WELCOME
The National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives ("NAPSR or Association") is a non-profit organization of state pipeline safety personnel who serve to promote pipeline safety in the United States and its territories. The Association supports the safe delivery of pipeline products by working closely with USDOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ("PHMSA"), the industry and other interested organizations. NAPSR's Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization and is responsible for NAPSR policy. It includes: a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Immediate-Past Chairperson and the chairperson and vice-chairperson of each of NAPSR's five regions. NAPSR also has an Administrative Manager who assists the National Chairperson and is responsible for education and liaison with outside organizations, advising the Board on matters affecting the Association's mission, assisting in implementing the objectives of NAPSR and routine administration. For contact information please click on "Board of Directors" on this page.
Regional Breakdown of National Pipeline Safety Representatives
NAPSR Annual Regional and National Meeting Schedule for 2012
HOT OFF THE PRESS: As of 11/30/11
New Report Finds State Pipeline Safety Programs Stricter than Federal Requirements
A newly released compendium of gas pipeline regulations reveals that States implement stricter rules and laws than required by the federal government. The “Compendium of State Pipeline Safety Requirements & Initiatives Providing Increased Public Safety Levels” report, authored by the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and sponsored by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, demonstrates that the large majority of State agencies enforce requirements above and beyond those mandated by federal policies.
This detailed and thoroughly researched resource for the first time presents applicable State pipeline safety regulations and demonstrates where they exceed federal code. As shown, the vast majority of State pipeline safety agencies are enforcing numerous actions that surpass federal requirements to enhance gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety in response to local needs. It is available on this website along with an Executive Summary and a spreadsheet by clicking on the "Current Issues" button on the upper right of this webpage.
NAPSR and NARUC have issued a press release today. The NAPSR press release is availbale by clicking here.
NAPSR Program Managers Changing
On September 30, we bid farewell to Gavin Nicoletta, chief of the safety section at the New York State Department of Public Service.
NAPSR 2011 Region Meetings Completed
The meetings culminated with the National event which took place in Savannah, GA with over 80 attendees and featured for the first time in at least a decade, participation by two public utility commissioners, namely Colette Honorable, Chairman of the AR Public Service Commission and Eddie Roberson, Chairman of the TN Regulatory Authority. They presented viewpoints on currently relevant pipeline safety issues and how the NAPSR-NARUC partnership can be strengthened.
NAPSR elected Darin Burk, program manager from Illinois as the National Secretary, effective October 1, 2011, who will serve together with incoming Chair Paul Metro of Pennsylvania and Vice-Chair Randy Knepper of New hampshire. A new Treasurer has also been appointed: Gary Kenny, program manager from Maine.
NTSB Issues Pipeline Accident Report
The report, published at the end of August 2011 contains 29 safety recommendations in addition to the 10 immediate recommendations that previously were issued.The NTSB Accident Docket for this investigation can be viewed at: http://www.ntsb.gov/Dockets/PipeLine/DCA10MP008/default.htm . The NTSB report can be accessed via the following link: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/2011/san_bruno_ca/index.html
State pipeline safety personnel represent 75 percent of the state/federal inspection workforce and along with PHMSA, will be giving their full attention to the findings of the NTSB investigation.
PHMSA Held a Risk Assessment Workshop
NAPSR and PHMSA co-sponsored a Risk Assessment Workshop on July 19-21, 2011 at the Westin Hotel in Ballston, VA, which is close to the Washington, D.C. metro area. The workshop had 4 panels and featured participation by international pipeline safety representatives. The group discussed risk assessment, pipe seam issues, recordkeeping issues and interactive threats. NAPSR had 5 representatives participating at this workshop, including two presenters and one moderator. The presentations are available on the following PHMSA websites:
Managing Challenges with Pipeline Seam Welds: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=71 Improving Pipeline Risk Assessments and Recordkeeping: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=70
Update to 2011 Events Calendar Posted
Click on the green button link on the right side of this webpage for currently visible information on face-to-face events as of October 10, 2011 that may affect NAPSR members.
DOT Successfully Hosts Pipeline safety Forum on April 18
On April 18, 2011 Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood hosted a high-level "Call for Action" Forum at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. To view details of this forum please go to the following website: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum . The webcast and the ppt presentation materials are given on the following webpage: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/forum-2011/. As a follow-up effort to this forum, DOT has set a goal to write a Report to America in about 6 months time. For more details on this effort, see below under HEADS UP.
