PHMSA Rulemaking on Pipeline Damage Prevention Programs
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations to establish criteria and procedures for determining the adequacy of state pipeline excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs; establish an administrative process for making adequacy determinations; establish federal requirements it will enforce in states with inadequate excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs; and establish the adjudication process for administrative enforcement proceedings against excavators where federal authority is exercised. Pursuant to the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006, establishment of review criteria for state excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs is a prerequisite should PHMSA find it necessary to conduct an enforcement proceeding against an excavator in the absence of an adequate enforcement program in the state where the violation occurs. The development of these criteria and the subsequent determination of the adequacy of state excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs is intended to encourage states to develop effective excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs to protect the public from the risk of pipeline ruptures caused by excavation damage, and allow for Federal administrative enforcement action in states with inadequate enforcement programs. Comments are due June 1, 2012. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-02/html/2012-7550.htm