Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Safety Management System

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA-2025-0018] AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin. SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to promote the implementation of a pipeline safety management system (PSMS) by regulated pipeline owners and operators. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Yoon by phone at 202-819-1547 or by email at joseph.yoon@dot.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PSMS provides a proactive and systematic approach to risk management of complex processes across the pipeline organization to operate safely and to improve safety performance. PSMS also provides a scalable framework for pipeline operators of varying size, scope, and level of PSMS implementation maturity. PHMSA encourages pipeline operators to develop and to implement PSMS programs, using a framework such as the one detailed in American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1173: Pipeline Safety Management Systems (API RP 1173). The framework should define the elements for identifying, managing, and reducing risks throughout the pipeline life cycle. Issuance of this advisory bulletin is consistent with section 205 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 ( Pub. L. 116-260 ), [ 1 ] which directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to “promote&rdqu…