FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 21, 1998
Contact: Patricia Klinger
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
RSPA 29-98
RSPA
PROPOSES PIPELINE SYSTEMS
INTEGRITY PILOT PROGRAM
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) today proposed a new public-private partnership pilot program to improve pipeline safety.
The System Integrity Inspection program (SII) will enhance current inspection practices by focusing on a broad range of pipeline integrity issues instead of conducting inspections only from a regulatory and compliance perspective.
"This proposal highlights the federal government’s commitment to improving pipeline safety," said RSPA Administrator Kelley S. Coyner. "By teaming-up with pipeline operators, we are creating a smarter approach to assuring the public that pipeline systems in their communities are operating as safely as possible."
RSPA’s review of current national pipeline inspection programs concluded that the SII approach to developing a federal government-private partnership for effectively improving the way operators address potential risks posed by pipelines provides greater levels of safety, environmental protection and pipeline service reliability.
Five interstate pipeline operators pipeline operators with good performance records will be considered and approved for participation in the SII program. RSPA invites eligible pipeline operators to submit letters of application for the pilot program.
The notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Dec. 14, 1998 Federal Register.
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