20174 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 77 / Monday, April 23, 2007 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

[Docket No. PHMSA–2007–27954] 

Pipeline Safety: Workshop on 

‘‘Prevention Through People’’ Initiative 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of public workshop. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

first public workshop on PHMSA’s 

‘‘Prevention Through People’’ (PTP) 

initiative. This workshop will gather 

information about noteworthy pipeline 

safety and integrity practices in control 

room operations, including measures for 

managing human risk factors such as 

fatigue. The information gathered will 

be used to develop an approach to 

control room management that enhances 

safety. 

DATES: The workshop will be held on 

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 from 8:30 

a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. 

ADDRESSES: The workshop will take 

place at the National Transportation 

Safety Board (NTSB) Conference Center, 

429 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, 

DC 20594. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information regarding this 

workshop contact Byron Coy at (609) 

989–2180, or by e-mail at 

byron.coy@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Workshop Details 

Members of the public may attend the 

workshop. PHMSA will post any 

additional information or changes on its 

Web page (http://www.phmsa.dot.gov) 

approximately 15 days before the 

workshop date. 

Comments should reference Docket 

No. PHMSA–2007–27954 and may be 

submitted in the following ways: 

• DOT Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. 

To submit comments on the DOT 

electronic docket site, click ‘‘Comment/ 

Submissions,’’ click ‘‘Continue,’’ fill in 

the requested information, click 

‘‘Continue,’’ enter your comment, then 

click ‘‘Submit.’’

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Management System: 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

0001. 

• Hand Delivery: DOT Docket 

Management System; Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• E-Gov Web site: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. This site allows 

the public to enter comments on any 

Federal Register notice issued by any 

agency. 

Instructions: You should identify the 

docket number, PHMSA–2007–27954, at 

the beginning of your comments. If you 

submit your comments by mail, you 

should submit two copies. If you wish 

to receive confirmation that PHMSA 

received your comments, you should 

include a self-addressed stamped 

postcard. Internet users may submit 

comments at http:// 

www.regulations.gov, and may access all 

comments received by DOT at http:// 

dms.dot.gov by performing a simple 

search for the docket number. 

Note: All comments will be posted without 

changes or edits to http://dms.dot.gov 

including any personal information 

provided. 

Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may 

search the electronic form of all 

comments received for any of our 

dockets. You may review DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Information on Services for 

Individuals with Disabilities: For 

information on facilities or services for 

individuals with disabilities, or to 

request special assistance at the 

workshop, please contact Byron Coy at 

(609) 989–2180 by May 18, 2007. 

II. Background 

Sections 12 and 19 of the Pipeline 

Integrity, Protection, Enforcement and 

Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act), Public 

Law 109–468, direct PHMSA to address 

various risks to pipeline integrity in 

which people play a large role, 

including fatigue and other safety 

concerns in control room management. 

PHMSA plans to use its PTP initiative 

to address these PIPES Act 

requirements. 

Historically, PHMSA’s pipeline 

integrity management (IM) efforts were 

driven by making best use of risk data 

to prioritize risk control efforts. Program 

logic dictated the focus on the physical 

and structural soundness of the pipe 

and other infrastructure components to 

assure that hazardous liquids and 

natural gas are safely transported. IM 

programs over the past several years are 

successfully driving down the leading 

risks of third party damage and 

corrosion. These programs help 

operators understand the threats 

affecting the integrity of their systems 

and implement appropriate actions to 

mitigate risks associated with these 

threats. Third party damage and 

corrosion are only part of the safety 

picture. The next logical area of program 

development is to examine the role of 

people, including control center 

operators. Human error, including those 

caused by mistake or fatigue, can cause 

or exacerbate events involving releases 

leading to safety impacts. 

PHMSA is considering a plan to 

recognize the importance of human 

interactions and opportunities for 

preventing risk, both errors and 

mitigating actions, to pipeline system 

integrity by instituting a PTP program. 

This effort would draw together all 

existing program components both 

regulatory and non-regulatory. The PTP 

program would be designed as a holistic 

part of the IM program efforts. 

Several existing regulations focus on 

the role of people in effectively 

managing safety. These include 

regulations on damage prevention 

programs (§§ 192.614 and 195.442), 

public awareness (§§ 192.616 and 

195.440), and qualification of pipeline 

personnel (§ 192.801 and subpart G of 

part 195). In the future, PHMSA plans 

to address additional risks associated 

with human factors as well as the 

opportunities for people to mitigate 

risks. Explicitly incorporating a PTP 

element in IM plans would emphasize 

the role of people both in contributing 

to and in reducing risk. PHMSA 

believes that this may be the best means 

of fostering a holistic approach to 

managing the safety impact of people on 

the integrity of pipelines. In addition to 

regulations, PHMSA plans to recognize 

and communicate noteworthy best 

practices in PTP. 

PHMSA recently reported to Congress 

on its work examining control room 

management issues. This report, titled 

‘‘Qualification of Pipeline Personnel,’’ is 

the culmination of a four-year effort 

examining control room issues in PTP. 

Controllers are individuals who operate 

computer-based systems for monitoring 

and controlling the operations of 

pipelines. Although the project began 

with examination of qualification 

issues, during the course of the project, 

we identified other control room issues 

impacting the safety performance of 

these individuals. PHMSA concluded 

that validating the adequacy of 

controller-related processes, procedures, 

training and the controllers’ credentials 

would improve management of control 

rooms, enhancing safety for the public, 

environment and pipeline employees. 

