PHMSA Advisory – Preventing Pipeline Hurricane Damage

Today the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) published an advisory in the Federal Register (80 FR 36042-36044) concerning “Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricanes”. The purpose of this advisory bulletin is to remind owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, particularly those with facilities located in offshore and inland areas, about the serious safety-related issues that can result from the passage of hurricanes. 

The actual advisory (ADB-2015-02) is only six paragraphs long so it does not provide any real detailed guidance to pipeline owners and operators; much less information than was provided in their April advisory on river flooding (ADB-2015-01) for example. It does, however, provide a brief listing of general principles that owners and operators should consider in developing their plan for protecting their pipelines from potential damage in the event of the passage of a hurricane.

With the second named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season already passed, this advisory is probably just a little late.