Transportation Department Proposes Landmark 'Integrity Management' Safety Program for Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines

摘要

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) - an agency within the Department of Transportation (DOT) - issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require operators of natural gas distribution pipelines to develop and implement a distribution integrity management (IM) program - or "DIMP" if you will. The purpose is "to enhance safety by identifying and reducing pipeline integrity risks," as required by the 2006 Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006.