PHMSA also identified areas in which 

additional measures could enhance 


jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 77 / Monday, April 23, 2007 / Notices 20175 

control room safety and minimize risk 

associated with fatigue and interaction 

with computer equipment. These areas 

include annual validation of controller 

qualifications by senior level executives 

of pipeline companies, clearly defined 

responsibilities for controllers in 

responding to abnormal operating 

conditions, the use of formalized 

procedures for information exchange 

during shift turnover, and clearly 

established shift lengths combined with 

education on strategies to reduce the 

contribution of non-work activities to 

fatigue. 

This workshop will build on work 

done in the June 2006 workshop on 

controller issues. PHMSA will include 

panels drawn from the entire enterprise 

to discuss noteworthy practices in the 

various areas. We anticipate panels on 

fatigue and other control room 

management issues. These issues 

include both those directly relating to 

the individuals, such as qualifications 

and fatigue, as well as the systems and 

processes controllers use that can affect 

pipeline safety and integrity. 

In particular, PHMSA seeks 

information about best practices and 

standards that would accomplish the 

following: 

1. Clearly define the roles and 

responsibilities of controllers to ensure 

their prompt and appropriate response 

to abnormal operating conditions. 

2. Formalize procedures for recording 

critical information and for exchanging 

information during shift turn-over. 

3. Establish shift lengths and schedule 

rotations to protect against the onset of 

fatigue, and educate controllers and 

their supervisors in fatigue mitigation 

strategies and how non-work activities 

contribute to fatigue. 

4. Periodically review the supervisory 

control and data acquisition systems 

(SCADA) displays to insure controllers 

are getting clear and reliable 

information from field stations and 

devices. 

5. Periodically audit alarm 

configurations and handling procedures 

to provide confidence in alarm signals 

and to ensure controller effectiveness. 

6. Involve controllers when planning 

and implementing changes in 

operations, and maintain strong 

communications between controllers 

and field personnel. 

7. Determine how to establish, 

maintain, and review controller 

qualifications, abilities and performance 

metrics, with particular attention to 

response to abnormal operating 

conditions. 

8. Analyze operating experience 

including accidents and incidents for 

possible involvement of the SCADA 

system, controller performance, and 

fatigue. 

9. Validate the adequacy of controllerrelated procedures, training and the 

qualifications of controllers, possibly 

annually through involvement by senior 

level executives of pipeline companies. 

PHMSA also expressly seeks 

comments on the potential for including 

PTP within IM. 

III. Preliminary Workshop Agenda 

The preliminary agenda for this 

workshop includes briefings on the 

following topics: 

• Prevention through People’

Overview. 

• Purpose and Goals of Workshop. 

• Fatigue and SCADA–NTSB. 

• Fatigue-Panel Discussion. 

• Computer Interface and Change 

Management—Panel Discussion. 

• Control Room Practices—Panel 

Discussion. 

• Risk Approach to Control Room 

Management—PHMSA. 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60117. 

Issued in Washington, DC on April 17, 

2007. 

Joy Kadnar, 

Director, Office of Engineering and Emergency 

Support. 

[FR Doc. 07–1987 Filed 4–18–07; 10:40 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

[Docket No. PHMSA–04–19856] 

Pipeline Safety: Senior Executive 

Signature and Certification of Integrity 

Management Program Performance 

Reports 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of advisory 

bulletin. 

SUMMARY: On December 29, 2006, the 

Pipeline Inspection, Protection, 

Enforcement and Safety Act was signed 

into law. The law, known as the PIPES 

Act, includes a provision requiring the 

senior executive officers of pipeline 

operating companies to certify annual 

and semiannual pipeline integrity 

management program performance 

reports. This advisory provides 

information to assist pipeline operators 

with certifying future submissions of 

annual and semiannual pipeline 

integrity management program 

performance reports. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Zach Barrett at (405) 954–5559 or by email at 

zach.barrett@dot.gov; or Wayne Lemoi 

at (404) 832–1160, or by e-mail at 

wayne.lemoi@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Section 16 of the PIPES Act requires 

PHMSA to establish procedures for a 

pipeline operator’s senior executive 

officer to certify annual and semiannual 

pipeline integrity management program 

performance reports with their 

signature. Specifically, the law requires 

each report to include a signed 

statement certifying that the senior 

executive officer has reviewed the 

report and to the best of the senior 

executive officer’s knowledge and 

belief, this report is true and complete. 

PHMSA is modifying its electronic 

filing to assist pipeline operators with 

complying with section 16 of the PIPES 

Act electronically. In addition, this 

advisory informs operators not filing 

electronically how to comply with 

section 16. 

II. Advisory Bulletin ADB–07–01 

To: Operators of Natural Gas and 

Hazardous Liquid Pipelines. 

Subject: Senior Executive Officer 

Signature and Certification of Integrity 

Management Program Performance 

Reports. 

Purpose: To inform operators of 

natural gas and hazardous liquid 

pipelines on how to meet the 

requirement for a senior executive 

officer’s signature and certification on 

pipeline integrity management program 

(IMP) performance reports. 

Advisory: Section 16 of the PIPES Act 

requires pipeline operators to have a 

senior executive officer of the company 

sign and certify annual and semiannual 

IMP performance reports. By signing, 

the senior executive officer is certifying 

that the senior executive officer has 

reviewed the report and to the best of 

the senior executive officer’s knowledge 

and belief, this report is true and 

complete. To assist pipeline operators 

with complying with the section 16 

requirement, we are providing the 

following procedures for those operators 

of natural gas pipelines and hazardous 

liquid pipelines required to file IMP 

reports. Pipeline operators should 

follow these procedures for future 

submissions of annual and semiannual 

IMP performance reports. 

Gas Integrity Management Program 

Performance Measures Reports 

Operators of gas transmission 

pipelines are required by 49 CFR 


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