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

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 0900006480e8d414
- **title:** U.S. DOT/PHMSA - Report: December 2005 Meeting Presentation: OQ Report to Congress Update
- **source type:** rulemaking
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** current
- **official:** true
- **published on:** Not available
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 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)
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- **source url:** https://downloads.regulations.gov/PHMSA-RSPA-1998-4470-0187/attachment_1.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

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

<<<PAGE 2>>>

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)

<<<PAGE 3>>>

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

<<<PAGE 4>>>

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

<<<PAGE 5>>>

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

<<<PAGE 6>>>

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

<<<PAGE 7>>>

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

<<<PAGE 8>>>

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)

<<<PAGE 9>>>

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

<<<PAGE 10>>>

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

<<<PAGE 11>>>

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