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 Transportationâs âSAFETY STRATEGIC GOALâ 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 âIntegrity Management in High Consequence Areas for Operators of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines,â 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