Pipeline Safety II -National Consensus Standards

In our previous article, Safety Responsibilities of Pipeline Operators, we discussed the responsibilities of pipeline operators to help properly manage System Integrity, Maintenance, Leak Detection, Training, and Emergency Preparedness.

This article focuses on the National consensus standards that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recognizes. 

PHMSA is the primary federal regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that pipelines are safe, reliable, and environmentally sound. 

Our next article in this series explains the three different types of integrated inspections that are performed by the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and their State partners.
 

Use these links to jump to the information you are interested in:
 

National Consensus Standards Explained
Regulatory Perspective
Pipeline Safety Regulations
Contributing Organizations

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NOTE: The information presented in this article is gathered from multiple sources cited below and is intended for general discussion only.  Information contained in this article should not be used for compliance purposes.

National Consensus Standards Explained

National consensus standards on a variety of specific areas relative to pipeline safety are established, constantly reviewed, and upgraded by committees of engineers and technical experts.  Sometimes referred to as "technical standards" they establish standard practices, methods, or procedures that have been evaluated, tested, and proven by analysis and/or application.  

These standards are intended to assure the safe design, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of pipelines.  Many National consensus standards can carry the equivalent weight of law and are codified by incorporation of all or parts of them into regulations by reference.

In addition to the various federal and state regulations, the energy pipeline industry is governed by a number of national consensus standards that apply to all phases of pipeline safety, including:

• Tank operation and construction
• Underground storage caverns
• Manufacture of line pipe
• Cathodic protection against corrosion
• Welding
• Pipeline awareness
• Pipeline integrity
• Pipeline wall thickness

Virtually all aspects of the energy transportation pipeline industry are regulated by federal, state, and local agencies to some extent.

From the federal level, PHMSA oversees the development and implementation of regulations concerning pipeline construction, maintenance, and operation, and we share these responsibilities with our state regulatory partners.  

The pipeline safety regulations implement the laws found in the U. S. Code.  Click these links to view the Federal Pipeline Safety Laws and the Federal Oil Pollution Act Laws.

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Regulatory Perspective

Along with our state partners, PHMSA oversees over 2 million miles of pipelines, but they have a limited number of inspectors in the field.  Due to that fact and other factors, the focus of PHMSA had to be fairly narrow in order to have any impact.  They concentrated on defining and ensuring industry compliance with minimal design, operational, and maintenance practices.  

That regulatory approach produced a good safety record; pipelines today are the safest, most environmentally friendly and reliable mode of hazardous liquid and gas transportation.  Unfortunately, pipeline accidents still happen - sometimes with tragic consequences.  

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Pipeline Safety Regulations

The rules governing pipeline safety are included in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 190-199. Individual states may have additional or more stringent pipeline safety regulations.

• Part 190 
  Includes procedures used by the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) in carrying out their regulatory duties. This part authorizes OPS to inspect pipelines and describes the procedures by which OPS can enforce the regulations. This part also describes the legal rights and options that the operating companies have in response to OPS enforcement actions.
   
• Part 191
  Describes requirements on operators of gas pipelines (including gas gathering, transmission, and distribution systems) for reporting of incidents, safety-related conditions, and annual summary data.
   
• Part 192
  Prescribes a wide variety of minimum safety requirements for gas pipelines. These regulations contain sections applicable to gas gathering, transmission, and distribution lines.
   
• Part 193
  Addresses safety standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.
   
• Part 194
  Contains requirements for oil spill response plans.  This part is intended to reduce the environmental impact of oil discharged from onshore oil pipelines.
   
• Part 195
  Prescribes the safety standards and reporting requirements for oil and carbon dioxide pipelines.  As with the gas regulations, these regulations include detailed requirements on a broad spectrum of areas related to the safety and environmental protection of hazardous liquid pipelines.
  
  Part 195 also includes minimum requirements for operator qualification of individuals performing tasks required by the regulations.
   
• Part 198
  Prescribes regulations governing grants-in-aid for State pipeline safety compliance programs.
   
• Part 199
  Requires operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to establish programs for preventing alcohol misuse and to test employees for the presence of alcohol and prohibited drugs, including the procedures and conditions for this testing.

Source: http://phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs

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Contributing Organizations

More information on national consensus standards affecting energy pipelines can be found at the following Web sites:

• American Petroleum Institute (API)
• Pipeline Standards Development Organizations Coordinating Council (PSDOCC)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)

This article from August 2010 offers some great information on new and updated Consensus Standards:

PHMSA Incorporates New and Updated Consensus Standards into Pipeline Safety Regulations and Clarifies Certain Safety Regulations

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