OMB Declines to Approve PHMSA Proposal to Modify the National Pipeline Mapping System
On March 23, 2017, OMB concluded its review of PHMSA’s proposed expansion of the data collected under the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). OMB elected to reapprove the current information collection supporting NPMS and not the revisions proposed by PHMSA.
In July 2014, PHMSA first issued a identifying 32 attributes the agency intended to collect from transmission operators in NPMS. PHMSA also included a positional accuracy requirement proposing that operators submit the centerline location of each transmission pipeline with an accuracy level of +/- five feet. In August 2015, PHMSA released a revised information collection proposal and scheduled a public workshop. In June 2016, PHMSA released a <third revision reducing the number of requested attributes and settling on a positional accuracy requirement of +/- 50 feet for natural gas transmission operators in populated areas (Class 2, 3, 4, an HCA, identified site, or where there is one or more buildings intended for human occupancy) and +/- 100 feet for all other gas pipeline segments. Operators of hazardous liquid pipelines would need to comply with the +/- 50 feet requirement for all pipelines. Since PHMSA is proposing to make these changes through an information collection request (ICR), the agency sent the revised proposal to OMB for approval on June 22, 2016. On March 23, 2017, OMB issued its decision to reapprove the previous ICR and not the revisions requested by PHMSA. Operators will need to continue to comply with the current NPMS requirements.
Please contact Brianne Kurdock at (202) 853-3462 or bkurdock@babstcalland.com, James Curry at (202) 853-3461 or jcurry@babstcalland.com, or Keith Coyle at (202) 853-3460 or kcoyle@babstcalland.com for more information.