{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, 2021 Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program","title":"2021 Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":null,"summary":"2021 Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Document 2021-State-Guidelines-Final-With-Appendices.pdf (26.45 MB) Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF Effective Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2024","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-2021-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-a6928d94.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-2021-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-a6928d94.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-2021-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-a6928d94","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/working-phmsa/state-programs/2021-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program","body":"2021 Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program\n\nDocument\n\n 2021-State-Guidelines-Final-With-Appendices.pdf (26.45 MB)\n\n        Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF\n\n          Effective Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2024\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nGuidelines for States\nParticipating in the\nPipeline Safety Program\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nTA B LE OF C ONTENTS\nGLOSSARY\nv\n__________________________________________________________________\nACRONYMS\nxii\n________________________________________________________________\nPreface _____________________________________________________________________\n1\n1 The Federal/State Partnership ______________________________________________\n3\n1.1 Congressional Intent _________________________________________________________\n3\n1.2 Federal Role and Organizational Structure _______________________________________\n3\n1.3 State Role and Organizational Structure _________________________________________\n4\n1.4 Related Organizations ________________________________________________________\n4\n1.4.1 National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives _____________________________________\n4\n1.4.2 National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners ___________________________________\n5\n1.5 Invitational Travel\n5\n___________________________________________________________\n1.6 Mutual Aid\n6\n_________________________________________________________________\n2 State Participation Requirements ____________________________________________\n8\n2.1 Section 60105 Certification\n8\n____________________________________________________\n2.2 Section 60106 Agreement ______________________________________________________\n9\n2.3 Interstate Agent Agreement __________________________________________________\n10\n2.4 Time Defined Agreement _____________________________________________________\n11\n2.5 Joint Inspection of an Interstate Operator _______________________________________\n11\n2.6 Certification/Agreement Forms _______________________________________________\n12\n2.7 Progress Report ____________________________________________________________\n12\n2.7.1 Attachment #1: State Jurisdiction and Agent Status ________________________________________\n12\n2.7.2 Attachment #2: Total State Field Inspection Activity _______________________________________\n13\n2.7.3 Attachment #3: Facilities Subject to State Safety Jurisdiction ________________________________\n13\n2.7.4 Attachment #4: Pipeline Incidents/Accidents _____________________________________________\n14\n2.7.5 Attachment #5: State Compliance Actions\n14\n_______________________________________________\n2.7.6 Attachment #6: State Record Maintenance and Reporting ___________________________________\n14\n2.7.7 Attachment #7: State Employees Directly Involved in the Pipeline Safety Program _______________\n14\n2.7.8 Attachment #8: State Compliance with Federal Requirements ________________________________\n14\n2.7.9 [RESERVED] _____________________________________________________________________\n15\n2.7.10 Attachment #10: Performance and Damage Prevention Questions ___________________________\n15\n2.8 Responsibility to Assist PHMSA in the Work Management System __________________\n15\n3 State Regulatory Responsibility _____________________________________________\n17\n3.1 Adoption of Federal Regulations and Requirements ______________________________\n17\n3.2 WinDOT\n17\n__________________________________________________________________\n3.3 Waiver of Federal Regulations ________________________________________________\n17\n3.3.1 Interstate Pipelines __________________________________________________________________\n17\n3.3.2 Intrastate Pipelines __________________________________________________________________\n17\n4 Personnel\n20\n______________________________________________________________\n4.1 State Agency Minimum Required Inspection Activity _____________________________\n20\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program i\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nTA B LE OF C ONTENTS\n4.1.1 Determination of Inspection Activity ___________________________________________________\n20\n4.1.2 Peer Review\n23\n_______________________________________________________________________\n4.1.3 Inspection Activity Examples _________________________________________________________\n23\n4.1.4 Updates to SICT ___________________________________________________________________\n24\n4.2 Allocation of Effort\n29\n__________________________________________________________\n4.3 Training ___________________________________________________________________\n29\n4.3.1 Required Training __________________________________________________________________\n29\n4.3.2 Course Re-Testing __________________________________________________________________\n32\n4.3.3 Waivers from Training ______________________________________________________________\n32\n4.3.4 Procedures for Requesting a Training Waiver _____________________________________________\n33\n4.4 Continuing Education and State Inspector Mentoring Program _____________________\n33\n4.5 Changes in State Agency Personnel ____________________________________________\n34\n4.6 Individual Qualifications _____________________________________________________\n34\n4.7 Program Manager Training __________________________________________________\n36\n4.8 New Program Manager Orientation ____________________________________________\n36\n5 Inspection and Compliance Program ________________________________________\n37\n5.1 Inspection _________________________________________________________________\n37\n5.2 Compliance ________________________________________________________________\n45\n5.2.1 Procedures for State Agencies with a Section 60105 Certification\n46\n_____________________________\n5.2.2 Procedures for State Agencies with a Section 60106 Agreement or Interstate Agents ______________\n46\n5.2.3 PHMSA Orders to Operators __________________________________________________________\n46\n5.2.4 Referring Concerns of Possible Criminal Activity to the Office of Inspector General (OIG): ________\n47\n6 Failure Investigation and Safety-Related Conditions\n47\n___________________________\n6.1 Investigation of Pipeline Failures ______________________________________________\n47\n6.2 On-scene investigations ______________________________________________________\n48\n6.3 Basic Investigative Procedures ________________________________________________\n51\n6.4 Incident Investigation Procedures _____________________________________________\n51\n6.5 PHMSA AID Daily Telephonic Investigation Report ______________________________\n51\n6.6 Access to NRC Reports ______________________________________________________\n52\n6.7 Safety-Related Conditions\n52\n____________________________________________________\n7 Damage Prevention Program and One Call Notification ________________________\n54\n7.1 Damage Prevention _________________________________________________________\n54\n7.2 One Call Notification\n55\n________________________________________________________\n7.3 Damage Prevention and One-Call Grants\n57\n_______________________________________\n8 State Agency Program Performance _________________________________________\n58\n8.1 Annual Program Evaluation __________________________________________________\n58\n8.2 Compliance with Program Requirements _______________________________________\n60\n8.3 Recordkeeping _____________________________________________________________\n61\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nii\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nTA B LE OF C ONTENTS\n8.4 Attendance at NAPSR Meetings _______________________________________________\n61\n8.5 State Pipeline Safety Training and/or Seminars __________________________________\n62\n9 DOT Grant-in-Aid Program _______________________________________________\n63\n9.1 Scope of Grant _____________________________________________________________\n63\n9.2 Address\n63\n___________________________________________________________________\n9.3 Eligibility __________________________________________________________________\n63\n9.4 General Obligations _________________________________________________________\n64\n9.5 Application ________________________________________________________________\n64\n9.5.1 Attachment #1: Description of State Pipeline Safety Program. ________________________________\n64\n9.5.2 Attachment #2: Pipeline Safety Program Estimated Budget. _________________________________\n66\n9.6 Annual Funding Level _______________________________________________________\n66\n9.7 Grant Allocation and Percentage of Funding ____________________________________\n9.7.1 Grant Allocation Formula for Grant Award\n______________________________________________\n9.7.2 State Performance Score\n66\n67\n67\n_____________________________________________________________\n9.8 Payment Agreement (Notice of Grant Award) ___________________________________\n70\n9.9 Certification Regarding Lobbying and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities _____________\n71\n9.10 Mid-Year Request for Reimbursement _________________________________________\n71\n9.11 Request for Advance Payment - Travel to NAPSR Meetings ________________________\n72\n9.12 Year-end Request for Reimbursement and Cost Summary _________________________\n72\n9.13 Special