DOT Press Release:
DOT Announces New Safety Measures For Pipelines in High Consequence Areas

DOT Announces New Safety Measures For Pipelines in High Consequence Areas

In an effort to further protect the public and the environment, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced stronger safety and environmental standards, including mandatory testing, for pipelines transporting hazardous liquids through populated areas, unusually sensitive environmental areas, and waterways used to transport vital goods and supplies.

"Safety is President Clinton and Vice President Gore's highest transportation priority, and strengthening oversight of our nation's pipeline system is an important priority for this administration," Secretary Slater said. "As the system expands to meet our growing energy needs, we must employ all reasonable means to ensure that the people and environments near pipelines are better protected."

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) believes that recent high-consequence accidents could have been prevented if operators had made better use of available information about their pipelines. While the new rule requires testing
that many operators now do voluntarily, it doubles the rate of testing for many, and requires operators to make available for government review their plans for assessing and addressing the risks that can lead to pipeline failures.

"Testing is important, but testing alone is not enough," said Kelley S. Coyner, administrator of DOT’s Research and
Special Programs Administration. "Pipeline integrity cannot be achieved without a comprehensive understanding of all the risks facing a pipeline system, and a balanced program for addressing those risks."

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), along with partnering state agencies, will
enforce the new rule. Starting in one year, federal and state inspectors will review operator integrity management programs addressing such risks as corrosion, outside force, human errors, and material defects. Items to be reviewed include the operator's identification of pipelines that could affect high consequence areas, the selection of assessment method and schedule, and an evaluation of risk factors unique to a pipeline system.

This rule, which affects nearly 87 percent of federally regulated hazardous liquid pipelines, is the first of a series of rules the department plans to issue addressing pipeline integrity. Similar rules are being developed for all pipelines under federal or state oversight, including pipelines transporting natural gas.

The rule has been sent to the Federal Register and will be on display shortly. In the meanwhile, the rule may be
obtained from the OPS website at http://ops.dot.gov/new.htm.