[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 76 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 20800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8007]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA--05-20922]


Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Integrity Management in High 
Consequence Areas for Hazardous Liquid Operators

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; hazardous liquid integrity management lessons learned 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: OPS will sponsor a 1\1/2\ day workshop to review the initial 
Integrity Management (IM) inspections of hazardous liquid pipeline 
operators. Workshop topics will cover the lessons learned, 
accomplishments, and future expectations for such programs from both 
the OPS and industry perspectives.

DATES: Tuesday, May 17, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 
May 18, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Westin Oaks, 5011 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77056; 
(713) 960-8100. For discounted rates, please refer to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (USDOT)--Liquid IM Meeting guest room 
block when making reservations. The deadline for reserving sleeping 
room accommodations is April 18, 2005. Further information is available 
on the PHMSA Web site at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg30.mtg. The Web site provides links to other useful information, 
such as the meeting agenda, and enables viewers to submit questions to 
OPS regarding the workshop.
    This meeting is open to all interested parties. To facilitate 
meeting planning, advance registration for attending the workshop is 
strongly recommended. Advanced registration can be accomplished at the 
PHMSA web site. The deadline for advanced registration is Friday, May 
13, 2005. Walk-in registration will be accommodated on a first-come, 
first-served basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Callsen (tel. 202-366-4572; E-
mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    In 2000, OPS issued the first in a series of rules to improve 
safety and environmental protection in High Consequence Areas (HCAs). 
The first IM rule (65 FR 75378; November 3, 2000; effective May 29, 
2001) applies to hazardous liquid operators who own or operate 500 or 
more miles of pipeline. Subsequently, the rule was extended to include 
operators who own or operate less than 500 miles of hazardous liquid 
pipeline, (67 FR 2136; January 26, 2002; effective February 15, 2002).
    The IM rule applies to pipelines that can affect HCAs. HCAs include 
populated areas, unusually sensitive environmental areas, and 
commercially navigable waterways. The objectives of the rule are to:
     Accelerate the assessment of pipeline segments that can 
affect HCAs. Assessment includes in-line inspection, hydrostatic 
pressure testing, or other equivalent methods.
     Improve operator management systems to identify and 
prevent potential integrity threats.
     Improve government's role in the oversight of operator 
integrity management programs.
     Improve public confidence in safe pipeline operation.
    The rule also addresses several National Transportation Safety 
Board (NTSB) recommendations, Congressional mandates, and pipeline 
safety issues raised over the years. More information about the rule 
can be found at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/iim.
    Beginning September 2002, OPS began full IM Program inspections of 
hazardous liquid pipeline operators. In 2004, OPS inspected over 100 
hazardous liquid pipeline operators with pipeline lengths ranging from 
a few miles to more than 10,000 miles. These pipelines comprise more 
than 99% of the nation's hazardous liquid pipeline mileage.
    Through these inspections and the resulting enforcement actions, 
OPS has assured that operators are conducting integrity assessments of 
their pipelines, are repairing defects that could undermine safe 
operation, and are putting in place the management systems and tools to 
improve identification and remediation of potential unsafe conditions. 
These interactions with operators have provided OPS a thorough 
understanding of operator IM programs, and have significantly improved 
OPS's understanding of the physical condition of the nation's 
pipelines.
    During this meeting, OPS will share the results and lessons learned 
from these inspections, and will describe how these lessons will be 
applied in planning and conducting future IM inspections. OPS will also 
cover the modifications it has made to the inspection protocols as a 
result of these initial inspections. Industry representatives will 
present their perspectives on the IM inspections, summarize their IM 
program accomplishments, and present their perspectives on future 
challenges.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2005.
Theodore L. Willke,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-8007 Filed 4-20-05; 8:45 am]
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