Initiatives\n73\n___________________________________________________________\n9.14 Withholding of Grant Funds - Suspension and/or Termination of Grants _____________\n73\n9.15 Deposit of Grant Funds ______________________________________________________\n74\n9.16 Eligibility of Program Costs __________________________________________________\n74\n9.16.1 Direct Costs\n74\n_____________________________________________________________________\n9.16.2 Indirect Costs\n77\n____________________________________________________________________\n9.16.3 Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses _____________________________________\n78\n9.16.4 Unallowable Costs\n78\n________________________________________________________________\n9.17 Pipeline Safety Grant Program Review _________________________________________\n78\n9.17.1 Pre-Review\n79\n______________________________________________________________________\n9.17.2 Grant Review\n79\n____________________________________________________________________\n9.17.3 Post-Review\n79\n_____________________________________________________________________\n9.17.4 Adjustments and Penalties __________________________________________________________\n79\n9.17.5 Appeal of Findings ________________________________________________________________\n80\n9.18 Procurement Standards\n80\n______________________________________________________\n9.19 Procurement Procedures\n80\n_____________________________________________________\n9.20 Contracts Management ______________________________________________________\n80\n9.21 Internal Controls\n80\n___________________________________________________________\n9.22 Real Property ______________________________________________________________\n81\n9.23 Personal Property ___________________________________________________________\n81\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\niii\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nTA B LE OF C ONTENTS\n9.24 Code of Conduct\n81\n____________________________________________________________\n9.25 Conflict of Interest and Mandatory Disclosures __________________________________\n81\n9.26 Audit Requirements (2 CFR 200 Subpart F) _____________________________________\n81\n9.27 PHMSA Office of Civil Rights Review – Title VI\n82\n_________________________________\n9.28 Grant-in-Aid Program Calendar of Events ______________________________________\n83\n9.29 Description of Activities ______________________________________________________\n84\n9.29.1 Base Grant Application (Gas & Hazardous Liquid) _______________________________________\n84\n9.29.2 One Call Grant\n84\n___________________________________________________________________\n9.29.3 Year End Payment Process __________________________________________________________\n84\n9.29.4 One Call Progress Report ___________________________________________________________\n84\n9.29.5 One Call Allocation\n84\n_______________________________________________________________\n9.29.6 Progress Report __________________________________________________________________\n84\n9.29.7 Allocation\n84\n_______________________________________________________________________\n9.29.8 Payment Agreement – (Notice of Grant Award) _________________________________________\n84\n9.29.9 Mid-Year Reimbursement\n85\n__________________________________________________________\n9.29.10 Program Evaluation ______________________________________________________________\n85\n10 Federal-State Tracking and Reporting – “FedSTAR”\n86\n___________________________\n10.1 Purpose ___________________________________________________________________\n86\n10.2 Location and Procedures\n86\n_____________________________________________________\n10.3 Facilitating Various Program Documentation\n87\n____________________________________\n10.4 Facilitating Grant Financials __________________________________________________\n87\n10.5 Other FedSTAR Functions\n89\n___________________________________________________\n10.6 PHMSA State Program Management Functions _________________________________\n89\nAppendix Summary __________________________________________________________\n90\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\niv\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nGlossary\nGLOSSARY\nAct See Chapter 601, Title 49 of the U.S. Code (2011 version)\nAgency See State Agency\nAgreement Certification The State agency assumes inspection responsibility for facilities\nand reports probable violations to PHMSA for compliance\naction.\nThe State agency assumes safety responsibility with respect to\nintrastate facilities over which it has jurisdiction under State law.\nEach grantee who receives a Federal grant exceeding\n$100,000 must submit a certification form.\nCertification Regarding\nLobbying\nCFDA Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. A reference\ncompilation of all grant programs sponsored by the Federal\ngovernment. PHMSA’s CFDA number is 20.700 for the Pipeline\nSafety Grant Program.\nChapter 601, Title 49 of\nthe U.S. Code (2016)\nThroughout this manual, Sections 60101 – 60140 refer to\nChapter 601, Title 49 of the United States Code (2016). Chapter\n601 is the recodification of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act\nof 1968, as amended (49 USC app 1671 et seq.), and the\nHazardous Liquids Pipeline Safety Act of 1979, as amended (49\nUSC app 2001 et seq.).