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RSPA 19-03
Monday, December 15,
2003
Contact: Damon A. Hill
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
Transportation Department Enhances Community Protection
With Final Rule for Natural
Gas Pipelines
Increasing public confidence in the safety of the nation’s natural gas pipelines
is the focus of new federal regulations released today by the Research and
Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“It is essential that we protect the public by ensuring that our nation’s
pipeline transportation system meets the highest safety standards,” said RSPA
Deputy Administrator Samuel G. Bonasso. “These rules will improve public safety
through better oversight and management of the pipeline system.”
The final rule, entitled “Pipeline Integrity Management for Gas Pipelines in
High Consequence Areas,” requires operators of natural gas transmission
pipelines to assess and evaluate the integrity of their pipelines in areas where
a failure would have the highest impact on the public or property. Operators
must repair pipeline defects discovered during an assessment and take additional
measures to protect these high-consequence areas. Pipeline operators must report
to RSPA and to the public twice annually on progress in implementing their
Integrity Management plans.
This new regulations respond to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002,
which established deadlines for operators to assess natural gas transmission
pipelines in order to protect public safety. It also required RSPA to issue
regulations directing gas transmission operators to adopt and implement an
integrity management program similar to regulations RSPA issued two years ago
for operators of hazardous liquid pipelines.
Developed from analyses of pipeline incidents, statutory mandates and safety
recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board, pipeline integrity
management recognizes that improved collection and analysis of pipeline
information are central to accident prevention. As pipeline accidents often
result in supply interruptions, these new regulations can also lead to more
reliable delivery of natural gas to industry and consumers.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 15, 2003.
RSPA has public responsibilities for the safe, reliable and secure movement of
hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all transportation modes,
including the nation’s pipelines; rapid response to emergencies by government
agencies; training for transportation safety professionals; and applying science
and technology to meet national transportation needs.