Date: 12/07/2016

To: All Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Operators in Minnesota

Subject: Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) REPORTABLE EVENT POLICY

This is a reminder of the pipeline related events which are considered a potential threat to public safety and must be promptly reported to the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety through the 24-hour Minnesota Duty Officer (MnDO) at 651-649-5451 or 1-800-422-0798.

• A OPS Reportable Event requiring notification is a release causing any of the following (Required For Intrastate):

  1. Evacuation of 10 or more people,
  2. Evacuation of a school, hospital or health care facility,
  3. Rerouting of traffic or closing a highway by public emergency responders,
  4. 50 or more customers out of service,
  5. Any media attention,
  6. Unintentional fire or explosion.

• Reportable for Natural Gas and LNG per CFR Title 49 Part §191.3 DEFINITIONS

  “Incident” means any of the following events:

  1. An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline or of liquefied natural gas or gas from an LNG facility and
     1. A death, or personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization; or
     2. Estimated property damage, excluding cost of gas lost, of the operator or others, or both, of $50,000 or more;
     3. Unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more.
  2. An event that results in an emergency shutdown of a LNG facility.
  3. An event that is significant, in the judgment of the operator, even though it did not meet the criteria of paragraphs (1) or (2).

• Reportable for Hazardous Liquids per CFR Title 49 Part §195.52 TELEPHONIC NOTICE OF CERTAIN ACCIDENTS.

  At the earliest practicable moment following discovery of a release of the hazardous liquid transported resulting in an event described in §195.50, the operator of the system shall give notice, in accordance with paragraph (b) of the section, of any failure that:

  1. Caused a death or a personal injury requiring hospitalization;
  2. Resulted in either a fire or explosion not intentionally set by the operator;
  3. Caused estimated property damage, including cost of cleanup and recovery, value or lost product, and damage to the property of the operator or others, or both, exceeding $50,000;
  4. Resulted in pollution of any stream, river, lake, reservoir, or other similar body of water that violated applicable water quality standards, caused a discoloration of the surface of the water, or adjoining shoreline, or deposited.
  5. In the judgment of the operator was significant even though it did not meet the criteria of any other paragraph of the section.

• Natural Gas and LNG Safety-Related Conditions per CFR Title 49 Part §191.23

  Filing of Natural Gas and LNG Safety Related Condition reports is required when existence of any conditions involving pipeline in service noted in CFR Title 49 Part §191.23.

  Each report of a safety-related condition under §191.23(a) must be filed (received by the Associate Administrator, OPS) in writing within five working days (not including Saturday, Sunday, or Federal Holidays) after the day a representative of the operator first determines that the condition exists, but not later than 10 
  working days after the day a representative of the operator discovers the condition. Separate conditions may be described in a single report if they are closely related. Reports may be transmitted by telefacsimile (fax), dial (202) 366-7128.

• Hazardous Liquid Safety-Related Conditions per CFR Title 49 Part §195.55

  Filing of Hazardous Liquid Safety-Related Conditions is required when existence of any conditions involving pipeline in service noted in CFR Title 49 Part §195.55.

  Each report of a safety-related condition under §195.55(a) must be filed (received by the Administrator) in writing within 5 working days (not including Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal holidays) after the day a representative of the operator first determines that the condition exists, but not later than 10 working days after the day a representative of the operator discovers the condition. Separate conditions may be described in a single report if they are closely related. To file a report by facsimile (fax), dial (202) 366-7128.

• General Report Submission Requirements

  1. General. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an operator must submit each report required by this part electronically to PHMSA unless an alternative reporting method is authorized in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.
  2. Exceptions. An operator is not required to submit a safety- related condition report §191.23 or §195.56 electronically.
  3. Safety-related conditions. An operator must submit concurrently to the applicable State agency a safety-related condition report required by §191.23 or §195.55 for an intrastate pipeline or when the State agency acts as an agent of the Secretary with respect to interstate pipelines.
  4. Alternate Reporting Method. If electronic reporting imposes an undue burden and hardship, the operator may submit a written request for an alternative reporting method to PHMSA