Agency Seeks Comments on Pipeline Reporting Forms
Published Date: 6/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) wants to update the forms pipeline companies use to report accidents and yearly info about gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. They’re asking for public feedback by August 17, 2026, to make sure the new forms are clear and useful. These changes help keep pipelines safer without adding extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Operators: Major reporting burden cut
PHMSA proposes removing many fields from annual, incident, and accident forms to reduce operator paperwork and duplication. Examples include removing time zone and daylight savings fields, zip code fields, granular fatality/injury subcategories, NRC timestamp fields, non-overnight hospitalization fields, and reserving Part G (unaccounted for gas) for gas distribution annual reports.
New material-specific reporting required
PHMSA proposes new annual reporting for certain high-risk materials: operators must report mileage of 'PE Brittle-Like' distribution mains and services (as defined in Advisory Bulletin 07-01, Sep. 6, 2007), and report cast- and wrought-iron pipelines six inches or less in diameter plus counts for PVC and ABS where relevant.
New corrosion and CP metrics required
PHMSA proposes adding technical corrosion-related fields to incident/accident forms, including stray current density (mA/cm2), cathodic protection (CP) potentials and criteria (on/off potentials), and the location of corrosion coupons. These will appear in amended Part G1/E and related sections.
Data changes aimed at better safety analysis
PHMSA states that the proposed form changes are intended to improve pipeline safety by ensuring that information collected is necessary, less duplicative, and more useful for risk-based, data-driven safety decisions. PHMSA expects improved ability to analyze causes and consequences of incidents.
Remove anomaly counts from Part F
PHMSA proposes removing the requirement to report the number of 'anomalies' identified and excavated in Part F of annual reports, relying instead on the number of conditions repaired. This applies to gas transmission, hazardous liquid, and other relevant annual reports.
Use NPMS as single source for diameter and tanks
PHMSA proposes removing annual report Parts that duplicate National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) attributes: pipeline diameter reporting (Part H) and breakout tank interstate/intrastate designations (Part M) will be moved to NPMS submissions and PHMSA will generate tabular outputs from NPMS.
Standardized contributing-factor categories
PHMSA proposes replacing overlapping, inconsistent lists of incident contributing factors in Parts J/K with a single standardized list (for example: Communication/Planning, Construction Practices, Control Room Operations, Leak Detection, Manufacturing Defect, Training, etc.) and requiring operators to select all that apply.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11072 — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-10782 — Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Correction
PHMSA fixed a small but important detail in a new pipeline safety rule from January 2026. Pipeline operators can now confirm or restore safe pressure levels when neighborhoods change around their pipes, with a clear 24-month deadline starting either from the rule’s effective date or when they begin work. This helps keep gas pipelines safe without confusion about timing, so operators know exactly when to act and avoid costly delays.
2026-08943 — Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility
The FAA is proposing new rules to keep drones away from certain important fixed sites like power plants or airports to keep everyone safe and secure. If you own or operate one of these sites, you can request a drone flight restriction zone to protect your property and people nearby. Comments are open until July 6, 2026, and these changes could affect drone pilots and site operators, but no big costs are expected.
2026-08144 — Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-08058 — Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments; Correction
This update fixes a numbering mistake in the rules for checking the maximum safe pressure of gas pipelines. Pipeline operators must follow the corrected list to avoid confusion, but no new costs or deadlines are added. The fix takes effect on August 3, 2026, making safety rules clearer and easier to follow.
2026-06323 — Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements; Response to Petition for Reconsideration
Pipeline companies and safety pros, listen up! PHMSA just said no to changes requested by the Interstate Natural Gas Association about pipeline safety rules for areas where people live or work. This means the current rules about how pipelines must be upgraded when neighborhoods grow stay in place, so companies should keep their safety upgrades on schedule without extra costs or delays.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-12313 — Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing
The FMCSA is renewing special permissions for 15 hard of hearing or deaf drivers, letting them keep driving big trucks across state lines. These exemptions mean they don’t have to meet the usual hearing rules but still follow all other safety laws. The renewed permissions have specific start and end dates, helping these drivers keep their jobs without extra costs or delays.
Next: 2026-12316 — Combined Notice of Filings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission got new requests to change natural gas pipeline rates starting in July 2026. Companies like Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Bison Pipeline want to update their prices, which could affect customers and businesses using these pipelines. If you want to speak up or get involved, you’ve got until late June to file your comments or protests.