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DOT/PHMSA RIN: 2137-AE36 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: Pipeline Safety: Completing Regulation of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines Operating at Low Stress 
Abstract: This rulemaking would amend pipeline safety regulations to apply safety regulation to rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines that are not covered by safety regulations in 49 CFR part 195. This change complies with a mandate in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act). Until 2008, unless a rural low stress pipeline crossed a commercially navigable waterway, a hazardous liquid pipeline operating at low-stress in a rural area was not regulated under Federal pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR part 195. Section four of the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act), requires PHMSA to "issue regulations subjecting low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines to the same standards and regulations as other hazardous liquid pipelines." The Act also provides that the new regulations could be issued in phases. PHMSA decided to implement the PIPES Act mandate in phases, in part because PHMSA did not have complete data on the extent of rural low stress pipelines that would be covered by the statutory mandate. Phase one, published in a final rule on June 3, 2008, applied full part 195 regulation to the higher-risk, larger-diameter, rural low-stress pipelines, i.e., those low-stress pipelines with a diameter of 8 5/8-inches or greater located in or within one-half mile of an unusually sensitive area (USA). These are the rural low stress pipelines that have more potential to cause harm to unusually sensitive areas. In phase two (this rulemaking), we are applying part 195 safety requirements to all rural low-stress pipelines not included in the phase one rule. Thus, the pipelines addressed by this rulemaking are those rural low-stress pipelines of any diameter located more than one-half mile from a USA and those less than 8 5/8 inches in diameter located within one-half mile of a USA. 
Agency: Department of Transportation(DOT)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 49 CFR 195   
Legal Authority: 49 USC 5103, 49 USC 60102, 49 USC 60104,    49 USC 60108, 49 USC 60109, 49 USC 60118    and 49 CFR 1.53   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  06/22/2010  75 FR 35366   
NPRM Comment Period End  08/23/2010    
Final Rule  05/05/2011  76 FR 25576   
Final Action Effective  10/01/2011    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Information URL: www.regulations.gov   Public Comment URL: www.regulations.gov  
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Related RINs: Related to 2137-AD98 
Agency Contact:
Lane Miller
Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE,
Washington, DC 20590
Phone:405-954-4969
Email: lane.miller@dot.gov