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The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is currently collecting responses from gas distribution operators concerning their awareness and voluntary implementation of Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS). All gas distribution operators are encouraged to complete the short survey, which can be found on PHMSA’s Pipeline Compliance Portal which can be accessed at https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/PHMSAPortal2/. Submissions deadline has been extended to October 10, 2023.*

The survey is in response to a Congressional mandate to PHMSA in the PIPES Act of 2020, which mandated that PHMSA perform a study describing:

1. # of natural gas distribution systems that have implemented PSMS in accordance with API RP 1173
2. The progress made by operators of natural gas distribution systems in implementing PSMS in accordance with API RP 1173
3. The feasibility of an operator to implement PSMS in accordance with API RP 1173, measured by
1. # of customers, and
2. Amount of natural gas transported

It is critical that all natural gas distribution operators respond to this survey regardless of their answers to the survey questions. APGA believes it is imperative that the distribution industry demonstrates an understanding of the survey questions and a willingness to respond. Congress asked PHMSA to report back the “feasibility of an operator to implement PSMS in accordance with 1173”. In order to provide concrete data concerning where the threshold exists between PSMS per API RP 1173 and the concepts that govern pipeline safety management systems principles, maximum industry participation in the survey is needed.

Instructions for Submitting PSMS Collection Request:

• Go to the same PHMSA Portal has used for 7100.1 Annual Reports at https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov/PHMSAPortal2/
• Once logged in, please click Annual Reports from the left-hand menu. You should then see GD SMS as the far right tab running along the middle of your screen. Select that tab & then choose Create SMS Survey.

Note: Please be sure to click SUBMIT after you complete the survey.

To learn more about PSMS: https://apga.org/operationssafety/compliancetools/psms-planning

For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-905-2904 or by email at ekurilla@apga.org.

*Update: The deadline was extended from September 25 to October 10.