[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 22678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10018]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2008-0211]


Pipeline Safety: Implementation of Electronic Filing for Recently 
Revised Incident/Accident Report Forms for Distribution Systems, Gas 
Transmission and Gathering Systems, and Hazardous Liquid Systems

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises owners and operators of gas pipeline 
facilities and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that the new 
incident/accident report forms for their pipeline systems are now 
available for electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamerson Pender, Information Resources 
Manager, 202-366-0218 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 3, 2010 (75 FR 5460), PHMSA published Advisory Bulletin 
ADB-10-01 in the Federal Register to notify operators of gas and 
hazardous liquid pipeline facilities of newly revised incident/accident 
report forms and instructions. In ADB-10-01, PHMSA announced that the 
revised forms are to be used for all incidents/accidents occurring on 
or after January 1, 2010. PHMSA further noted that hard copy filing was 
required until PHMSA launched a new online system which was targeted 
for early March 2010. The new online system became available on March 
8, 2010, and is available at the following URL: http://pipelineonlinereporting.phmsa.dot.gov/.

Advisory Bulletin (ADB-10-04)

    To: Owners and Operators of Gas Pipeline Facilities and Hazardous 
Liquid Pipeline Facilities.
    Subject: Implementation of Electronic Filing for Recently Revised 
Incident/Accident Report Forms for Gas Distribution Systems, Gas 
Transmission and Gathering Systems, and Hazardous Liquid Systems.
    Advisory: This notice advises owners and operators of gas pipeline 
facilities and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that the new 
electronic incident/accident reporting system is available online at 
the following URL: http://pipelineonlinereporting.phmsa.dot.gov/. The 
new online system can also be accessed through the old system at the 
following URL: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov and click on ``Incidents on 
or after Jan 1, 2010'' for the respective report type. Each operator 
may use their current operator ID and PIN from the old system to access 
the new system. The new online system is for incidents/accidents 
occurring on or after January 1, 2010. The old online system is still 
available for filing supplemental reports for incidents/accidents that 
occurred prior to January 1, 2010, and is still the system for filing 
annual reports and Gas Integrity Management Program (IMP) reports.
    Incidents and accidents that were previously filed in hard copy are 
being entered by PHMSA staff and should not be reentered by the 
operator into the system. Operators that have already submitted a hard 
copy 2010 incident report as previously instructed in ADB-10-01 should 
not re-submit that report using the online system. Where data quality 
checks are indicated for the hard copy filed reports, PHMSA will 
contact operators as needed to facilitate complete data entry for the 
initial submissions. Once all reports received in hard copy have been 
entered by PHMSA, operators will be able to submit supplemental reports 
online if needed. In addition, PHMSA is aligning the hard copy forms 
with the new online system by replacing the double asterisks with the 
single asterisks for those data fields deemed required for an initial 
submission to PHMSA.
    PHMSA notes that for hazardous liquid small releases (identified as 
the areas shaded in gray on the hard copy version of the hazardous 
liquid accident form), the new online system will accept reporting and 
does the required logic checks for small releases (those under five 
barrels that do not involve a fatality, injury, property damage of 
$50,000 or more, as described in 49 CFR 195.50). However, the new 
online system does not exclude or hide questions that are not 
applicable to small releases. Therefore, PHMSA recommends that 
operators who report such events follow the shaded sections on the hard 
copy accident form and the guidance provided in the hard copy 
instructions while entering those events with the online system until a 
system enhancement is in place to further streamline the online 
reporting process.
    PHMSA appreciates the cooperation of all users of the new online 
system. For questions regarding filing, please contact Jamerson Pender 
at 202-366-0218 or by e-mail at [email protected].
    Any questions regarding this new online system requirement can be 
directed to the Office of Pipeline Safety operator helpline at 202-366-
8075.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2010.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2010-10018 Filed 4-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P