# U.S. DOT/PHMSA - Report: December 2005 Meeting Presentation: OQ Report to Congress Update **Citation:** 0900006480e8d414 **Type / status:** rulemaking / current **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** Not stated Update on the OQ Report to Congress and Next Steps TPSSC & THLPSSC Meeting December 13, 2005 Barbara Betsock PHMSA 2002 Congressional Direction • Specific criteria including “training as appropriate” • Standards to evaluate adequacy (protocols) • PHMSA/State audits (by December 2005) • Report on status and results (due December 2006) ## Document text <<>> Update on the OQ Report to Congress and Next Steps TPSSC & THLPSSC Meeting December 13, 2005 Barbara Betsock PHMSA <<>> 2002 Congressional Direction • Specific criteria including “training as appropriate” • Standards to evaluate adequacy (protocols) • PHMSA/State audits (by December 2005) • Report on status and results (due December 2006) <<>> Report Content - Draft • Evolution of OQ Requirements • Inspection Objectives and Approach • Status & Results • Impact on Operations • Future Effort <<>> Report Schedule - Draft • Begin analysis of inspection results – 11/15/05 • Advisory Committee & Public Meetings – 12/13-15/05 • Close docket on data – 1/14/05 • Complete draft report – 03/01/06 • Final approved report to Congress - 12/17/06 <<>> Where do we stand in our inspections? PHMSA and State pipeline offices have recorded initial inspections for – 127 hazardous liquid operators – 116 interstate gas transmission operators – 1628 intrastate gas transmission and distribution operators <<>> What have we learned from initial inspections? • ~ 15% had no OQ program • Several operators did not address abnormal operating conditions • Some non-qualified individuals performed covered tasks • Some operators failed to verify the qualifications of contractors <<>> What have we learned from inspections? (2) • Some tasks were not on covered task lists • Many evaluations did not address skills • Sometimes intervals for reevaluation were missing or not supported • Recordkeeping was often poor <<>> Inspection Results in Perspective • Inspections clarified requirements and expectations; led to correction of deficiencies • Significant effort has gone into helping the smallest operators – Implementation guidance – Outreach by States – Safety and Integrity Foundation (SIF) <<>> Next steps • Public meeting – December 15, 2005 • Concept paper on regulatory changes to OQ • Docket open – Until January 14, 2006 for data on status of OQ – Until February 10, 2006 on regulatory approach <<>> Concept • Regulatory – Add construction tasks to operation and maintenance tasks – Add some specificity in training – Add some specificity in intervals for reevaluation • Publish clarifications on other OQ issues of concern <<>> Information December 15, 2005 public meeting – http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings OQ regulatory docket - http://dms.dot.gov Docket number RSPA-04-19857 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `regulations-gov` - SHA-256: `d0e02d27af7075011f5a7bedcec6376feed8142fb5a3f5bc2fe030fcccb20468` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T02:22:46.679Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T01:34:13.100Z - Document slug: `regulations-gov-attachment-0900006480e8d414` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "regulations_gov_agency_attachment", "parentDocumentId": "regulations-gov-document-phmsa-rspa-1998-4470-0187", "regulationsGovDocumentId": "PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470-0187", "docketId": "PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470", "attachmentId": "0900006480e8d414", "format": "pdf", "authorshipClass": "agency_authored", "rightsClass": "federal_work", "ingestionDecision": "ingest", "decisionBasis": [ "organization:U.S. DOT/PHMSA", "title:U.S. DOT/PHMSA - Report: December 2005 Meeting Presentation: OQ Report to Congress Update" ], "summaryEligibility": "eligible", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```