PHMSA - Initiatives

Initiatives

The following is a broad overview of some of PHMSA's current initiatives.

The initiatives listed here are grouped under Safety, Environment, Technology, Preparedness & Response, Economy, and Partnerships and may be repeated under each heading as appropriate.

Research & Development

PHMSA's R&D Programs conduct and support research to support regulatory and enforcement activities.

Research & Development

Safety

	PHMSA Security
	PHMSA's tools, contacts, and resources for secure pipelines and transportation of hazardous materials.

	Hazardous Materials Safety Risk Management
	Safety is of paramount importance as the DOT seeks to involve the public, industry, and other interested parties in determining levels of risk that are acceptable, affordable, and comparable with other risks inherent in modern society.

	Hazardous Materials Safety International Standards
	Harmonization with international standards enhances safety, compliance and free trade while minimizing regulatory burden on the public. The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety provides information on its international activities.

Pipeline Compliance and Safety

A major aspect of pipeline safety is a sound, comprehensive compliance program, conducted by Regional Offices. To allocate its compliance resources in a manner to maximize the impact on safety, Pipeline Safety uses a computer-based tool, known as the pipeline inspection priority program (PIPP), which ranks pipeline units on system characteristics, filed reports, and accident data. PIPP increases productivity by targeting inspections based on risk.

	Pipeline Damage Prevention
	Working together with facility operators, state and local governments, excavators, property owners, and concerned citizens, the Office of Pipeline Safety has developed a comprehensive damage prevention program to protect underground facilities.

	Pipeline Safety Research and Development
	Information about Pipeline Safety Research and Development and how it is coordinated.

	PHMSA Drug & Alcohol Testing
	PHMSA conducts drug and alchohol testing of transporters of hazardous materials in order to deter and detect illegal drug use and alcohol misuse in the pipeline industry.

Environment

Pipeline Safety Oil Pollution Act Initiative

The Office of Pipeline Safety works with the National Response Team and Region Response Teams lead by the EPA and Coast Guard. Pipeline Safety played a key role in drafting and implementing an Integrated Contingency Planning tool that won a Hammer Award for streamlining Federal contingency planning requirements. Rather than filing several contingency plans, operators could meet all Federal requirements with a single plan.

	Pipeline Unusually Sensitive Areas
	The pipeline safety statute directes Pipeline Safety to describe areas that are unusually sensitive to environmental damage in the event of a hazardous liquid pipeline release, and to establish methods for identifying hazardous liquid pipelines located in those areas.

Technology

PHMSA Research and Development Opportunities

PHMSA conducts and supports research to support regulatory and enforcement activities and to provide the technical and analytical foundation necessary for planning, evaluating, and implementing the hazardous material and pipeline safety program. PHMSA is sponsoring research and development projects focused on providing near-term solutions that will increase the safety, cleanliness, and reliability of the Nation's hazardous material and pipeline transportation system.

	National Pipeline Mapping System
	View maps of natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines, LNG facilities, and breakout tanks by county.

Pipeline Safety Data Analysis

Pipeline Safety collects, compiles, and analyzes pipeline safety data to aid in decision making associated with regulation revisions, compliance, and training. Pipeline Safety maintains a reporting system for compiling accident/safety-related condition reports submitted by gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators as well as annual reports submitted by gas pipeline operators which include information on miles and types of pipelines.

Preaparedness & Response

PHMSA Preparedness and Response

PHMSA recognizes that the first element of facing a challenge is to prepare for it. Reaching out to our Emergency Responders and Hazardous Materials and Pipeline industry stakeholders is one of our core goals to ensure they can deal with any type of hazardous material or pipeline incident. We provide technical expertise to industry and work closely with the response community to ensure the transportation system remains safe.

	Hazardous Materials Safety Risk Management
	Safety is of paramount importance as the DOT seeks to involve the public, industry, and other interested parties in determining levels of risk that are acceptable, affordable, and comparable with other risks inherent in modern society.

	Pipeline Safety Risk Management Initiative
	A variety of activities related to the concept of risk management have been initiated within the Office of Pipeline Safety and the pipeline industry over the last couple of years. These activities have been motivated by a desire, a recognition, a concern, and a concept on the part of both the government and the industry.

Economy

PHMSA Research and Development Opportunities

	Hazardous Materials Safety International Standards
	Harmonization with international standards enhances safety, compliance and free trade while minimizing regulatory burden on the public. The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety provides information on its international activities.

	LDC RAFT
	The objective of the Local Distribution Company Regulatory Alternatives Feasibility Team (LDC RAFT) is to conduct a comprehensive study to explore regulatory alternatives to the current pipeline safety regulations that could result in improved safety, reliability, and the protection of the environment in a cost-effective manner.

Pipeline Safety Technical Advisory Committees

The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 requires establishment of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC), and the Hazardous Liquid Safety Act of 1979 requires creation of the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The primary purpose of the Committees is to review proposed pipeline safety standards for technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost effectiveness, and practicability

Partnerships

	Pipeline Safety Federal State Partnership
	PHMSA administers the national regulatory program to assure safe transportation of natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous materials by pipeline. The Federal/State partnership is the cornerstone for assuring uniform implementation of the pipeline safety program nationwide.

	LDC RAFT
	The objective of the Local Distribution Company Regulatory Alternatives Feasibility Team (LDC RAFT) is to conduct a comprehensive study to explore regulatory alternatives to the current pipeline safety regulations that could result in improved safety, reliability, and the protection of the environment in a cost-effective manner.

Pipeline Safety Technical Advisory Committees