The Source - Winter 2008 - (Page 35)

the pipeline Distribution Integrity Management Programs By John Erickson The Distribution Integrity Management Programs (DIMP) rule is perhaps the most significant change to federal pipeline safety regulations since the federal government first began regulating pipeline safety in 1970. The principle of integrity management is to focus resources on those parts of a distribution pipeline network that are most in need of maintenance. Operators are constantly collecting information about the condition of their piping through leak surveys, corrosion surveys, and visual inspection when a section of pipe has been unearthed for maintenance or other reasons. According to a proposed rule published June 25 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), operators must periodically review inspection and maintenance records to determine if additional resources need to be applied to all or any part of the system. If the operator determines that part of its system is at higher risk of corrosion, for example, possibly because the pipe is uncoated and not cathodically protected, then under the DIMP rule that operator would have to take additional actions to reduce the risk of corrosion on that pipeline segment. Possible actions could include applying coating and/or cathodic protection to the pipe or replacing it with plastic over a period of years. The rule would leave it up to each operator to determine what needs to be done. APGA has been involved in the development of the DIMP rule from the very beginning, serving on PHMSA’s working group and on the Gas Piping Technology Committee (GPTC) that is writing guidance for complying with the DIMP rule. And, through the APGA Security and Integrity Foundation, a model DIMP plan is being developed to help small operators write their DIMP plans. The model plan will walk the user through the process of reviewing maintenance records to determine where maintenance resources should be focused and provide guidance for measuring the success of the program. Both the DIMP rule and the model plan are expected to be issued in mid-2009. CONTROL ROOM MANAGEMENT Investigations of several hazardous liquid pipeline accidents found that mistakes made by pipeline controllers may have caused the accident or made damages worse. In some cases fatigue was cited as a contributing factor. This led Congress to pass laws in 2002 and 2006 instructing PHMSA to issue regulations to address APGA has been involved in the development of the DIMP rule from the very beginning, serving on PHMSA’s working group and on the GPTC that is writing guidance for complying with the DIMP rule. THE SOURCE | WINTER 2008 , vOl. 1, ISSUE 2 35 “ ”

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Source - Winter 2008

The Source - Winter 2008 Contents First Person The Bridge to Renewable Energy Future Natural Gas: The Comfortable, Responsible Energy Solution Gas Hydrates: Poised for the Next Phase The Role of Natural Gas in a Carbon-Constrained World Natural Gas Prepays Taking the Leap to Natural Gas Vehicles The Pipeline Legislative Outlook Advertiser's Index Advertiser.com At Last

The Source - Winter 2008

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