Rupture Mitigation Valve Notification Requirements

The Pipeline Safety Regulations require operators to notify PHMSA in certain instances regarding their rupture-mitigation valve operations. 49 CFR § 192.634 and 49 CFR § 195.418 require operators who elect to use alternative equivalent technology to notify the Office of Pipeline Safety at least 90 days in advance of use. An operator choosing this option must include a technical and safety evaluation, including design, construction, and operating procedures for the alternative equivalent technology with the notification. PHMSA expects most operators to use standard technology and, as such, estimates this notification requirement will result in approximately 4 responses annually. PHMSA estimates each operator will spend 40 hours annually compiling the necessary components of this notification requirement. Operators must notify PHMSA if a rupture-mitigation valve cannot be made operational within 14 days of installation. Operators must also notify PHMSA if a valve cannot be repaired or replaced within 12 months. PHMSA expects roughly 10 percent of operators to experience these circumstances taking 2 hours to complete the notification requirement. An operator may seek exemption from certain regulatory requirements by notifying PHMSA in certain instances. An operator may plan to leave a rupture-mitigation valve open for more than 30 minutes following a rupture identification if the operator demonstrates to PHMSA, that closing a rupture mitigation valve, or alternative equivalent technology, would be detrimental to public safety. Likewise, for hazardous liquid pipeline segments in a non-HCA area or a non-HCA could-affect segment, an operator may request exemption from certain requirements if it can demonstrate to PHMSA that installing an otherwise-required rupture-mitigation valve, or alternative equivalent technology, would be economically, technically, or operationally infeasible.

The latest form for Rupture Mitigation Valve Notification Requirements expires 2029-01-31 and can be found here.

192.179 Alternative Technology Notification for Natural Gas Operators

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Transportation - Ground Transportation