Gas Pipeline Safety

Committee Serial No. 90-25. Considers S. 1166, to provide DOT with authority to prescribe safety regulations for the construction, operation and maintenance of natural gas pipelines.

About 300,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines cross the U.S., carrying natural gas from processing facilities to communities and large-volume users. These pipelines are largely regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin. (PHMSA). The gas integrity management program requires gas transmission pipeline operators to assess the integrity of their pipeline segments in high consequence areas by Dec. 2012 and reassess them at least every 7 years. This report examined the results of these baseline assessments and reassessments and the potential impact of making the current process more risk-based. It analyzed (1) PHMSA's assessment data on repairs made and the appropriateness of the 7-year reassessment requirement; (2) the impact of the 7-year reassessment requirement on regulators and operators; and (3) the potential challenges of implementing risk-based reassessment intervals beyond 7 years. Table and figures. This is a print on demand report.