NAPSR National chair pro tem Paul Metro is advising those states that have not yet sent in their letter describing their pipeline safety program enhancements, as requested by PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman before the Forum, to go ahead and send them, as the docket remains open.
Press Release on PIPA Report
The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced in a press release that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released the Pipeline and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) final report entitled Partnering to Further Enhance Pipeline Safety in Communities Through Risk-Informed Land Use Planning. To express support for this effort, NAPSR issued its own news release. Click here to view the release.
PHMSA Awards the Next Round of State Damage Prevention Grants
PHMSA has awarded grants for calendar year 2011. Instead of grants.gov, the applicants were able to use a "wizard" on FedSTAR to apply for the grants. This should make the process much less burdensome. The Damage Prevention Assistance Program (DPAP) document is available as guidance for those agencies that apply for the State Damage Prevention (SDP) grant. The next solicitation CY 2012 is now open and the due date for applications is August 17, 2011. The solicitation can be found at: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do. Enter 20.720 for the CFDA number. For questions, contact Annmarie Robertson at PHMSA, at annmarie.robertson@dot.gov, phone: 317-253-1622.
PHMSA also announced that SDP grant program reviews will be performed by PHMSA State Programs personnel.
PHMSA Hosts Control Room Management/Human Factors Workshop
Under the leadership of Byron Coy, PHMSA has outlined an accelerated timetable for developing compliance verification documents for the Control Room Management/Human Factors requirements in the pipeline safety code. Much of the preliminary work culminated in a workshop held on November 17, 2010 in Houston, TX, which PHMSA termed as a success, with an estimated 600 attendees. NAPSR has two members on the PHMSA development team, David Piroutek from Wyoming and Dana Arabie from Louisiana. The Control Room Management (CRM) Task Group has selected a number of gas and liquids companies to conduct pilot inspections between February 28 and March 11, 2011. This is helping validate the rule's implementation form. After a few initial ones, Dana and David are taking turns in participating on these inspections. On March 24, 2011 the DOT Technical Advisory Committees on gas and hazardous liquids voted separately to accept the PHMSA proposal to accelerate the implementation dates of most provisions in the rule from its original date of February 1, 2013 to August 1, 2011, with the exception of some provisions, whose date was accelerated to August 1, 2012.
PHMSA Issues Guidelines on Integrity Assessment of Cased Pipelines
On November 1, 2010, PHMSA posted guidelines on the integrity assessment of pipelines inside casings in high-consequence areas on the following website http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/gasimp/TechReports.htm .
PHMSA Completes Initial Effort to Characterize State Damage Prevention Programs
PHMSA has posted results from the recent State Damage Prevention Program Characterization (SDPPC) effort at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/sdppc.htm?nocache=2568 . The PHMSA SDPPC initiative “evaluates state programs against the nine elements of effective damage prevention programs cited by Congress in the PIPES Act of 2006. Its purpose is to gain a better understanding of the successes and challenges existing in state damage prevention programs, where these programs may need improvement, and where PHMSA can focus further assistance." Additional information concerning PHMSA'/OPS' efforts to characterize state damage prevention programs is posted at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/SdppcDiscussion.htm?nocache=9660 . It is conceivable that the results produced by the SDPPC could be used to assist PHMSA in determining the level of relative adequacy of state damage prevention programs. The least adequate ones could be the target of federal enforcement efforts (see first item under the HEADS UP heading on this page).
NAPSR Gathering Line Task Group Reconstituted
In response to the call from NAPSR members for greater clarity in the jurisdiction of state pipeline safety program offices over gas and liquid gathering lines, NAPSR Chair Michael Thompson, in consultation with the NAPSR Board of Directors reconstituted the formerly inactive Gathering Line Task group. The members of this group are David Piroutek, WY, Judy Ramsey, AL, Dana Arabie, LA, Leo Haynos, KS, and Paul Metro, PA, with alternate Bob Gorham, CASFM. With former "architect" of the gathering line rule DeWitt Burdeaux re-joining the PHMSA Training and Qualification Programs office, the group was given a kick-start at the NAPSR National meeting in Indianapolis in mid-September. Another meeting was held at the end of April, 2010 in Grapevine, TX. Currently a survey is out to the NAPSR members that have gathering lines in their states. The survey requests added information that will be used by the Task Group to further develop provisions for gathering lines. NAPSR has adopted two resolutions urging PHMSA to address added requirements on gathering lines.
