PHMSA Urges Pipelines to Smarten Up Safety Game
Published Date: 3/25/2025
Notice
Summary
PHMSA is encouraging pipeline owners and operators to use a Pipeline Safety Management System (PSMS) to keep pipelines safer and reduce risks. This system is a smart, step-by-step way to spot and fix problems before they happen, no matter the size of the pipeline company. While there’s no new cost or deadline yet, adopting PSMS helps meet federal safety goals and follows important safety laws.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
PHMSA urges voluntary PSMS adoption
PHMSA issued an advisory on March 19, 2025 encouraging regulated pipeline owners and operators to voluntarily develop and implement a Pipeline Safety Management System (PSMS) based on API RP 1173. PHMSA notes the PSMS framework has 10 essential elements, is scalable to operator size, and that nearly 85 percent of total pipeline mileage and about 86 percent of gas distribution mileage are already covered by PSMS efforts.
Focus on helping small pipeline operators
PHMSA reported to Congress on August 2, 2024 that larger operators are more likely to be "on-track" implementing PSMS while more than half of the smallest operators described their efforts as "stalled." PHMSA said it will work with industry groups and API to provide additional, size-scaled guidance to help smaller operators implement PSMS.
Advisory is voluntary—no new legal duties
PHMSA states the advisory bulletin does not have the force of law, is not meant to bind the public, and does not assign new legal duties or obligations to operators. PHMSA therefore is promoting voluntary adoption rather than creating new regulatory requirements or deadlines.
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