[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75699-75700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30770]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0308]


Pipeline Safety: Reporting of Exceedances of Maximum Allowable 
Operating Pressure

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to inform owners and 
operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure 
exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up 
allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the 
owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the 
fifth day following the date on which the exceedance occurs. If the 
pipeline is subject to the regulatory authority of one of PHMSA's State 
Pipeline Safety Partners, the exceedance must also be reported to the 
applicable state agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cameron Satterthwaite by phone at 202-
366-1319 or by email at

[[Page 75700]]

[email protected]. Information about PHMSA may be found at 
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 3, 2012, President Obama signed the Pipeline Safety, 
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011. Section 23 (a) of 
the Act amended 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 to add ``Sec.  60139. Maximum 
allowable operating pressure.'' Specifically, Sec.  60139 (b) (2) 
states:

    If there is an exceedance of the maximum allowable operating 
pressure with respect to a gas transmission pipeline of an owner or 
operator of a pipeline facility that exceeds the build-up allowed 
for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or 
operator shall report the exceedance to the Secretary and 
appropriate State authorities on or before the 5th day following the 
date on which the exceedance occurs.

    This reporting requirement is applicable to all gas transmission 
pipeline facility owners and operators. In order to comply with this 
self-executing provision, PHMSA advises owners and operators to submit 
this information in the same manner as safety-related condition reports 
(SRCR). The information submitted by owners and operators should 
comport with the information listed in Sec.  191.25(b), and the 
reporting methods listed in Sec.  191.25(a) should be employed.
    The reporting exemptions for SRCR listed in Sec.  191.23(b) do not 
apply to the reporting requirement for exceedance of MAOP plus build-
up. Specifically, Sec.  191.23(b)(4), which allows for non-reporting if 
the safety-related condition is corrected by repair or replacement in 
accordance with applicable safety standards before the deadline for 
filing the SRCR, does not apply. Gas transmission owners and operators 
must report the exceedance of MAOP plus build-up regardless of whether 
the exceedance was corrected before five days have passed.
    Finally, owners and operators have five days after occurrence to 
report exceedance of MAOP plus build-up.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2012-11)

    To: Owners and Operators of Gas Transmission Pipeline Facilities.
    Subject: Reporting of Exceedances of Maximum Allowable Operating 
Pressure.
    Advisory: Section 23 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, 
and Job Creation Act of 2011 requires owners and operators of gas 
transmission pipeline facilities to report any exceedance of the 
maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed 
for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices. This requirement 
further specifies that such exceedances must be reported within five 
calendar days of the exceedance. PHMSA is issuing this Advisory 
Bulletin to notify operators to submit information comparable to that 
required for Safety-Related Condition reports as outlined in Sec.  
191.25(b) for reports of exceedance. The report should be titled ``Gas 
Transmission MAOP Exceedance'' and provide the following information:
     The name and principal address of the operator, date of 
the report, name, job title, and business telephone number of the 
person submitting the report.
     The name, job title, and business telephone number of the 
person who determined the condition exists.
     The date the condition was discovered and the date the 
condition was first determined to exist.
     The location of the condition, with reference to the town/
city/county and state or offshore site, and as appropriate, nearest 
street address, offshore platform, survey station number, milepost, 
landmark, and the name of the commodity transported or stored.
     The corrective action taken before the report was 
submitted and the planned follow-up or future corrective action, 
including the anticipated schedule for starting and concluding such 
action.
    These reports must be submitted within five days of the occurrence 
using one of the reporting methods described in Sec.  191.25(a). PHMSA 
is poised to issue a final rule modifying this regulation to include 
electronic mail (email) as an acceptable reporting method for SRCR.
    PHMSA encourages gas transmission owners and operators to report 
MAOP plus build-up exceedances by emailing information to 
[email protected]. Reports may also be submitted by 
fax to (202) 366-7128.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2012.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Deputy Associate Administrator Field Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-30770 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
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