PHMSA Analyzing Gaps Between Gas and Liquids Regulations
Working with a stakeholder group, Mike Israni at PHMSA is analyzing the gaps between Parts 192 and 195 in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and to seek alignment between the two parts, where possible. The goal is to arrive at findings by March of 2010. Phil Sadler of the VA State Corporation Commission, Division of Utility and Railroad Safety was named as the NAPSR representative to this group and attended the kick-off meeting on July 14-15 in Arlington, VA.
Surveys Sent to NAPSR Members
Added surveys are being conducted in 2011 to further gather collective knowledge at NAPSR. It is being pursued as part of the NAPSR Knowing Our Association initiative. NAPSR member cooperation in responding to these surveys is highly appreciated. The NAPSR leadership knows it takes time to respond to some of these surveys. That is why the questions are typically designed with the aid of experts and/or the NAPSR Liaison Committee. Recent surveys, were aimed at updating the extent of state budget cuts affecting pipeline safety programs and work furloughs in the states in 2011; in finding out if states are allowed by state statute to post inspection results on websites with public access; desired increases in the federal One-Call grant; and requesting information on gathering lines in the state. The survey results are available to PHMSA and NAPSR members only. Please contact Michael Thompson at michael.thompson@state.or.us for questions about the Know Our Association initiative. PHMSA-requested NAPSR surveys carry a points question in the State Evaluation Form and will be noted as such in the survey request message.
Update on Operator Qualification Standard and Rule Review
The Technical Committee for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B31Q Pipeline Operator Qualification Standard is having another meeting on March 1-2, 2011 in Orlando, FL. The ongoing work of the committee, which is now chaired by Jerry Schmitz of Southwest Gas Corporation in Las Vegas, NV, is to resolve any issues left over from the original publication of the Standard. Additionally, the Committee will address new issues as they come forward. The standing Committee has been divided into three sub-teams responsible for technical issues, which may include: adding new covered tasks; as appropriate or updating portions of the Standard which are out of date; non-technical issues, which may include editorial changes to the Standard; and administrative, which will act as a "clearing house" for items that come before the Committee.
Meanwhile, a "Revived OQ" task group consisting of PHMSA and NAPSR personnel has been formed under the leadership of PHMSA Training & Qualification. The NAPSR members of this team are Tom Woosley, TN; Kelly Phelps, OK; Adriana Crasnean, CASFM; Corky Hanson, AZ; and David Hippchen, WV. The group met in Oklahoma City on March 8 and 9. A comprehensive update summary report for government use only has been sent to the NAPSR program managers on March 30.
This has morphed into a Quality Management Systems (QMS) Team, which is considering all personnel qualification issues associated with pipeline construction quality management -- covering repair, replacement and new construction. The NAPSR memebrs of this group are Tom Woosley, TN; Kelly Phelps, OK; Robert Miller, AZ; and David Hippchen, WV. The team is led by Warren Miller of PHMSA.
HEADS UP:
PHMSA and NAPSR to Host Emergency Responder Forum
The one-day forum is being scheduled for December 9, 2011 at the DOT headquarters facility at 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the forum is to convene a meeting of leaders in the emergency response community, the government, the pipeline industry, and the interested public to solicit professional advice that will inform the development of a strategy for improving emergency responders’ ability to prepare for and respond to pipeline emergencies. For additional information please go to the following link: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/docs/Daily%20Digest%20for%20Emergency%20Responder%20Forum%20Oct%2028%202011.pdf NAPSR will be an active participant at this forum. The two participants representing NAPSR will be Don Stursma (IA) and Steve Pott (CO).
NAPSR Begins Planning of the 2012 Region Meetings
A meeting schedule for 2012 is being worked on and can be found at the following link: NAPSR Annual Regional and National Meeting Schedule for 2012 at the top of this web page.
PHMSA Publishes ANPRM for Gas Transmission Pipeline Safety
On August 25, 2011, PHMSA issued in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting comments from affected stakeholders on a number of provisions including but not limited to whether integrity management (IM) requirements should be changed, adding more prescriptive language in some areas, and whether other issues related to system integrity should be addressed by strengthening or expanding non-IM requirements. Among the specific issues PHMSA is considering concerning IM requirements is whether the definition of a high-consequence area (HCA) should be revised, and whether additional restrictions should be placed on the use of specific pipeline assessment methods. With respect to non-IM requirements, PHMSA is considering whether revised requirements are needed on new construction or existing pipelines concerning mainline valves, including valve spacing and installation of remotely or automatically operated valves; whether requirements for corrosion control of steel pipelines should be strengthened; and whether new regulations are needed to govern the safety of gathering lines and underground gas storage facilities. Comments are due to the docket on or before December 2, 2011.
