{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-90-014","title":"United States General Accounting Office — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1990-03-27","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-90-014 response to United States General Accounting Office concerning 195.1.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-014.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-014.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-90-014","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1990/PI90014.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMartin J. Fitzgerald Esq.\nSpecial Assistant to the General Counsel\nUnited States General Accounting Office\nWashington, D. C. 20548\nDear Mr. Fitzgerald:\nYou have asked for our views on whether the Department of Energy\n(DOE) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) has jurisdiction\nover the safety the maintenance of the pipelines through which\npetroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) would\nbe transported to the existing system of commercial oil\ndistribution in the event of a drawdown from the SPR. (As to the\nexisting system of commercial pipelines to which the SPR connects,\nwe take it there is not question that DOT authority applies.) In\nconsidering this question, we have consulted with DOE.\nUnder the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (HLPSA), 49\nUSC app. 2001 et seq., DOT establishes minimal Federal safety\nstandards for transportation of hazardous liquids (including\npetroleum) and for pipeline facilities. The standards apply to\neach person who engages in transportation of hazardous liquids or\nwho owns or operates pipeline facilities. The term \"person,\"\nhowever, does not include the Federal Government. The legislative\nhistory makes clear that HLPSA was not intended to apply to a\nFederally operated facility.\"\nDOE has advised us that it is in operational of the SPR pipeline\nfacilities and has assumed responsibility for their maintenance and\nsafety. Based or these assurances, we do not believe that DOT's\nauthority under HLPSA applies to DOE's ownership and operation of\nthe SPR pipeline facilities. In light of our experience and\nexpertise in the transportation of liquids by pipeline, we have\noffered to DOE whatever assistance it might need to assure that the\npipelines are being maintained and operated safety.\nPlease let me know if we can provide any other assistance in this\nmatter.\nSincerely,\nC. Dean McGrath, Jr.\nAssociate General Counsel\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\1\\90-03-27\n1","truncated":false,"body_characters":1948}