The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (a US Department of Transportation agency) (PHMSA) recently released an interim final rule (IFR) establishing procedures to implement new imminent hazard authority created by the PIPES Act of 2016. The Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act and PHMSA’s new rule give the agency the authority – for the first time – to issue emergency orders to all or a segment of owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipelines to abate an imminent hazard.
This new tool is intended to augment PHMSA’s existing authorities by giving the agency the ability to respond swiftly to conditions that pose a substantial threat to health and safety. President Obama signed the PIPES Act into law on June 22, 2016.