DOT Writing Report to America on Pipeline Safety
As a follow-up effort to the Pipeline Safety Forum of April 18, the DOT Secretary has set a goal to write a Report to America on pipeline safety in about 6 months time. To accomplish this, it has enlisted the help of its Advisory Committee members, by forming a subcommittee with 2 members from each stakeholder group. The subcommittee members for gas and liquids are Commissioner Colette Honorable Chair of the AR Public Service Commission and Massoud Tahamtani, Director of the Division of Utility and Railroad Safety of the VA State Corporation Commission. A series of meetings was held between the months of June and August, as announced in the Federal Register of May 20, 2011. The public meetings were held on June 15 and on August 2-3. A preliminary report entitled "The State of the National Pipeline Safety Infrastructure -- A Preliminary Report" was made publicly available and had been sent to the NAPSR program managers with a request for comments or suggestions that can be passed on to the above regulatory members of the Subcommittee. PHMSA was expecting comments and suggestions on this report by July 13, 2011. Now, the report is under internal review at PHMSA and should be published in the Fall.
PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletin Covering MAOP and Risk-Based Integrity Management
On January 10, 2011, PHMSA published in the Federal Register (FR 76, 1504) Advisory Bulletin ADB-11-01, reminding operators of their responsibilities under federal integrity management regulations. This was prompted by initial findings by the NTSB in its investigation of the possible causes of the September 9, 2010 catastrophic pipeline rupture in San Bruno, CA.
PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletin on Emergency Operator Response Plans
On November 3, 2010, PHMSA published in the Federal Register (FR 75, 67807) an Advisory Bulletin ADB-10-08, reminding operators that they must take certain actions in conjunction with emergency response officials and stating that it intends to evaluate the extent to which operators comply with the related requirements specified in the pipeline safety code.
PHMSA Publishes ANPRM on Hazardous Liquid Lines
On October 18, 2010, PHMSA published in the Federal Register (FR 75, 63774) an advance notice with a substantial number of questions about possible changes in the pipeline safety regulations for hazardous liquids. An extension of the comment period has been granted by PHMSA to a deadline of February 18, 2011. NAPSR filed comments to the docket before the deadline.
PMHSA Publishes Advance Notice on Federal Enforcement of One-Call Laws
In a Federal Register notice published on October 29, 2009 PHMSA outlined proposed provisions to verify if a state has an "inadequate" damage prevention program. This was mandated by the PIPES Act of 2006. The proposal includes steps outlined by PHMSA in the event it has to enforce damage prevention laws against violators in a state with an inadequate program. This could cover not only jurisdictional pipeline system operators but all excavators in the state. Comments were due to the PHMSA docket on December 14, 2009. NAPSR filed comments. These include a suggestion for continuing discussions with PHMSA on key aspects of its advance proposal beyond the deadline for comments. A follow-up discussion was held via teleconference on April 2, 2010 with PHMSA. Program Managers from VA, OR, IL and IA were on the call. A summary of the discussion during that call is posted on the PHMSA docket to see the summary click here. For more details, NAPSR program managers are urged to contact George Mosinskis at gmosinskis@cox.net.
PHMSA to Demo Database Access Portal to States
NAPSR Data Team members are involved in developing the specifics of the NAPSR requirements and in testing the portal called PHMSA Data Mart. Two Microsoft Live Meetings were held earlier this year to demonstrate the databases available to the states through the access portal. Also live demonstrations by PHMSA's Sara Bukovnik were given at the September 2010 NAPSR National meeting in Portland, OR. PHMSA is looking for feedback from NAPSR. PHMSA also intends to hold a Data Summit in the near future to address stakeholder concerns about data. For information, to provide feedback or to try the web portal, contact Michael Thompson at michael.thompson@state.or.us (phone: 503-378-6760).
Job Openings in Pipeline Safety
NC is seeking a gas pipeline safety engineer
AR Public Service Commission Seeks Corrosion Inspector
MN Office of Pipeline Safety Seeks Engineer Senior
AZ Corporation Commission Seeks Director of Safety
Click on Job Openings in Pipeline Safety, above, to view the announcements.
