Federal Pipeline Safety Agency to Revise Annual Gas Distribution Report

On February 13, 2013, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to revise its annual report for gas distribution systems.  According to the notice, PHMSA would like operators to specify the commodity transported in their distribution systems, to identify their operating status (i.e., as a municipal, privately-owned, or other system), to modify the category of causes for pipeline leaks, and to include additional categories of causes for excavation damage.  PHMSA is seeking public comment on these proposals before sending the revised report to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.