improved controller training and
qualifications and fatigue management. PHMSA expects these
regulations will complement efforts already underway in the
pipeline industry to address human factors and control room
management, such as the development of new national consensus
standards, including an American Petroleum Institute (API)
recommended practices on roles and responsibilities, shift
operations, management of change, fatigue management, alarm
management and SCADA display standard, as well as comparable
business practices at some pipeline companies.
US Code:
49
USC 60102 Name of Law: Federal Pipeline Safety Laws
This final rule contains
information collection requirements that affect hazardous liquid
and gas pipeline systems. A draft of the final rule has been
uploaded in this ICR record while it is being reviewed by OMB. The
rule requires hazardous liquid and gas pipeline operators to keep
records on the following sections: control room management
procedures; roles and responsibilities of pipeline controllers;
information on SCADAs, fatigue mitigation; alarm management; change
management; operating experience; training; compliance validation;
and deviations.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Control Room Management / Human Factors