MAJOR PROGRAMSAJOR PROGRAMS
Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP)
Rulemaking status: December 4, 2009, PHMSA published in the Federal Register the Final Rule on DIMP, to become effective on February 12, 2010. At the same time, the revised DOT Gas Distribution Annual Report form and instructions have been posted on the PHMSA docket at PHMSA-RSPA-19854-0256 at the regulations.gov web site. Members of the NAPSR Data Team have reviewed these documents to ensure they collect reliable data. Comments were submitted by NAPSR to the docket to cover both the added requirements for compression couplings and the form and instructions for the distribution system DOT annual report. Additional comments were filed on July 28 to the PHMSA docket and to OMB to address the latest publication of the Gas Distribution Annual Report form and instructions.Because an amendment was necessary to add annual data collection for failed mechanical fittings, PHMSA issued a revised final DIMP rule, which also includes modification of the the DOT annual report form for gas distribution systems. NAPSR sent in comments to the docket and to OMB.
A guidance document on DIMP will be available from the Gas Piping Technology Committee as soon as the GPTC DIMP guidance task group finalizes revisions as a result of the added requirements for mechanical fitting failure data reporting. In the meantime, PHMSA has posted updated guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions at:http://www.cycla.com/opsiswc/wc.dll?webmain~subsystemhome~&sub=22 .
PHMSA has also posted guidance it prepared for small operators on its docket PHMSA-RSPA-2004-19854. The APGA/SIF-sponsored SHRIMP task group has finished developing guidance for small operators. It was made available for review at the start of the second quarter of 2009. For updates on this activity please contact NAPSR SHRIMP Task Group chair Michael Thompson at Michael.thompson@state.or.us , phone 503-378-6760.
The federal-state DIMP Implementation Task Group, chaired by Darin Burk of the Illinois Commerce Commission has now completed validation testing of an inspection form for both the operator's DIMP plan and its DIMP program implementation. Frequently Asked Questions have been posted on the PHMSA website and a series of educational workshops and training seminars is being conducted. This is expected to continue into 2012. Refer to the following website for information on these events: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/dimp/meetings.htm .
State Damage Prevention Law Information Now Available Here
Please click on this State One-Call link to access the folder that contains the files with the state damage prevention laws. Click on Summary to access a spreadsheet that summarizes specific features of the state law.
Control Room Management/Human Factors
Rulemaking status: A final rule was published by PHMSA on December 3, 2009. It becomes effective on February 1, 2010. An operator must develop control room management procedures by August 1, 2011 and implement the procedures by February 1, 2012. A correction to the rule was published in the Federal Register of February 3, 2010. It revises certain dates for implementation of procedures called for in the rule. For further information, please contact George Mosinskis at gmosinskis@cox.net . A PHMSA-NAPSR task group was formed to address implementation of this rule. NAPSR has David Piroutek, WY and Dana Arabie, LA as its representatives on this group. See above on this web page under "HOT OFF THE PRESS" for further recent information on this regulatory activity.
Public Awareness Communications
A one-day workshop sponsored by PHMSA was held on June 30, 2010 in Houston, TX, with a large group in attendance. The workshop was webcast live. A recording is available at http://events.variview.net/clients/usdot/20100630 . NAPSR has a member from each region plus two alternates to the government-only Public Awareness Program (PAP) Ad Hoc Team. They are Leo Haynos (KS), Don Ledversis (RI), David Lykken (WA), Larry Borum (TN) and James Mergist (LA). The alternate is Mike Smith (NM). PHMSA has posted the presentations from the subject workshop at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=65&nocache=4495 . The PAP team is finished developing an inspection form and associated guidance that allow both the inspectors and the inspected to clearly understand what is required. The team is also finalizing Frequently Asked Questions and has conducted pilot inspections to test and validate the form.
Transmission Integrity Management Program (IMP)
The regulation is being fully implemented and enforced both for liquids and gas pipelines.PHMSA has formed an Integrated Inspection Team with one NAPSR member on the gas team and one the liquids team, which has almost completed its work. Congress asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study whether the 7-year interval is appropriate. The GAO report found no fault with a risk-based approach to the reassessment interval. However, because the law is specific on the 7-year requirement, PHMSA cannot issue a regulation to the contrary. Instead, it is choosing to use the waiver process. It is proposing to adopt an approach whereby special permits might be granted for what the agency finds as justifiable deviations from the 7-year reassessment interval.
Refer to HEADS UP above, for an ANPRM from PHMSA that seeks to modify certain transmission IMP provisions.
There is also an effort under way to clarify requirements on inspection of pipeline casings and on anomaly inspection. For a information, click on https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=54 . A PHMSA-sponsored Casing Inspection Task Group (CASQAT) has been formed. See above, under the Hot Off The Press heading. According to informed sources at NAPSR there is no acceptable simple, inexpensive way to inspect pipeline segments inside long pipe casings that are common on major expressway or freeway crossings.
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