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Overview
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The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finalized the
Gas Integrity Management Rule on December 15, 2003, that requires all gas transmission companies institute integrity management programs for
High
Consequence Areas (HCA). This rule mandates pipeline operators identify all HCAs and increase pipeline integrity measures to ensure greater safety in these areas. Each operator is to conduct a baseline assessment and subsequent reassessments of all pipeline segments in HCAs and characterize applicable threats to segments’ mechanical integrity. It further requires that operators mitigate and/or remediate significant defects and monitor the effectiveness of their integrity management program.
In response to this rule, Northern developed an integrity management program that outlines a formal, comprehensive process to identify, assess, remediate, and continually evaluate threats to the integrity of pipeline segments that, in the event of failure, could impact HCAs. It is comprised of five essential elements: integrity management, performance measurement, communications, management of change, and quality management, as defined in the introduction.
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Northern Natural Gas. All rights reserved. |
