The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB or the Board) is initiating a new safety study regarding gas pipeline integrity management.  The NTSB has authority to investigate pipeline accidents that involve a fatality, substantial property damage or “significant injury to the environment.” 49 U.S.C. Section 1131(a)(1)(D).  The Board also has authority to initiate “safety studies” of pipelines (49 USC Section 1116(b), but it has only done that twice in the past in regard to pipelines.  See SCADA in Liquid Pipelines, NTSB/SS-05/02 (Nov. 29, 2005); Special Study of Effects of Delay in Shutting Down Failed Pipeline Systems and Methods of Providing Rapid Shutdown, NTSB-PSS-71-1 (Dec. 30, 1970).
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