Federal agency promotes the voluntary adoption of Safety Management Systems to prevent pipeline incidents.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is encouraging pipeline owners and operators to voluntarily adopt safety management systems (SMS) to improve safety measures. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) supports this initiative citing the effectiveness of SMS in preventing incidents.
“We encourage all regulated pipeline owners and operators to fully embrace the continuous improvement and enhanced safety benefits that come with implementing a pipeline SMS,” said PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman.
This recommendation aligns with the NTSB’s previous advocacy for pipeline safety reforms following the 2010 crude oil spill in Michigan.
The advisory bulletin, published in the Federal Register, urges wider SMS adoption, particularly among smaller pipeline operators serving fewer than 25,000 customers. Roughly 86 percent of the 2.3-million-mile U.S. gas distribution network has implemented SMS. The 2020 Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act mandates federal and state authorities to promote and evaluate SMS frameworks, ensuring safer pipeline operations nationwide.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Duffy as he advocates for the remainder of the pipeline owners to adopt the improved safety standards.
- For Acting Administrator Kochman as he oversees the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Sources: Department of Transportation
