# City of Albany, Georgia — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-90-012  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1990-03-09

PI-90-012 response to City of Albany, Georgia concerning 199.9.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

March 9, 1990
Mr. James V. Davis
City of Albany
Post Office Box 128
Albany. Georgia 31702
Dear Mr. Davis:
I am responding to the two questions about 49 CFR Part 199 in your
letter of February 27, 1990, to Cesar De Leon.
First you asked whether an operator may condition reinstatement of
an employee on the employee's successful completion of a
rehabilitation program. Section 199.9(b) prescribes the minimum
conditions under which an operator may reinstate an individual
after that individual is removed from a covered position for
failing a drug test. Successful completion of rehabilitation is
not one of the minimum conditions. However, an operator may exceed
the minimum conditions and make rehabilitation a condition of
reinstatement if the operator has authority to do so that is not
based on compliance with Part 199.
Your second question is whether an operator may terminate a
reinstated employee for subsequent failure of a drug test. In such
circumstances, ? 199.9(b)(3) requires that the employee be removed
from the covered position without an opportunity for future
reinstatement. Part 199 does not require the operator to terminate
employment of the individual; if possible, he or she could be
shifted to a non-covered position. If an operator decides to
terminate employment, it cannot rely on Part 199 for authority to
do so.
Sincerely,
George W. Tenley, Jr.
Director
Office of Pipeline Safety

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1990/PI90012.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `2372ce0eac90e18d5556ce24e3a544c0c6be3c648afecd3dc7de30767094242f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T22:52:12.095Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-012`

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```