[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 77 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20175-20176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7602]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-04-19856]


Pipeline Safety: Senior Executive Signature and Certification of 
Integrity Management Program Performance Reports

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of advisory bulletin.

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SUMMARY: On December 29, 2006, the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, 
Enforcement and Safety Act was signed into law. The law, known as the 
PIPES Act, includes a provision requiring the senior executive officers 
of pipeline operating companies to certify annual and semiannual 
pipeline integrity management program performance reports. This 
advisory provides information to assist pipeline operators with 
certifying future submissions of annual and semiannual pipeline 
integrity management program performance reports.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zach Barrett at (405) 954-5559 or by 
e-mail at [email protected]; or Wayne Lemoi at (404) 832-1160, or by 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 16 of the PIPES Act requires PHMSA to establish procedures 
for a pipeline operator's senior executive officer to certify annual 
and semiannual pipeline integrity management program performance 
reports with their signature. Specifically, the law requires each 
report to include a signed statement certifying that the senior 
executive officer has reviewed the report and to the best of the senior 
executive officer's knowledge and belief, this report is true and 
complete. PHMSA is modifying its electronic filing to assist pipeline 
operators with complying with section 16 of the PIPES Act 
electronically. In addition, this advisory informs operators not filing 
electronically how to comply with section 16.

II. Advisory Bulletin ADB-07-01

    To: Operators of Natural Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines.
    Subject: Senior Executive Officer Signature and Certification of 
Integrity Management Program Performance Reports.
    Purpose: To inform operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid 
pipelines on how to meet the requirement for a senior executive 
officer's signature and certification on pipeline integrity management 
program (IMP) performance reports.
    Advisory: Section 16 of the PIPES Act requires pipeline operators 
to have a senior executive officer of the company sign and certify 
annual and semiannual IMP performance reports. By signing, the senior 
executive officer is certifying that the senior executive officer has 
reviewed the report and to the best of the senior executive officer's 
knowledge and belief, this report is true and complete. To assist 
pipeline operators with complying with the section 16 requirement, we 
are providing the following procedures for those operators of natural 
gas pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines required to file IMP 
reports. Pipeline operators should follow these procedures for future 
submissions of annual and semiannual IMP performance reports.

Gas Integrity Management Program Performance Measures Reports

    Operators of gas transmission pipelines are required by 49 CFR

[[Page 20176]]

192.945 to submit IMP performance measures semiannually to PHMSA. 
Operators are encouraged to submit the IMP reports using the electronic 
form available on PHMSA's Web site at http://phmsa.dot.gov.
    To minimize future transcription and handling and to lessen the 
chance for errors, PHMSA is modifying the gas IMP electronic form to 
reflect the new legal requirement for a senior executive officer's 
certification and signature. Operators should enter the name and title 
of the senior executive officer certifying the report in the 
appropriate blanks on the form and in the signature block on the form. 
Operators should keep in mind that entering the senior executive 
officer's name onto the electronic form is equivalent to a paper 
submission and has the same legal authenticity and requirements as a 
paper document.
    In lieu of electronic filing, operators can mail or fax the reports 
to PHMSA. If submitting by mail or fax, the name and title of the 
senior executive officer certifying the report should be entered in the 
appropriate blanks on the form. The senior executive officer should 
certify the report by signing this form in the signature block.

Hazardous Liquid Integrity Management Program Annual Reports

    PHMSA requires hazardous liquid pipeline operators to submit annual 
reports providing information about their pipeline infrastructure and 
their integrity management program. Operators are required to submit 
these reports annually and by June 15 for the previous calendar year in 
accordance with 49 CFR 195.49.
    Operators of hazardous liquid pipelines are encouraged to use the 
Online Data Entry System (ODES) available at the PHMSA Web site located 
at http://phmsa.dot.gov to submit annual reports. To minimize future 
transcription and handling and to lessen the chance for errors, we are 
modifying the ODES electronic form to reflect the new legal requirement 
for a senior executive officer certification and signature. Operators 
should enter the name and title of the senior executive officer 
certifying the report in the appropriate blanks on the form and in the 
signature block on the form. Operators should keep in mind that 
entering the senior executive officer's name onto the electronic form 
is equivalent to a paper submission and has the same legal authenticity 
and requirements as a paper document.
    Operators may also submit the annual report to PHMSA by mail or fax 
in accordance with 49 CFR 195.58. If submitting by mail or fax, the 
name and title of the senior executive officer certifying the report 
should be entered in the appropriate blanks on the form. The senior 
executive officer should certify the report by signing the form in the 
signature block.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. chapter 601 and 49 CFR 1.53.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 13, 2007.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-7602 Filed 4-20-07; 8:45 am]
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