Operators of Hazardous Liquid
Pipelines are required to document the continual assessment and
evaluation of their pipelines' integrity through inspection or
testing, as well as remedial preventive, and mitigative actions.
Revisions to this information are due to the Pipeline Safety:
Safety of On-Shore Hazardous Liquid Pipelines final rule which
requires that, in cases where a determination about pipeline
threats has not been obtained within 180 days following the date of
inspection, pipeline operators must notify PHMSA in writing and
provide an expected date when adequate information will become
available. Operators must also to notify PHMSA if they are unable
to assess their pipeline via an in-line inspection. Operators who
choose to use an alternate assessment method must demonstrate that
their pipeline is not capable of accommodating an in-line
inspection tool and that the use of an alternative assessment
method will provide a substantially equivalent understanding of the
condition of the pipeline. This mandatory record keeping
requirement supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
“SAFETY STRATEGIC GOAL” which targets three main strategic
initiatives: managing risk and integrity, sharing responsibility,
and providing effective stewardship. This goal enhances public
health and safety by working toward the elimination of
transportation-related deaths and injuries. This information is
used by PHMSA to determine compliance with federal pipeline safety
regulations and is also used by Agency and State Officials to
assist federal and state pipeline safety inspectors who audit this
information when they conduct compliance inspections and to provide
background for failure investigations.
US Code:
49
USC 60102 Name of Law: Federal Pipeline Safety Laws
The Pipeline Safety: Safety of
On-Shore Hazardous Liquid Pipelines final rule requires operators
under Integrity Management to notify PHMSA if it cannot obtain
sufficient information about the discovery of anomalous conditions
within 180 days. If 180-days is impracticable to make a
determination about a condition found during an assessment, the
pipeline operator must notify PHMSA and provide an expected date
when adequate information will become available. This final rule
also requires hazardous liquid pipeline operators to notify PHMSA
if they are unable to use an in-line inspection tool to assess
their pipeline. Lastly, PHMSA requests the title of this
information collection, previously “Integrity Management in High
Consequence Areas for Operators of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines,” be
changed to better align with the newly requested data.
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.
2137 - 0605 HL Final Rule Supporting Statement 11.25.2019 (1).docx
New Integrity Management Plans