[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85728-85729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27037]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2023-0116]


Pipeline Safety: Random Drug Testing Rate; Multi-Factor 
Authentication; and Operator and Contractor Management Information 
System Reporting

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

ACTION: Notice of Calendar Year 2024 Minimum Annual Percentage Rate for 
Random Drug Testing; Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Drug and 
Alcohol (D&A) Management Information System (DAMIS) Reports, Pipeline 
Operator DAMIS Reporting, and Contractor DAMIS Reporting.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA has determined that the minimum random drug testing rate 
for covered employees will remain at 25 percent during calendar year 
2024. For calendar year 2023 reporting, DOT is introducing MFA login 
procedures for submitting D&A testing data into the DAMIS database. 
This notice also explains how pipeline operators and contractors will 
obtain MFA login information.

DATES: Applicable January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Lemoi, Drug & Alcohol Program 
Manager, Office of Pipeline Safety, by phone at 909-937-7232 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Calendar Year 2024 Minimum Annual Percentage Rate for Random 
Drug Testing

    Operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipeline 
facilities; liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants; and underground natural 
gas storage facilities must randomly select and test a percentage of 
all covered employees for prohibited drug use in accordance with 49 
Code of Federal Regulations part 199. Pursuant to 49 CFR 199.105(c)(1), 
the minimum annual random drug testing rate for all covered employees 
is 50 percent. However, the Administrator can adjust this random drug 
testing rate based on the reported positive rate in the industry's 
random drug tests, which is submitted in operators' annual MIS reports 
as required by Sec.  199.119(a). In accordance with Sec.  
199.105(c)(3), if the reported positive drug test rate is below 1.0 
percent for two consecutive calendar years, the Administrator can lower 
the random drug testing rate to 25 percent of all covered employees.
    Pursuant to Sec.  199.105(c)(3), the Administrator is maintaining 
the PHMSA minimum annual random drug testing rate for all covered 
employees at 25 percent in calendar year 2024 because the random drug 
test positive rate for the pipeline industry was reported at less than 
1.0 percent in the consecutive calendar years of 2021 and 2022.

Multi-Factor Authentication for DAMIS Reports

    In calendar year 2024, DOT will begin using Multi-Factor 
Authentication (MFA) to limit and control access to DOT's DAMIS 
database. MFA is not unique to PHMSA or to DAMIS. It is a Federal 
Government initiative being implemented to protect the integrity and 
security of Federal Government databases from cybersecurity attacks and 
other risks. MFA login procedures for ``primary pipeline'' operators 
and contractors are explained in the applicable sections below.

Pipeline Operator DAMIS Reporting

    To collect more accurate pipeline industry DOT D&A test data and to 
avoid duplicate reporting of D&A test data, PHMSA is limiting the DAMIS 
reporting to ``primary operators'' and contractors only. The term 
``primary operator'' is not used in the D&A testing regulations in part 
199; however, the term ``primary operator'' as used herein has the same 
meaning as the term ``primary entity'' as used in Sec.  191.22 and 
Sec.  195.64. Moreover, a ``primary operator'' can be a large or small 
operator as explained below.
    Pipeline operators either have a D&A program that includes only one 
pipeline operator (i.e., one OPID) or an ``umbrella'' type shared D&A 
program that includes multiple pipeline operators (i.e., more than one 
OPID). For DAMIS reporting purposes the operator of the single operator 
D&A program is

[[Page 85729]]