\nCode of Federal Regulations, Title 49 (49 CFR)-Pipeline Safety\nPart 40 Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs\nPart 190 Pipeline Safety Programs and Rulemaking Procedures\nPart 191 Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Annual Reports\nIncident Reports, and Safety-Related Condition Reports\nPart 192 Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum\nFederal Safety Standards\nPart 193 Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards\nPart 194 Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines\nPart 195 Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline\nPart 196 Protection of Underground Pipelines from Excavation Activity\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program v\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nGlossary\nPart 198 Part 199 Regulations for Grants to Aid State Pipeline Safety Programs\nDrug and Alcohol Testing\nCompliance Action Department of\nTransportation (“DOT”)\nA compliance action is an action or series of sequential actions\ntaken to enforce federal or state pipeline regulations. One\ncompliance action can cover multiple probable violations. A\ncompliance action may take the form of a letter warning of future\npenalties for continued violation, an administratively imposed\nmonetary sanction or order directing compliance with the\nregulations, an order directing corrective action under\nhazardous conditions, a show-cause order, a criminal sanction,\na court injunction, or a similar formal action.\nReference may include any or all the following: U.S. Department\nof Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration, Office of Pipeline Safety.\nThis is the computer application available over the internet\nwhich is used by Pipeline Safety program offices to enter the\nrequired federal documentation and information.\nFederal State Tracking\nand Reporting\n(“FedSTAR”)\nGrant Grant Agreement Grant Application Grantee Grant Period Grants.gov Funds or aid in kind to carry out specified programs, services,\nor activities.\nAll provisions and requirements of the Pipeline Safety Grant\nProgram, including those specified in the Grant Application,\nPayment Agreement (Notice of Grant Award), these Guidelines,\nand any instructions or directives issued by the PHMSA, DOT,\nor other Federal agency relative to the management of Federal\ngrant programs.\nThis form is to provide PHMSA with information concerning the\nState agency’s need for Federal financial support for its pipeline\nsafety program.\nThe department or agency of State government which is\nresponsible for the administration of the pipeline safety grant.\nAlso referred to as “recipient” or “State agency.”\nThe grant period extends from the effective date of the Payment\nAgreement (Notice of Grant Award), January 1, to the expiration\ndate, December 31, unless otherwise arranged. Also referred to\nas the “program year.”\nGrants.gov is a central storehouse for information on federal\ngrants.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nvi\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nGlossary\nGrant Program Inspection, Standard Inspection Person-Day Inspection Unit • Privately Owned\nDistribution\nSystem\nThose activities and operations of the State agency which are\nnecessary to carry out the purposes of the grant, including any\nportion of the program financed by the grantee. This technical\nusage of the phrase should not be confused with the Pipeline\nSafety Grant Program (sometimes shortened to “Grant\nProgram”), which is the Federal assistance program in support\nof the State agency’s pipeline safety program.\nAn on-site evaluation of an inspection unit for compliance with\nall applicable Federal or State standards. This includes a\nthorough compliance review of the operator’s plans,\nprocedures, programs, records, physical plant, and work in\nprogress. This would include inspections on LNG facilities. See\nChapter 5 for guidance.\nAll or part of a day spent by Agency staff – Supervisor(s) and/or\nInspector(s)/Investigator(s) (including travel) in on-site or virtual\nevaluation of an operator’s system to determine compliance\nwith Federal or State pipeline safety regulations; or in on-site\ninvestigation of a pipeline incident; or in job-site training of an\noperator. (See section 5.1 for description of inspection types)\nTime counted for such activities should be reported as a\nmaximum of one inspection person-day for each day devoted to\nsafety issues, regardless of the number of operators visited\nduring that day. (e.g. You may evaluate two operators in the\nsame day and record each inspection visit as 0.5 person-day,\nor actual fraction of a day, for each operator provided the total\ndoes not exceed 1.0 person-day) On a limited basis, the\ninspector may count in-office inspection time to review operator\nwritten: plans, procedures, programs and records to effectively\nuse on-site inspection time, as approved by the program\nmanager and as noted in the annual progress report. In-office\ninspection time must be adequately documented and made part\nof the State agency’s inspection records.