Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§60137 Pipeline control room management

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VIII— - PIPELINES › Chapter CHAPTER 601— - SAFETY › § 60137

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

By June 1, 2008, the Secretary must issue rules that require every gas and hazardous-liquid pipeline operator to make a human-factors plan for each control center. The plan must aim to cut risks from human issues like fatigue and must set a maximum number of work hours for controllers. Operators must send their plan to the Secretary, or for intrastate pipelines in States with an annual certification under section 60105, to the head of the appropriate State authority. The Secretary or the State head will review and approve the plans and cannot approve one that lacks the controller hours limit. If a plan or its use is unsafe or breaks the rules, the Secretary or State head can act and enforce the rules. Operators must keep records showing they followed the plan and explain any departures. The regulations must also require operators to report any deviations from their plan.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §60137

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than June 1, 2008, the Secretary shall issue regulations requiring each operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline to develop, implement, and submit to the Secretary or, in the case of an operator of an intrastate pipeline located within the boundaries of a State that has in effect an annual certification under section 60105, to the head of the appropriate State authority, a human factors management plan designed to reduce risks associated with human factors, including fatigue, in each control center for the pipeline. Each plan must include, among the measures to reduce such risks, a maximum limit on the hours of service established by the operator for individuals employed as controllers in a control center for the pipeline.

(b)The Secretary or, in the case of an operator of an intrastate pipeline located within the boundaries of a State that has in effect an annual certification under section 60105, the head of the appropriate State authority, shall review and approve each plan submitted to the Secretary or the head of such authority under subsection (a). The Secretary and the head of such authority may not approve a plan that does not include a maximum limit on the hours of service established by the operator of the pipeline for individuals employed as controllers in a control center for the pipeline.

(c)If the Secretary or the head of the appropriate State authority determines that an operator’s plan submitted to the Secretary or the head of such authority under subsection (a), or implementation of such a plan, does not comply with the regulations issued under this section or is inadequate for the safe operation of a pipeline, the Secretary or the head of such authority may take action consistent with this chapter and enforce the requirements of such regulations.

(d)Each operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline shall document compliance with the plan submitted by the operator under subsection (a) and the reasons for any deviation from compliance with such plan. The Secretary or the head of the appropriate State authority, as the case may be, shall review the reasonableness of any such deviation in considering whether to take enforcement action or discontinue approval of the operator’s plan under subsection (b).

(e)In issuing regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and include in such regulations requirements for an operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline to report deviations from compliance with the plan submitted by the operator under subsection (a).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 60137

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73