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GAO-24-106881 1 (2024-06-03)

handle is hein.gao/gaoqdz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Why This Matters Key Takeaways Methane, the primary component of natural gas, can be emitted from pipeline facilities through unintentional leaks or through intentional releases of gas, such as blowdowns associated with maintenance and emergency response activities. According to the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), emissions from gas pipeline systems are a risk to public safety and contribute to climate change. Operators are required to develop and follow manuals of written procedures for conducting pipeline operations, maintenance, and emergency response activities. The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020) includes requirements for pipeline operators to update these operation and maintenance plans to address (1) eliminating hazardous leaks, (2) minimizing releases of natural gas, and (3) replacing or remediating pipelines known to leak. The act also includes requirements for PHMSA or the appropriate state authority to review these updated plans. The PIPES Act of 2020 also includes a provision for us to examine PHMSA's and states' reviews of pipeline operators' updated plans.' This report includes information on the process PHMSA and states used to review operators' updated plans, operator and inspector challenges associated with updating and reviewing these plans, and selected stakeholders' views on ways to further minimize natural gas emissions from pipelines without compromising safety. * PHMSA's process for reviewing pipeline operators' updated operations and maintenance plans consisted of (1) notifying pipeline operators of the PIPES Act of 2020 requirements, (2) developing guidance and training for federal and state pipeline inspectors, (3) conducting outreach to the public, and (4) reviewing operators' updated plans. * PHMSA and most states completed reviews of operators' plans by the end of 2022. PHMSA and state inspectors generally found that operators had complied with PIPES Act of 2020 requirements for updating their operation and maintenance plans. PHMSA officials attributed these satisfactory results to existing programs, operator initiatives, and other efforts. * The selected operators and industry associations we spoke with most frequently cited as a challenge the uncertainty of PHMSA's and states' expectations for how to address the PIPES Act of 2020 requirements in the updated plans. PHMSA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on leak detection and repair that proposes to codify, or incorporate, the statutory requirements into its regulations and includes more detailed requirements for leak detection and repair of gas pipelines. Page 1 GAO-24-106881 Gas Pipelines Page 1 GAO-24-106881 Gas Pipelines

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