U.S. DOT/PHMSA - Report: December 2005 Meeting Presentation: OQ Report to Congress Update

Page 1Update on the OQ Report to Congress and Next Steps TPSSC & THLPSSC Meeting December 13, 2005 Barbara Betsock PHMSA#

Page 22002 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)#

Page 3Report Content - Draft • Evolution of OQ Requirements • Inspection Objectives and Approach • Status & Results • Impact on Operations • Future Effort#

Page 4Report 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#

Page 5Where 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#

Page 6What 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#

Page 7What 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#

Page 8Inspection 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)#

Page 9Next 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#

Page 10Concept • 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#

Page 11Information December 15, 2005 public meeting – http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings OQ regulatory docket - http://dms.dot.gov Docket number RSPA-04-19857#