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. 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 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: Unusually
Sensitive Areas for the Great Lakes, Coastal Beaches, and Certain
Coastal Waters amended the pipeline safety regulations to
explicitly state that certain coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and
coastal beaches are classified as unusually sensitive areas for the
purpose of compliance with the hazardous liquid integrity
management regulations. This amendment implements mandates
contained in the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and
Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016, as amended by the PIPES Act
of 2020. A hazardous liquid pipeline that could affect these newly
designated areas must be included in an operator’s integrity
management program. PHMSA estimates that the new USA definitions in
the IFR will require 6 operators to create new IM programs
resulting in 12 new responses and 19,200 additional burden hours
for this information collection.
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 USA IFR 2022.docx
New Integrity Management Plans