\nAll or part of an operator’s pipeline facilities under the control of\nan administrative unit that provides sufficient communication\nand controls to ensure uniform design, construction, operation,\nand maintenance procedures for the facilities.\nThe application of the inspection unit concept will ensure\ninspection coverage of an operator’s entire system and\nenhance Federal/State management of work load and program\nevaluation. Determination of inspections will be based on the\nfollowing guidelines, but where unique situations exist, good\nlogic and judgment must be exercised when identifying the\nparameters of the unit.\nThe inspection unit could be an operating area such as a\nspecific city or metropolitan area, or a group of towns,\nand may include high pressure distribution operated and\nmaintained by the operator. The unit selected should be\nthat which provides the desired commonality. However,\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nvii\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nGlossary\nbecause of the greater number of pipeline facilities in\nsome large metropolitan distribution areas, multiple units\nmay be appropriate. In selecting the unit, consideration\nshould be given to the size of the area covered, work\nlocation, record location, and line of supervision.\nIf the distribution system contains transmission lines\nwhere transmission integrity management plans are\nrequired, those system(s) should be considered separate\nintrastate transmission inspection unit(s).\n• Gas Transmission\nand Hazardous\nLiquid Pipeline\nSystem (including\nEthanol)\nThe inspection unit should include up to 500 miles of\npipeline right-of-way including any compressor stations\nor pumping facilities within the designated limits. In some\ncircumstances, such as densely populated areas and/or\nenvironmentally sensitive areas, and/or where judged\nnecessary based on local conditions, a separate\ninspection unit can be established.\n• Liquefied Natural\nGas (LNG) Facility\nEach LNG facility should be considered a single\ninspection unit.\n• Master Meter\nSystem\nEach master meter system should be considered a\nsingle inspection unit. However, more than one master\nmeter system should be considered a single inspection\nunit if all facilities involved are owned, operated and\nmaintained under common supervisory control.\n• Municipality Each municipality should be considered a single\ninspection unit unless its system, similar to privately\nowned distribution systems, contains transmission lines\nwhere transmission integrity management inspections\nare done in which case the transmission system should\nbe a separate inspection unit. Also operating\nconditions/characteristics could suggest additional\ninspection units be considered.\n• Propane-Air\nSystem/Petroleum\nGas System\nPropane-Air System/Petroleum Gas System- Each\nsystem should be considered a single inspection unit.\nHowever, more than one propane-air/petroleum gas\nsystem should be considered a single inspection unit if all\nfacilities involved are owned, operated and maintained\nunder common supervisory control.\n• Regulated\nGathering Pipeline\nSystem\nEach regulated gathering pipeline system can be\nconsidered as a single inspection unit. Circumstances\nmay exist when an operator has more than one regulated\ngathering system separated into individual inspection\nunits.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nviii\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nGlossary\nInterstate Agent Mid-year Request for\nReimbursement\nThe State agency assumes inspection responsibility for\ninterstate facilities and reports probable violations to PHMSA for\ncompliance action.\nIf a State desires mid-year payment, it may return one copy of a\ncompleted OMB Standard Form 270 to PHMSA requesting a\nmid-year payment.\nUsed to amend the Federal grant amount in the Payment\nAgreement (Notice of Grant Award).\nModifications to\nPayment Agreement\n(Notice of Grant\nAward)\nNational Response\nCenter (NRC) (1-800-\n424-8802)\nNational\nTransportation Safety\nBoard (NTSB)\nNoncompliance Office of Pipeline\nSafety (OPS)\nThe federal government’s national communications center,\nwhich is staffed 24 hours a day by U.S. Coast Guard officers\nand marine science technicians. The NRC receives all reports\nof releases involving hazardous substances and oil that trigger\nthe federal notification requirements under several laws. This\n“telephonic” report data is shared with PHMSA via an\ninformation system.\nThis Federal agency was created by Congress in the\nDepartment of Transportation Act of 1966. Although NTSB’s\nauthority is limited to transportation failure investigations, its\nmission relating to pipeline safety is to:\n1. Investigate significant failures and report the\ncircumstances relating to each failure and its\nprobable cause.\n2. Make recommendations to the Secretary, the\npipeline operators, manufacturers, associations,\nand interested parties to minimize the possibility of\nrecurrence of similar failures.\n3. Release reports deemed to be in the public\ninterest.\n4. Conduct special studies and investigations on\nmatters regarding safety in pipeline transportation\nand failure prevention.