http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=28 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site related to Pipelines & Hazardous Materials en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?subject=28 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2534 On September 10, 2009, the Inspector General testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations (PHMSA) Special Permits and Approvals Program. The Inspector General highlighted concerns with how PHMSA authorizes transport of hazardous materials under these regulatory exemptions across three areas:(1) PHMSA grants special permits and approvals without assessing applicants prior incidents and enforcement violations or coordinating with other affected Operating Administrations. (2) PHMSAs riskbased oversight criteria do not target holders of special permits and approvals for compliance reviews.(3) PHMSA has not addressed longstanding safety issues raised by the OIG, FAA, and the NTSB. The Inspector General stated that these issues call into question the effectiveness of PHMSAs process for granting special permits and approvals. PHMSA recently developed an action plan to address these and other issues in response to the OIGs July 2009 management advisory and Departmental direction. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2534 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2322 The Office of Inspector General plans to audit the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Special Permits and Approvals Program. It is important that PHMSA work with other Operating Administrations in overseeing special authorizations to ensure hazardous materials are safely packaged and transported. Our audit objectives are to assess the effectiveness of PHMSAs policies and processes for reviewing and coordinating with the affected Operating Administration before authorizing a special permit, an approval, or a special authorization for limited quantity or consumer commodity exceptions. We will also assess PHMSAs and other Operating Administrations oversight and enforcement of approved parties compliance with the terms and conditions of special permits, approvals, and limited quantity or consumer commodity exceptions. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2322 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2318 On June 25, 2008, the Inspector General testified before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on actions taken by and needed from the Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance pipeline security. Within DOT, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) oversees pipeline safety, while the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within DHS oversees securityrelated matters. In 2006, PHMSA and TSA signed a pipeline security annex to establish clear lines of authority and responsibility over pipeline security matters. The annex is part of a Memorandum of Understanding that DOT and DHS signed in 2004 to facilitate transportation security measures. The Inspector General noted that PHMSA and TSA have made considerable progress toward fulfilling the annex provisions but stated that further actions are needed as the current situation is far from an “end state” for enhancing the security of the Nations pipeline system. As required by the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006, the Office of Inspector General recently reviewed PHMSAs and TSAs steps toward implementing the annex. The Inspector Generals testimony focused on actions recommended as a result of that review. Specifically, the Inspector General stated that PHMSA, in collaboration with TSA, must (1) finalize the action plan for implementing the annex provisions and program elements and effectively execute the action plan, (2) amend the annex to clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of PHMSA and TSA in overseeing and enforcing security regulations for liquid natural gas operators, and (3) maximize resources for assessing pipeline operators security plans and guidance to ensure effective and timely execution of congressional mandates in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2318 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2304 As required by the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006, we assessed Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) actions taken to implement a pipeline security annex. The annex is part of a Memorandum of Understanding, which DOT and DHS signed in 2004 to facilitate transportation security measures. Within DOT, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) has responsibility for pipeline security and safety. Within DHS, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for pipeline security. In 2006, PHMSA and TSA signed the annex to establish clear lines of authority and responsibility over pipeline security matters. We found that the PHMSA and TSA have taken initial steps toward formulating an action plan to implement the provisions of the annex; however, further actions are needed as the current situation is far from an “end state” for enhancing the security of the Nations pipeline system.We recommended that PHMSA collaborate with TSA to complete the following actions: (1) finalize the action plan for implementing the annex provisions and program elements and effectively execute the action plan, (2) amend the annex to clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of PHMSA and TSA in overseeing and enforcing security regulations for liquid natural gas operators, and (3) maximize the strategy used to assess pipeline operators security plans and guidance to ensure effective and timely execution of congressional mandates in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2304 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2063 As required by the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006, the Office of Inspector General will review actions PHMSA has taken to implement the security annex to the MOU signed by PHMSA and TSA on August 9, 2006 to establish clear lines of authority and responsibility over pipeline security matters. As required by the act, the review will: (1) provide the implementation status of the program elements outlined in the annex; (2) determine the role, responsibility, and authority of PHMSA regarding pipeline security; (3) assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the process by which PHMSA communicates and coordinates with TSA on matters relating to pipeline security; and (4) address the adequacy of security standards for gas and oil pipelines. Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2063 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1890 On September 18, we issued our final report on Integrity Threats to Hazardous Liquid Pipelines. We found that hazardous liquid pipeline operators had repaired all 409 threats we examined, with about 98 percent of the repairs completed within established timeframes. While progress is being made in identifying, repairing, and overseeing integrity threats, several challenges still remain. These include the need to improve the accuracy of operator annual reports submitted to the Office of Pipeline Safety and to ensure the effective use of pipeline inspection technology or smart pigs. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration agreed with both of our recommendations and believes it has already met the intent of these recommendations. Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1890 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1882 On August 29, we initiated an audit of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Special Permits and Approvals Program. The objective of this audit is to determine the effectiveness of PHMSAs process for reviewing and coordinating with the affected Operating Administration before authorizing a special permit, an approval, or a special authorization for limited quantity or consumer commodity exceptions. We will also assess PHMSAs and the other Operating Administrations oversight and enforcement of approved parties compliance with the terms and conditions of special permits, approvals, and limited quantity or consumer commodity exceptions. Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1882 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1794 On April 27, the Principal Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and Evaluation testified before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality regarding pipeline safety. The testimony focused on the progress and remaining challenges in strengthening pipeline safety. The key points that were covered included: (1) the progress made in implementing integrity management programs for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline systems, (2) establishing an integrity management program for gas distribution pipeline systems, (3) and the need for clearer lines of authority to address pipeline security and responding to disasters. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1794 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1764 On March 16, the Acting Inspector General testified before the House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines regarding Pipeline Safety. The testimony focused on the progress and remaining challenges in strengthening pipeline safety. Key points covered progress made in implementing integrity management programs for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline systems, establishing an integrity management program for gas distribution pipeline systems, and the need for clearer lines of authority to address pipeline security and responding to disasters. Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1764 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1687 On October 20, we issued our report on DOTs progress in implementing congressional mandates and other safety recommendations for improving pipeline and hazardous materials safety. While progress has been made, the Department needs to continue its focus on reducing the number of outstanding congressional mandates and NTSB recommendations as there remain some longstanding pipeline and hazardous materials congressional mandates and NTSB safety recommendations, some more than a decade old. Senior officials also need to focus on meeting their statutory requirements when responding to NTSB recommendations to assure they have been handled in a timely manner and properly addressed.We want to give the Department the opportunity to determine if procedural deficiencies identified in this report extend beyond pipeline and hazardous safety recommendations and to determine if there is a need to develop a Departmentwide system for monitoring and tracking NTSB recommendations. Therefore, we are making no formal recommendations at this time. Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1687