distribution lists. In addition to this direct program, technical articles about the Federal safety standards, or reprints of current standards, have been published by three industry journals and one equipment catalog used by the designers of gas pipeline systems. CERTIFICATES AND AGREEMENTS UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE ACT Section 5 of the Act provides for participation by the States in the pipeline safety program, either through the filing of a Section 5 (a) certification by the State or the State's entering into a Section 5 (b) agreement with the Department. Appendix 9 shows that 50 jurisdictions, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, submitted certifications or entered into agreements under Section 5 of the Act. Two jurisdictions, Louisiana and New Jersey, did not participate in the program in 1971. While 49 jurisdictions were covered under Section 5 (a) certifications during 1970, in 1971 this figure decreased because the exception in Section 5 (a) permitting certification without regard to adequacy of State statutes relating to injunctive and monetary sanctions expired in August 1970. This required the States that did not have adequate injunctive and monetary sanctions to enter into Section 5(b) agreements in August 1971, when their Section 5(a) certifications expired. Consequently, State participation under Section 5 (b) agreements increased. Appendix 9 also lists the States which on December 31, 1971, were serving as agents of the Department regarding interstate transmission facilities located in those States. These agency relationships will continue until the Department has a field staff capable of undertaking enforcement of the regulations covering interstate systems. The Department did not reject any Section 5 (a) certifications or terminate any Section 5 (b) agreements during the calendar year. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION In testimony before the Committees of Congress and in subsequent correspondence, the Department recommended: 1. Amendment of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 as follows: 2. (a) To provide that the exception in Section 5(a) that permits certification for two years without regard to injunctive and monetary sanctions be extended to five years. This would provide certain States with time to amend their laws to be substantially the same as related provisions of the Act. (b) To provide legislative authorization, by an Amendment of the Department of Transportation Act to permit the transfer of the liquid pipeline safety functions from the Federal Railroad Administration to the Office of the Secretary where the liquid and gas pipeline functions can be carried out by a single organizational unit. TECHNICAL PIPELINE SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENTS The Act provides for a Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee,which includes members from government agencies, industry, and general public, to review and comment on the technical feasibility, reasonableness and practicability of all proposed Federal pipeline safety standards. The Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee met on April 13 and 14, 1971. In accordance with Section 4 of the Act the Committee evaluated the corrosion control requirements of the Federal safety standards. Its report on the proposals, together with a dissenting comment and recommendation, are presented in Appendix 4. 71-018 O 72-8 COOPERATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES Federal Power Commission There have been frequent exchanges between the Department and the Federal Power Commission on technical aspects of the Federal safety standards and the various amendments to the regulations as they have been developed. The FPC furnishes one of the governmental members of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee. Department of the Interior The Department has continued to cooperate with the Department of the Interior on activities relating to the Trans-Alaska pipeline, the U.S. Energy Outlook Study of the National Petroleum Council, Emergency Petroleum and Gas Administration planning, and on environmental aspects of safety regulations for offshore pipeline facilities. Department of State The Office of Pipeline Safety participated in the 6th Environmental Protection Agency The Department joined the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the feasibility of a study of failure modes and effect analysis relating to the environmental aspects of oil and gas facilities. Department of Labor The Department has maintained close liaison with the Department of Labor on matters of common interest relating to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations as they interface with Federal pipeline safety standards. |