United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-03-16 monographic deposited born digital 20 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-474T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T P0b002ee1803a2590 f:d06474t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T GAO-06-474T Accountability Federal regulations Gas pipeline operations Industrial safety Inspection Occupational health and safety programs Occupational safety Pipeline operations Program evaluation Program management Repairs Risk assessment Safety regulation Safety standards Strategic planning Testimony A49197 About a dozen people are killed or injured in natural gas transmission pipeline incidents each year. In an effort to improve upon this safety record, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires that operators assess pipeline segments in about 20,000 miles of highly populated or frequented areas for safety risks, such as corrosion, welding defects, or incorrect operation. Half of these baseline assessments must be done by December 2007, and the remainder by December 2012. Operators must then repair or replace any defective pipelines, and reassess these pipeline segments for corrosion damage at least every 7 years. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) administers this program, called gas integrity management. This testimony is based on ongoing work for Congress, as required by the 2002 act. The testimony provides preliminary results on the safety effects of (1) PHMSA's gas integrity management program and (2) the requirement that operators reassess their natural gas pipelines at least every 7 years. It also discusses how PHMSA has acted to strengthen its enforcement program in response to recommendations GAO made in 2004. GAO expects to issue two reports this fall that will address these and other topics. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T.pdf GAO-06-474T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-474T Testimony GAO-06-474T; Gas Pipeline Safety: Preliminary Observations on the Integrity Management Program and 7-Year Reassessment Requirement; Accountability Federal regulations Gas pipeline operations Industrial safety Inspection Occupational health and safety programs Occupational safety Pipeline operations Program evaluation Program management Repairs Risk assessment Safety regulation Safety standards Strategic planning