DOT ISSUES FINAL RULE FOR PIPELINE INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT IN HIGH CONSEQUENCE AREAS

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has issued a final rule for Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (HCAs). The effective date of this rule is March 31, 2001. It applies to Hazardous Liquid Operators with 500 or more miles of pipeline and specifies regulations regulations for assessing, evaluating, repairing, and validating segments of hazardous liquid pipelines where failure or a leak affect populated areas, areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage, or commercially navigable waterways. Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) of RSPA requires operators to develop, follow, and maintain an integrity management program for all pipeline segments that could affect HCAs. The integrity program should include internal inspection, hydrostatic testing, or other equally effective means of assessment and must include periodic evaluations.

OPS plans to draft a similar HCA rule applicable to Operators with less than 500 miles of pipeline by the end of 2000. They also are developing a HCA rule for natural gas pipelines. The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for this latter rule should be issued in the Spring of 2001 so that a final HCA rule for natural gas pipelines can be issued by the end of 2001.