[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17152-17153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06805]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 192

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0067]


Pipeline Safety: Guidance on Training and Qualifications for the 
Integrity Management Program

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

ACTION: Issuance of advisory bulletin.

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SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA) published the gas transmission pipeline integrity management 
(IM) rule in the Federal Register on December 15, 2003. This rule, in 
part, established requirements for supervisory and other personnel with 
IM program functions. PHMSA has recognized inconsistencies in how the 
requirements have been implemented by operators and is issuing this 
Advisory Bulletin to remind operators of their responsibility to 
include qualification requirements for IM personnel, as required by 
PHMSA regulations and discussed in the American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers (ASME) ASME B31.8S-2004.

DATES: April 10, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy White by phone at 202-366-1419 
or email [email protected]. All materials in this docket are 
electronically accessible at http://www.regulations.gov. Information 
about PHMSA is available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    PHMSA has long recognized and communicated the critical importance 
of training and qualifications for operator personnel who perform tasks 
related to pipeline safety. For example, in 1999 PHMSA adopted general 
qualification requirements for all individuals performing covered tasks 
under Sec.  192.805. PHMSA established specific qualification 
requirements for supervisory and other personnel with IM-assigned tasks 
under Sec.  192.915 as part of the gas transmission pipeline IM rule 
(December 15, 2003, 68 FR 69777). Specifically, PHMSA requires IM 
programs to assure certain persons have appropriate training or 
experience to be considered qualified for their areas of 
responsibility. These requirements apply to operator and contractor 
personnel (contractors, suppliers, vendors, etc.) who perform certain 
IM-related tasks.
    For supervisory personnel, Sec.  192.915 requires that the IM 
program must ensure that:
     Each supervisor whose responsibilities relate to the IM 
program possess and maintain a thorough knowledge of the IM program and 
the elements for which the supervisor is responsible; and
     Any person who qualifies as a supervisor for the IM 
program has appropriate training or experience in the area for which 
that person is responsible.
    For personnel performing IM-assigned tasks, the rule requires an 
operator's IM program to provide criteria for their training and 
qualifications. The elements of IM covered under Sec.  192.915 apply to 
individuals who:
     Conduct assessments;
     Review and analyze results from integrity assessments; or
     Make decisions on actions to be taken based on these 
assessments.
    The program must also include criteria for the qualification of 
individuals who:
     Implement preventive measures and mitigative measures to 
carry out the requirements of the rule, including the marking and 
locating of buried structures; or
     Directly supervise excavation work carried out in 
conjunction with an integrity assessment.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2017-02)

    To: Owners and Operators of Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines
    Subject: Guidance on Training and Qualifications for the Integrity 
Management Program
    Advisory: PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to remind 
operators of natural gas transmission pipelines of PHMSA's expectations 
regarding how mature IM programs should implement the training and 
qualification requirements included in Sec.  192.915 and discussed in 
ASME B31.8S-2004. PHMSA's expectations for operator implementation of 
each subsection in Sec.  192.915 are outlined as follows:

Section 192.915--``What knowledge and training must personnel have to 
carry out an integrity management program?''

     This rule requires operator personnel involved in the IM 
program to be qualified for their assigned responsibilities, including 
the following:
    [cir] Personnel qualification requirements must be identified for 
anyone involved in the IM program. This applies to both operator and 
contractor personnel (contractors, suppliers, vendors, etc.);
    [cir] Qualification criteria must include minimum requirements for 
experience or training in order to verify individuals have the 
knowledge and skills necessary to perform IM-related tasks; and
    [cir] The operator must determine whether qualifications are 
current.
     The rule requires operators to verify that the personnel 
who execute activities within the IM program are qualified in 
accordance with the quality assurance process required by Sec.  
192.911(l).
     Documentation of qualification must be maintained in 
accordance with the operator's IM program.

Section 192.915(a)--``Supervisory Personnel''

    The regulation covers qualification and training requirements for 
supervisory personnel with responsibilities in an IM program.
     This rule requires operators to verify that the IM program 
requires supervisory personnel to have the appropriate training or 
experience for their assigned responsibilities, including the 
following:
    [cir] Personnel with supervisory authority that relates to the 
operator's IM process must meet documented qualification requirements 
for the aspects of the IM program that fall under their authority;
    [cir] Qualification requirements must include minimum requirements 
for experience or training to verify individuals have the knowledge to 
perform IM-related tasks; and
    [cir] Tracking of qualification deficiencies and requalification 
requirements is essential to verify that individuals in supervisory 
positions are qualified.

Section 192.915(b)--``Persons who Carry out Assessments and Evaluate 
Assessment Results''

    The regulation covers qualification requirements for personnel 
performing certain IM tasks related to the conduct of integrity 
assessments, analysis of integrity assessment results, and the 
decisions on actions to be taken based on integrity assessments.
     This rule requires operators to verify the IM program 
requires qualification of personnel who carry out assessments and 
evaluate assessment results, including the following:
    [cir] Personnel who carry out or evaluate assessment information 
must meet documented qualification requirements--this applies to both 
operator and contractor personnel.

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    [cir] Qualification requirements must include minimum requirements 
for experience or training to verify that individuals have the 
knowledge and skills necessary to perform IM-related tasks, including 
analysis, data integration, integrity assessments, and assessment 
results evaluation.
    [cir] Qualification requirements must be established for all tasks 
necessary to carry out integrity assessments and evaluate assessment 
results, including:
    [ssquf] Performing the integrity assessment;
    [ssquf] Evaluating the results of the integrity assessment;
    [ssquf] Integrating any other available information or data 
gathered in accordance with Sec.  192.917(b) that is applicable to the 
covered segment being assessed; and
    [ssquf] Deciding on actions to be taken based on these assessments.
    [cir] The operator is responsible for verifying the qualifications 
of contractor personnel who conduct essential tasks in performing or 
evaluating assessments.

Section 192.915(c)--``Persons Responsible for Preventive and Mitigative 
Measures''

    The regulation covers qualification requirements for personnel who 
implement preventive and mitigative measures and who supervise 
excavation work carried out in conjunction with an integrity 
assessment.
     This rule mandates that operators verify their IM program 
requires qualification of personnel who participate in implementing 
preventive measures and mitigative measures, including: (1) Personnel 
who mark and locate buried structures, (2) personnel who directly 
supervise integrity assessment excavation work, and (3) other personnel 
who participate in implementing preventive measures and mitigative 
measures.
    [cir] Personnel who implement preventive measures and mitigative 
measures may hold a range of job positions, including (but not limited 
to): Management and technical personnel, risk evaluators, operators, 
excavation crews, welders, and pipeline safety engineers. With respect 
to these personnel, the rule requires that operators:
    [ssquf] Define the roles and responsibilities of personnel 
implementing preventive measures and mitigative measures;
    [ssquf] Define the qualification requirements as they relate to 
implementing preventive measures and mitigative measures; and
    [ssquf] Verify personnel satisfy the defined qualification 
requirements.
     The rule requires that qualification requirements be 
established for all tasks required to implement preventive measures and 
mitigative measures, including:
    [cir] Marking and locating buried structures;
    [cir] Supervising integrity assessment excavation work; and
    [cir] Applying risk assessment results to determine what additional 
preventive measures and mitigative measures need to be implemented for 
the covered segment being assessed in accordance with Sec.  192.917(c).
    PHMSA inspectors will use this Advisory Bulletin to clarify the 
intent of existing regulatory language when evaluating operator IM 
program personnel training and qualification effectiveness.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2017, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2017-06805 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
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