PHMSA - Pipeline Guidance

Pipeline Guidance

This listing is provided as part of the Pipeline Safety Office's ongoing efforts to provide easy access to commonly used guidance. The following documents are not significant or economically significant as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices.

	Pipeline Advisory Bulletins
	PHMSA uses Advisory Bulletins to inform affected pipeline operators and all Federal and State pipeline safety personnel of matters that have the potential of becoming safety and/or environmental risks.

	Letters of Interpretation
	Pipeline Safety provides written clarifications of the Regulations (49 CFR Parts 186-199) in the form of interpretation letters.

	Special Permits
	Special Permits (formerly called Waivers) are issued to individual operators in response to petitions. They waive parts of PHMSA regulations if the petitioner demonstrates and PHMSA agrees, that doing so is consistent with pipeline safety. They are usually contingent on specific requirements set forth in the permit.

	Onshore Gas Gathering FAQ (PDF)
	This set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) is intended to clarify, explain, and promote better understanding of the Gas Gathering Line rules. Find more information and FAQs at Pipeline Regulations.

	Gas Integrity Management
	This website provides information to regulators and pipeline operators on Gas Integrity Mangement including information on PHMSA's inspection and enforcement of the Gas IM Rule. It includes links to guideance on Gas IM protocols and an extensive Gas IM FAQ.

	Hazardous Liquid Integrity Management
	This website provides infromation to regulators and pipeline operators on Hazardous Liquid Integrity Management including information on PHMSA's inspection and enforcement of the HL IM Rule. It includes links to guidance on HL IM protocols and an extensive HL IM FAQ.

	Small Natural Gas Systems Manual
	This manual for operators of small natural gas systems was developed to provide an overview of pipeline compliance responsibilities under the Federal pipeline safety regulations. It is designed for the non-technically trained person who operates a master meter system, a small municipal system, or a small independent system.

	Small LP Gas Systems Manual
	This manual for operators of small LP gas systems was developed to provide an overview of pipeline compliance responsibilities under the Federal pipeline safety regulations. It is designed for the non-technically trained person who operates a master meter system, a small municipal system, or small independent system.

	Response Options for Pipeline Operations in Compliance Proceedings
	This webpage explains options and provides guidance to operators involved in compliance proceedings.

	Drug and Alcohol Program
	Policy and investigation to deter and detect illegal drug use and alcohol misuse in the pipeline industry.

Pipeline Safety Initiatives

These include the following programs: Compliance and Safety, Damage Prevention, Drug and Alcohol Program, Federal/State Partnership, National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS), Oil Pollution Act Initiative (OPA), Pipeline Integrity Management Program, Pipeline Safety Data Analysis, Regulatory Development, Research, Risk Management Initiative, Technical Pipeline Safety Advisory Committees, Training and Qualifications, Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA), Operator Qualification (OQ), and PRIMIS Communications

	Training & Qualifications pages
	For industry, the regulator, and the inspector.