\nA violation or probable violation of any section or any subsection\nof Federal or State pipeline safety regulations.\nFor the purpose of this manual, OPS is the U.S. Department of\nTransportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration’s Office of Pipeline Safety.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nix\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nGlossary\nOMB Standard Form\n270-Request for\nAdvance or\nReimbursement\nPayment Agreement\n(Notice of Grant\nAward)\nPerformance Criteria Personal Property Submitted by a State agency for Mid-Year Request for\nReimbursement, Year-end Request for Reimbursement, and\nRequest for Advance Payment - Travel to NAPSR Meetings\nThe formal document that allocates a specific amount of Federal\nfunds to a State agency for the reimbursement of not more than\n80 percent of the expenses of a pipeline safety program.\nCriteria used in assigning points for allocation of grant funds.\nProperty of any kind except real property. It may be tangible\n(having physical existence), or intangible (having no physical\nexistence), such as patents, inventions, and copyrights, both\nhaving a useful life of more than 1 year and an acquisition cost\nof at least $5,000.\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is the\nagency under the U.S. Department of Transportation\nresponsible for pipeline safety oversight.\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n(PHMSA)\nPHMSA Inspector\nTraining and\nQualifications Division\n(TQ)\nPipeline Program Cost\nSummary\nThe safety training organization operated by PHMSA located at\n3700 S. MacArthur Blvd, Suite B, Oklahoma City, OK 73179-\n7612. The contact telephone number is 405-686-2310.\nProbable Violation This form compares estimated budget figures with final\nexpenses incurred for the program, and is submitted by a State\nagency with the Year-end Request for Reimbursement.\nA probable violation is a potential non-compliance with any\nsection or, where a section is divided into subsections (a), (b),\n(c), etc., any subsection of federal or state pipeline regulations.\nEach numbered section should be counted separately. Multiple\nnon-compliances of a numbered section discovered on the\nsame inspection should be counted as one probable violation\nwith multiple pieces of evidence (i.e. during a unit inspection it was\ndiscovered that an operator failed to check and service 6 distribution\nvalves, in reference to §192.747 Valve maintenance: Distribution\nsystems, this is one probable violation of section 192.747(a) with six\nProgram pieces of evidence and not six probable violations).\nThe planned undertaking of the State agency’s pipeline safety\nactivities as stated in the application for Federal assistance.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program x\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\nGlossary\nProgram Budget A schedule of proposed expenditures that is allowable,\nnecessary, and reasonable for proper and efficient execution of\nthe pipeline safety program.\nProgram Costs All allowable costs (as set forth in 2 CFR 200) incurred by a\nState agency in accomplishing the objectives of the Pipeline\nSafety Grant Program during the grant period.\nProgram Manager The person designated by the State agency as responsible for\nall activities of the pipeline safety program\nProgram Year See “Grant Period.”\nReal Property Land, land improvements, structures, and appurtenances\nthereto, Excluding movable machinery and equipment.\nRecipient See “Grantee.”\nRegion Director (RD) The individual responsible for all activities of the designated\nPHMSA region\nRegion Office One of five offices delegated the authority to carry out the field\nactivities for PHMSA\nSpecial Initiatives State Agency State Program\nPersonnel\nSupervisor Year-End Request for\nReimbursement\nInitiatives occasionally issued by PHMSA for a limited purpose.\nThe division of each State, including the District of Columbia and\nPuerto Rico, authorized through a certification or agreement\nwith the Department of Transportation (DOT) to administer a\npipeline safety program. Also referred to as “grantee” or\n“recipient.”\nThe PHMSA headquarters staff person (i.e. State Liaison) who\nprovides technical assistance, support and evaluates State\nagency programs.\nIndividual in a State Agency supervising pipeline safety\ninspectors/investigators and so designated in Attachment 7 of\nthe annual Progress Report. This does not include individuals\nsolely supervising damage prevention/technical staff.