the ``primary pipeline operator''. For shared D&A programs, the 
``primary operator'' must be identified to PHMSA through Safety Program 
Relationship (SPR) data before submitting a DAMIS report. Operators are 
reminded to review their D&A program records to check the SPR status of 
their D&A program. If changes are needed to properly align the SPR data 
with the operator's D&A program, the operator must make a written 
notification to PHMSA.
    The PHMSA regulations governing DAMIS reporting (Sec. Sec.  199.119 
and 199.229) are based on whether the primary operator is a large 
operator or a small operator. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  199.119(a) and 
199.229(a), a large operator is an operator with more than 50 covered 
employees. Large operators are required to submit a DAMIS report each 
calendar year. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  199.119(a) and 199.229(a), a 
small operator is an operator with 50 or fewer covered employees. Small 
operators are only required to submit a DAMIS report if the operator 
receives a ``written notice'' from PHMSA requesting a report. PHMSA 
transmits written notices as messages in the PHMSA Portal in late 
December each calendar year.
    To calculate the number of D&A covered employees to determine 
whether an operator is a large or small primary operator, include all 
covered employees of the primary operator plus all covered employees of 
any business units included in the DAMIS report under a shared D&A 
program. If your covered employees are in a random drug testing pool 
managed by a consortium, count only your own covered employees. If you 
have any covered employees subject to D&A testing under more than one 
DOT agency, count only those employees who were D&A tested under PHMSA, 
which is the agency selected on the Federal Drug Testing Custody and 
Control Form (CCF) or on the Alcohol Testing Form. While contractor 
employees are covered employees requiring D&A testing, contractor 
employees are not used to calculate whether a ``primary pipeline 
operator'' is a large or small operator. Therefore, do not include 
contractor employees in the above calculations.
    Pipeline operators are no longer required to ``accept'' contractor 
reports. Instead, an operator will simply list the contractor and the 
contractor's DAMIS report automatically becomes part of the operator's 
report once the contractor has submitted its report to DAMIS. 
Furthermore, operators will not be able to view contractor data reports 
through DAMIS, but can get the report directly from the contractor, if 
they so desire.
    For each contractor listed by a primary operator, DAMIS will show 
if a Login.gov invitation has been generated for the contractor. If no 
Login.gov invitation has been created for the contractor or if the 
Login.gov invitation was created for the wrong email address, the 
primary operator can generate a new Login.gov invitation by entering a 
new email address for the contractor. This email address cannot already 
be in use to access DAMIS for a primary operator or a different 
contractor.
    Primary Operator MFA Login: In September 2023, PHMSA communicated 
by email with primary operators to confirm the email address of the 
person who will submit the primary operator's DAMIS report. These 
confirmed email addresses will be loaded into DAMIS by the end of 
calendar year 2023. In early January 2024, DAMIS will generate a one-
time/one-use Login.gov invitation for the confirmed email addresses. 
PHMSA will also make Login.gov invitations available in the PHMSA 
Portal.

Contractor DAMIS Reporting

    Because contractors do not have OPIDs, PHMSA uses a Business Tax 
Identification Number (BTIN) to track contractors in the DAMIS 
database.
    A contractor may perform D&A covered functions for one pipeline 
operator or multiple operators. Additionally, a contractor may be 
local, regional, or nationwide, and/or may operate from a single 
location or from multiple locations. Regardless, the clear intent is 
for PHMSA and DOT to collect contractor D&A test data that is complete, 
accurate, and nonrepetitive. Accordingly, each contractor must prepare 
a single, complete, and accurate DAMIS report that includes all its D&A 
covered employees and all their DOT D&A test data. A contractor does 
not prepare or submit a separate and distinct DAMIS report for each 
pipeline operator or for a contractor's separate offices or locations 
unless those offices are distinct and separate under their own BTIN. 
Moreover, a contractor must not report the same covered employees and 
the same D&A tests in more than one BTIN. If a contractor has more than 
one BTIN, the contractor must allocate individual employees and their 
D&A tests results among the BTINs for which they actually worked, or 
report all the contractor's employees and test results under one BTIN.
    PHMSA does not need or require a DAMIS report from each BTIN. PHMSA 
requires a valid set of contractor D&A test data that reflects the 
complete and accurate picture of who the contractor D&A tested and what 
the results of those tests were. PHMSA does not want covered employees 
or D&A tests to be reported more than once. If test results can be 
reported under one BTIN, that is acceptable.
    PHMSA also recognizes that some pipeline operators perform D&A 
covered functions for other PHMSA regulated pipeline operators. While 
this may take place under a contract, pipeline operators with an OPID 
must never be listed as a contractor by any other pipeline operator in 
a DAMIS report.
    Contractor MFA Login: MFA will allow access for contractors to 
enter their D&A testing data directly into DAMIS. In September 2023, 
PHMSA communicated by email with contractors to confirm the email 
address of the person who will submit the contractor DAMIS report. 
These confirmed email addresses will be loaded into DAMIS by the end of 
calendar year 2023. In early January 2024, DAMIS will generate a one-
time/one-use Login.gov invitation for the confirmed email address. 
Contractors can also request a new Login.gov invitation for a new email 
address by sending a request to [email protected].
    Any primary operator can generate a new Login.gov invitation for a 
contractor by entering an email address that is not already established 
with Login.gov access to DAMIS.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 1, 2023, under authority 
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2023-27037 Filed 12-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P