The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) have released a memo on inspection and enforcement priorities that could have impact for pipeline operators across the US.
While it might not have made headlines, it’s a clear signal that regulators are shifting focus and operators may need to take action.
For pipeline staff responsible for compliance, operations or integrity management, PHMSA’s priorities focus on five key items which include leak detection and timely rupture response amongst others.
The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has identified these priorities through careful analysis of incident and accident data, inspection and investigation findings, and input from staff and other stakeholders.
The five priority areas include:
- Incidents and accidents
- High and moderate consequence areas
- Control room management and leak detection
- Damage prevention
- Transactions and due diligence
Atmos’ Vice President (Sales) Peter Han sheds light on PHMSA’s memo in this blog and what it means for pipeline operators in terms of leak detection and notification of potential ruptures.
How does this memo impact leak detection and notification of potential rupture?
OPS staff are directed to focus activities within PHMSA’s jurisdiction under the Pipeline Safety Act, avoiding overly broad interpretations of the law. State authorities with PHMSA certifications or agreements are encouraged to align their inspection and enforcement efforts with these priorities. Atmos highlights two major areas from the memo that PHMSA inspectors will be prioritizing:
- Leak detection systems: The memo specifically mentions 49 CFR 195.444 as one of the inspection priorities. 195.444 states a pipeline must have an effective system for detecting leaks, and if the leak detection system is a CPM leak detection system, must comply with API RP 1130.
- Rupture Identification Procedures: OPS staff should also prioritize ensuring operators comply with new PHMSA regulations introduced after major incidents, such as rupture identification. PHMSA continues to put pressure on how operators respond to abnormal operating conditions. The expectation is that if there’s a notification of potential rupture, operators act quickly and notify the right authorities without delay. This applies across both liquid and gas pipelines. More information on the “Notification of
Potential Rupture” requirement can be found here.
Why this matters more than ever
PHMSA’s memo marks a subtle but important shift. While the memo itself doesn’t introduce any new rules, it identifies specific inspection focus areas. That means if pipeline staff haven’t reviewed their leak detection system or “Notification of Potential Rupture” procedures recently, now is the time.
Operators may want to review their preparedness in the listed focus areas to ensure documentation, procedures and systems are up to date.
What operators can do now
For the past 30 years, Atmos has supported over 2,000 pipelines across more than 60 countries with pipeline technologies designed to meet regulatory expectations. In response to PHMSA’s memo, Atmos’ solutions can include:
- CPM-based leak detection systems such as Atmos Pipe that provide fast, accurate detection across a wide range of flow conditions with minimal false alarms
- Atmos 417 Rupture Compliance Module to demonstrate compliance with the specific requirements of the “Notification of Potential Rupture”
- Leak detection regulation compliance service, which is available for all leak detection systems
Although PHMSA’s latest memo isn’t a rule change, it’s a clear signal that regulators are shifting focus. Enforcement is getting sharper and performance matters more than ever.
Pipeline operators who take a proactive approach, by reviewing their leak detection capabilities and notification of potential rupture procedures, will be better positioned in the long term.
Find out more