The Compliance Group can provide your pipeline system with the total compliance solution. From operations manual development to physical mainline valve inspections, our professional staff can assist you in compliance with the federal and/or state pipeline safety requirements.
The Compliance Group can provide your pipeline system with the total compliance solution. From operations manual development to physical mainline valve inspections, our professional staff can assist you in compliance with the federal and/or state pipeline safety requirements.
A DOT pipeline operator’s compliance program is only as good as its Operations, Maintenance and Emergency Manual. The Compliance Group works with customers to create customized company-wide and pipeline-specific manuals that are useful, functional and user-friendly. This O&M manual is written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities specific to your pipeline. We believe that a high-quality Operations, Maintenance, and Emergency Manual provides the centerpiece of a company’s DOT compliance program.
The Compliance Group can update and improve your company’s operator qualification program and ensure that all operators performing covered tasks complete the qualification as required by the U.S. Department of transportation. Any person performing any task on a PHMSA regulated pipeline must be qualified to perform that task. Our team of experts can assess the tasks your operators perform, identify all covered tasks, develop or modify training programs and establish or improve your written qualification program. Additionally, The Compliance Group can make sure your program is extend to your contractors.
The Compliance Group will implement and update a Public Awareness program. This will consist of establishing a continuing program to educate the public on the use of a one-call notification system and possible hazards associated with the pipeline.
The Compliance Group’s program is directed at all of the different audience groups that may interact with our pipeline. These groups include:
Americans expect that the pipelines through their communities and sensitive environments will pose no danger to life, property or the environment. DOT Orders 192 (natural gas pipelines) and DOT Orders 195 (liquid product pipelines) require operators to develop and follow a written integrity management program for gas pipelines located where a rupture could impact high-consequence areas (HCA). This program will address the risks on each covered transmission pipeline segment. Whether your company operates one pipeline or a complex interstate network, The Compliance Group can assist you in developing a plan that satisfies your particular regulatory requirements.
A DOT approved drug and alcohol plan is required (49 CFR Part 199). Pipeline personnel must be enrolled in a drug plan that randomly selects 25 percent of the participants to be tested on an annual basis. The Drug and Alcohol Division of The Compliance Group is designed to provide auditing for our clients specific requirements. This division ensures that the contract companies working for our clients meet the personalized requirements established by them (i.e. written policies, specific testing protocol, random drug/alcohol testing, annual drug/alcohol testing, etc). An evaluation of the contract companies’ program and testing protocol is performed as well as on-going monitoring of their program and employees. Assistance is given to the contract companies in order to meet all of the clients’ requirements. This is accomplished with the use of model policies, suggestions for revisions, and/or additions to the existing program. This division of The Compliance Group acts as a “liaison” between the contract companies and our clients. The ultimate goal for all involved is to successfully complete the work required and to complete it as safely as possible. The Compliance Group is dedicated in facilitating the process and providing our expertise in order to accomplish this mutual goal.
A Control Room Management Program is required for those controller’s working in a control room who monitor and control all or part of a pipeline facility through a SCADA system. The regulatory citation for the following is listed in 49 CFR 192.631 (gas pipelines) and 195.446 (liquid pipelines).
Regulatory Requirement
Each operator must have and follow written control room management procedures that implement the requirements of this section, except that for each control room where an operator’s activities are limited to either or both of:
Qualification of personnel involves training, written testing and work performance field evaluations. The Compliance Group can conduct this training, written testing and/or field evaluations at your location.
Class Location determination is essential to determining your required pipeline inspection frequencies.
Identifying the required frequency of inspections requires knowledge of the regulations. Patrolling, Leak surveys, valve inspections are just a few of those inspections that have different frequencies. The Compliance Group, Inc. can assist you with determination of frequencies particular for your pipeline system.
| CLASS LOCATION | HIGHWAY & RAILROAD CROSSINGS | AT ALL OTHER PLACES |
| 1 & 2 | 2 times per calendar year; not to exceed 7½ months between patrols | Once per calendar year; not to exceed 15 months between patrols |
| 3 | 4 times per calendar year; not to exceed 4½ months between patrols | 2 times per calendar year; not to exceed 7½ months between patrols |
| 4 | 4 times per calendar year; not to exceed 4½ months between patrols | 4 times per calendar year; not to exceed 4½ months between patrols |
The Compliance Group Professionals conduct the following inspections:
Our Maintenance Department can assist you in any of your pipeline repairs including:
The Compliance Group can handle your One Call system. We also manage one call tickets issued, personnel line locates and excavation watches. Filtering one calls is very time consuming. The Compliance Group currently filters thousands of one calls per day for various customers in various states. Working with your field personnel, our in-house staff will filter one calls and ensure your field personnel know of any potential risk for third party damage.
Our field personnel are also equipped with state of the art pipeline locating equipment. If your staff is not equipped, we can easily conduct your one call locates within the timeframe specified and work directly with the contractor to ensure asset protection.
Jurisdictional pipeline operators are required to develop a written public awareness program to advise affected municipalities, school districts, businesses, and residents of pipeline locations. Public awareness and understanding of pipeline operations is vital to the continued safe operation of pipelines. Public awareness programs should illustrate that pipelines are the major transportation system for petroleum products and natural gas in the United States, how pipelines function, and the public’s responsibilities to help prevent damage to pipelines. Program evaluation is a continual process and as methods of program performance measurement become available they should be incorporated into your program.
The Compliance group can identify potential weaknesses and determine how your company compares to commonly accepted industry practices by means of a non-adversarial audit conducted by a team of experts. The Compliance Group can provide verbal reports or detailed documentation that can be used for management purposes and planning for future actions.
Audits may be limited to procedures and manuals, or they may extend into all operations and maintenance activities, including the associated documentation.
PHMSA Pre-Audit Services Include:
