NTSB Chair Stepping Down
Deborah A.P. Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on March 11 that she will be stepping down from the position April 25, 2014 to become the President and CEO of the National Safety Council. The current vice chairman, Christopher Hart, will assume the role of Acting Chairman.
Other NTSB Developments
NTSB Releases Report on Sissonville Accident. The NTSB released its Accident Report on the December 2012 natural gas pipeline incident near Sissonville, West Virginia. The NTSB concluded that the probable cause of the pipeline rupture was external corrosion of the pipe wall because of deteriorated coating and ineffective cathodic protection and failure to detect the corrosion. The NTSB recommended that the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) revise its integrity management regulations to add principal arterial roadways to the list of identified sites that establish a high consequence area (HCA). The NTSB also recommended that the operator provide pipeline controllers with guidance on responding to alerts; modify its SCADA system to improve the ability of operators to identify potential system malfunctions; and ensure that integrity-related information gathered on pipelines located in HCAs is considered in assessing the risk and integrity of non-HCA pipelines.
NTSB Investigates Pipeline Failure in New York City. The NTSB continues to investigate a pipeline explosion that occurred on March 12 in the Manhattan neighborhood of East Harlem. The investigatory team issued preliminary findings on March 18.
PHMSA Activities
PHMSA Extends TAG Application Deadline to March 31. PHMSA has extended until March 31, 2014, the deadline for submitting applications for a Technical Assistance Grant. The grants are designed to support the pipeline safety-related activities of local communities and non-profit entities.
Status of PHMSA Rulemakings. The table below reflects the most current publicly available information on the status of PHMSA rulemakings as reported in the DOT’s March 2014 Significant Rulemaking Report. Additional information from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is here. New information is highlighted in bold.
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Rulemaking & Next
Action
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Estimated Date to OMB
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DOT Estimated
Publication Date
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OIRA Estimated
Publication Date
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Excess Flow Valves; NPRM
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March 17, 2014
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June 27, 2014
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May 2014
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Issues Related to Use of Plastic Pipe in the Gas Pipeline Industry; NPRM
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No Date Announced
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April 2014
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April 2014
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Safety of Gas Transmission
Pipelines; NPRM
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May 8, 2014
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August 20, 2014
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July 2014
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Safety of On-Shore Hazardous Liquid Pipelines; NPRM
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March 20, 2014
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July 9, 2014
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April 2014
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Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards; NPRM
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September 18, 2014
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December 29, 2014
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TBD
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Enforcement of State Excavation Damage Laws; Final Rule
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March 13, 2014
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June 25, 2014
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March 2014
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Miscellaneous Amendments to Pipeline Safety Regulations; Final Rule
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March 27, 2014
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July 9, 2014
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August 2014
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Periodic Updates of Regulatory
References to Technical
Standards and Miscellaneous
Amendments; Final Rule
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March 7, 2014
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June 18, 2014
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TBD
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Selected State Updates
Washington Citizens’ Group on Pipeline Safety Is Seeking New Voting Member. On March 21, the Washington Citizens Commission on Pipeline Safety, which advises state agencies and federal local agencies on pipeline safety matters, announced that it has an opening for a voting committee member to represent the citizens and general public. Submit applications here.
To download a full text PDF, which includes Dates of Interest, upcoming PHMSA State Seminars, and State Specific Association Meetings, please click here.