PHMSA proposes to amend the damage prevention regulations to (1) establish criteria and procedures for determining the adequacy of state pipeline excavation damage prevention enforcement programs; (2) establish an administrative process for making adequacy determinations; (3) establish the Federal requirements PHMSA will enforce in states with inadequate excavation damage prevention enforcement programs; and (4) establish the adjudication process for administrative enforcement proceedings. NPRM, 77 Fed. Reg. 19800 (April 2, 2012). As required under the PIPES Act of 2006, PHMSA proposes to establish review criteria for state damage prevention law enforcement programs in order to conduct civil enforcement against excavators for violating Federal excavation standards. Comments are due by June 1, 2012. Click here for the NPRM. This proposed rulemaking is consistent with Section 3 of the 2012 amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act by limiting exemptions for excavators. See 49 U.S.C. 6103(a), amended by Pub. L. 112-90 (2012).