\nOne copy of a completed OMB Standard Form 270 is\ncompleted by a State agency to submit total program costs for\nthe previous year to PHMSA\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nxi\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nAcronyms\nACRONYMS\nAID Accident Investigation Division\nCFDA Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance\nCFR Code of Federal Regulations\nDOT U.S. Department of Transportation\nFedSTAR Federal State Tracking and Reporting\nLNG Liquefied Natural Gas\nLPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas\nMOU Memorandum of Understanding\nNAPSR National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives\nNARUC National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners\nNRC National Response Center\nNTSB National Transportation Safety Board\nO & M Operation and Maintenance\nOMB Office of Management and Budget\nPHMSA\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nPSP\nPHMSA State Programs\nPY Person-Year\nRCFA Root Cause Failure Analysis\nRD Region Director\nSUDS\nState Uploaded Document System (within FedSTAR)\nTQ\nPHMSA Inspector Training and Qualifications Division\nUSC United States Code\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2021\nxii\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\nPreface\nThe Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program\n(Guidelines) contain guidance for how State Pipeline Safety Programs must\nconduct and execute their responsibilities delegated through certification or\nagreement by the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to certain sections of\nTitle 49 of the United States Code. The Secretary of Transportation has\ndelegated the administration of the certifications and agreements to the Pipeline\nand Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). These Guidelines\nare not regulations or rules promulgated by PHMSA.\nThis Guidelines are provided to promote consistency among the many state\nagencies that participate under certifications and/or agreements. The guidance\ncontains expectations for the execution of a state agency’s responsibilities\nwhich are evaluated annually. The performance evaluation results are utilized\nto determine continued certification/agreement with a state agency and annual\ngrant funding amounts to the state agency.\nThe Guidelines and performance of expectations are administered by\nPHMSA’s State Programs Division. The Guidelines are typically reviewed and\nrevised annually. The process for the annual review and revision are as follows:\n1. PHMSA State Programs Division’s State Program Coordinator (SPC),\ncreates a copy of the recent edition of the Guidelines in MS Word.\n“Track Changes” option is turned on in the document to illustrate the\nrevisions (redline copy).\n2. Starting January 1, a listing of proposed changes is maintained by the\nSPC. Changes are typically proposed by members of the State\nPrograms Division, Regional Directors, PHMSA Training and\nQualifications and members of the National Association of Pipeline\nSafety Representatives (NAPSR).\n3. Between January 1 and June 1, the SPC obtains proposed language\nfrom the individuals proposing changes.\n4. During the June Meeting of the NAPSR Grant Allocation Committee\n(GAC), the listing of revisions and the redline copy is presented by the\nSPC. Discussion and editing takes place during the meeting. A draft is\nprovided to the GAC members and NAPSR’s Administrative Manager.\n5. NAPSR’s Administrative Manager distributes the listing and redline copy\nto NAPSR Board Members.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 1\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 15>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\n6. Between June and September additional proposed changes are\ncaptured and added to the listing. Proposed language for the changes\nare also captured. The redline copy is edited to include the additional\nchanges.\n7. The SPC provides the listing and redline copy to all State Programs\nDivision team members for review and comments.\n8. During the GAC’s October Meeting the SPC makes another\npresentation which includes the additional changes received since the\nJune Meeting. Discussion and editing is completed during the meeting.\n9. Following the GAC October Meeting, the SPC distributes the listing and\nredline copy to all members of NAPSR, all Regional Directors and\nPHMSA Training and Qualifications for review and comments (at least\n30 days is given for review).\n10. The SPC compiles all comments. State Programs Division reviews\ncomments. Comments usually result in further edits or if not, the\ncommenter is provided with reasons why it was not accepted for\ninclusion. Upon completion of this step the document is prepared for\npublication and distribution.\nThe updated Guidelines are distributed by December 31st\n.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 2\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 16>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\n1 The Federal/State Partnership\n1.1 Congressional Intent\nChapter 601 provides the statutory basis for the pipeline safety program and\nestablishes a framework for promoting pipeline safety through exclusive\nFederal authority for regulation of interstate pipeline facilities and State\nAuthority for all or part of the intrastate pipeline facilities under annual\ncertification or agreement. Chapter 601 authorizes Federal grants-in-aid of not\nmore than 80 percent of a State agency’s personnel, equipment, activities and\nother allowable costs for its pipeline safety program. The resulting\nFederal/State partnership is the cornerstone for ensuring uniform\nimplementation of the pipeline safety program nationwide. Chapter 601 can be\nfound in Appendix A.