PHMSA Unveils Pipeline Safety Inspection Priorities

On July 17, 2025, PHMSA's Acting Associate Administrator, Linda Daugherty issued a memorandum establishing the Office of Pipeline Safety's (OPS) top inspection and enforcement priorities, aiming to maximize safety impacts and resource efficiency in order to provide the greatest positive impact on pipeline safety. The establishment of five inspection and enforcement priorities is based on incident and accident data, inspection and investigation findings, and input from staff and other stakeholders.

PHMSA’s Risk-Ranking Index Model (RRIM) uses data to assign pipeline facilities to a specific risk tier and determines the highest inspection priorities. The RRIM weights pipeline threats and consequences to calculate a risk score, ultimately assigning a pipeline system to a Risk Tier and maximum Time Since Last Inspection ranging from 1 to 8 years.

The following five priorities will guide PHMSA’s efforts in conducting inspections and investigations, as well as initiating enforcement actions.

1. Incidents and Accidents: Targeting common causes like corrosion, third-party damage, and equipment failure, with emphasis on integrity management and post-event reporting.

   
   

2. High and Moderate Consequence Areas: Enhancing risk-based integrity programs in populated zones, waterways, and roadways for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.

   
   

3. Control Room Management and Leak Detection: Improving human factors, SCADA systems, and procedures for emergency response, including cyber threats.

   
   

4. Damage Prevention: Strengthening programs to reduce third-party excavations via patrols, awareness, and data integration.

   
   

5. Transactions and Due Diligence: Ensuring compliance during asset sales, including record transfers, OPID updates, and continuity of enforcement orders.

PHMSA I&E staff will also prioritize inspections to confirm operator compliance with recent rulemakings developed in response to significant accidents and incidents. These inspections include requirements for rupture mitigation valves, verification of pipeline materials, reconfirmation of Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure, and Underground Natural Gas Storage facility safety. 

State regulators are urged to align with these DOT-guided priorities to protect public safety, property, and the environment. The memo clarifies it creates no enforceable rights and allows flexibility for updates.

Refer to the following links for more details:

1. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/news/usdot-introduces-data-driven-enforcement-priorities-strengthen-pipeline-safety

2. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-08/RRIM-Summary.pdf

3. RRIM Documentation 2024 | PHMSA

4. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/inspections/effort-allocation-overview#:~:text=The%20Risk%2DRanking%20Index%20Model,the%20highest%20priorities%20for%20inspectio

RegSafe believes that this memo further reinforces PHMSA’s continued commitment to a risk-based approach to pipeline safety operations, maintenance and compliance.