Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0017

Title: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to provide further clarification regarding the notification(s) required prior to certain construction-related events

Summary: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to provide further clarification regarding the notification(s) required prior to certain construction-related events.

PHMSA needs to be aware of certain construction-related events to have sufficient time to schedule reviews of pipeline construction plans and inspections. Moreover, timely construction plan reviews and inspections by PHMSA could help operators avoid costly modifications, repairs and/or additions to achieve compliance with the Federal pipeline safety regulations. Accordingly, PHMSA strongly encourages operators to provide the required construction-related notification(s) not later than 60 days prior to whichever of the following activities occurs first: Material purchasing and manufacturing; right-of-way acquisition; construction equipment move-in activities; onsite or offsite fabrications; or right-of-way clearing, grading and ditching.

PHMSA also strongly encourages operators to provide the required notification(s) for the construction of 10 or more miles of a new pipeline for a pipeline that: (1) Did not previously exist; and (2) for the replacement of 10 or more contiguous miles of line pipe in an existing pipeline.