\n1.2 Federal Role and Organizational Structure\nThe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA)\nmission is to protect people and the environment from the risks inherent in\ntransportation of hazardous materials - by pipeline and other modes of\ntransportation. The agency’s goals are:\n• Safety: To reduce the risk of harm to people due to the transportation\nof hazardous materials by pipelines and other modes.\n• Environmental Stewardship: To reduce the risk of harm to the\nenvironment due to the transportation of oil and hazardous materials by\npipeline and other modes.\n• Reliability: To help maintain and improve the reliability of systems that\ndeliver energy products and other hazardous materials.\n• Global Connectivity: To harmonize and standardize the requirements\nfor pipeline and hazardous materials transportation internationally, to\nfacilitate efficient and safe transportation through ports of entry and\nthrough the supply chain.\n• Preparedness and Response: To reduce the consequences (harm to\npeople, environment, and economy) after a pipeline or hazmat failure\nhas occurred.\nUnder delegation from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation\n(DOT), PHMSA directly administers the program and develops issues and\nenforces minimum safety regulations for interstate and intrastate pipelines.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 3\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 17>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\nThese regulations are written to ensure safety in (1) the design, construction,\ntesting, operation, and maintenance of pipeline facilities and in (2) the siting,\nconstruction, operation, and maintenance of liquefied natural gas (LNG)\nfacilities. PHMSA ensures compliance with regulations through operator\ninspections, enforcement actions, and accident investigations. In addition, the\nPHMSA Training and Qualification Program (TQ) conducts training in\napplication of the regulations. PHMSA also administers grant-in-aid funding to\nStates, conducts research, and collects and analyzes safety data.\nPHMSA Headquarters, located in Washington D.C., administers the grant-in-\naid program to support State agencies conducting gas and hazardous liquid\npipeline safety programs.\nThe PHMSA Region Offices serve as the focal point for interstate pipeline\ncompliance activities and intrastate facilities not under state jurisdiction. The\nregion staff provides technical assistance and support to State agency\nprograms. Headquarters supports the work of the five PHMSA Region Offices.\nState agencies are encouraged to contact their respective State Liaison or\nRegion Director if they have any questions about technical or other inspection\nissues. The Director - State Programs should be contacted if the State Liaison\nor Region Director cannot be reached.\n1.3 State Role and Organizational Structure\nA State delegates responsibility for pipeline safety to a State agency. The State\nagency may be a Public Utility Commission, a State Fire Marshal, a State Public\nService Commission, or other office. State agencies under existing law have\njurisdiction over most intrastate gas, liquefied natural gas and hazardous liquid\nfacilities within their respective States. State agency duties normally consist of\noperator inspections, compliance and enforcement, safety programs, accident\ninvestigations, pipeline construction inspections, and record maintenance and\nreporting.\n1.4 Related Organizations\n1.4.1 National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives\nThe National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR),\nestablished in 1982, is an organization of State agency pipeline safety\nmanagers, inspectors, and technical personnel who support, encourage,\ndevelop, and enhance pipeline safety. NAPSR provides an effective\nmechanism for fostering the Federal/State partnership. The NAPSR Articles of\nAssociation set forth the purpose and objectives of the organization and the\nprocedures for electing national and region officers. More important, the Articles\nof Association establish the steps for adopting resolutions to raise serious\npipeline safety concerns of national scope for PHMSA consideration in\nregulatory and enforcement activities.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 4\nRevised January 2021\n\n<<<PAGE 18>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\n1.4.2 National Association of Regulatory Utility\nCommissioners\nThe National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) is an\norganization of Federal and State agencies engaged in the regulation of utilities\nand carriers. Its chief objective is to improve the quality and effectiveness of\nutility regulation in the United States. Through its Staff Subcommittee on\nPipeline Safety under the Committee on Gas, NARUC provides a\ncommunication channel among State public utility agencies, State agency\npipeline safety program managers, and Federal agencies. Like NAPSR, the\nNARUC Staff Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety holds regular meetings, issues\nresolutions, and establishes working groups to deal with safety issues.\n1.5 Invitational Travel\nIn support of NAPSR and NARUC initiatives, PHMSA may provide invitational\ntravel (100% funding) for the following:\n1. The current NAPSR Chair and","truncated":true,"body_characters":2377736}