U. S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

How Do Pipeline Laws and Rules Can Made? Jeff Wiese Program Development Director

Background Think of the guidance triangle °Laws °Regulations °National Consensus Standards °Best Management Practices Think of the three legged stool °People °Process °Technology Think about limited asset allocation °Time, money, and people

PHMSA’s Goal To set a pipeline safety agenda that is °Focused on solving problems where new legal authority is required ­Risk based ­Data driven °Transparent °Collaborative But why °Pipeline safety laws are reauthorized every 4 years with possibility of oversight in between where problems arise °Congressional attention is limited °New mandates take a heavy toll and not all are tailored made °Regulatory development is time and resource intensive for all sides – needs to be focused

But How to Set the Agenda Strategically and in concert with our stakeholders °Evaluate risks, threats, and opportunities – focused on solving real problems °Present concepts in every possible public forum to test and improve them and to seek an informed consensus ­Public meetings ­Stakeholder conferences ­Technical advisory committee meetings ­Technical workshops Work to develop an Administration proposal

Past Proposals Our strategy was reflected in the 2002 reauthorization and preceding Administration proposal 2002 Pipeline Safety Improvement Act °Integrity management °Operator qualification °Research °Public awareness °Mapping °Administration proposal was picked up by Senator McCain in his 2000 proposal and, led to the 2002 PSIA

Current Proposal Administration’s proposal °Damage prevention ­9 point program developed by DIMP Team ­Civil enforcement authority ­Technology grants °Building state capacity by raising the current cap on state funding to 80% - incentivized along the lines of the Secretary’s program Other discussion points reflect our work °Low stress pipelines °Human factors (fatigue and control room risk reduction)

During the Reauthorization Iterative process of listening, discussing, educating, and collaborating to manage the best possible outcome The window is, however, open There are lots of other forces that shape the eventual outcome of the bill – if one is put forward °Political control of Congress °Congressional leadership changes °Other important actions that shape any eventual compromise

After the Reauthorization Repeat the process to address the mandates considering °Relative importance to our agenda °Time and money it will take °Relative alignment of stakeholders on solutions and options ­Regulation ­National consensus standard ­Best management practice development ­Report to Congress by the Administration °Administration priorities °Unexpected curve ball from left field All these factors are important, and none can be discarded

U. S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration