Why is PHMSA proposing to require that plastic pipe failures be reported to PHMSA?
Approximately half of distribution pipeline is comprised of plastic pipe. It is important that operators with plastic pipe have complete information about potential problems with various types of plastic pipe in order to be able to analyze their risk accurately. The Plastic Pipe Data Committee (PPDC), a voluntary group, currently collects and analyzes plastic pipe failure data. The information available to the group for analysis is limited to that provided by participating members. Information resulting from PPDC analyses is only shared with members of the group. Thus, distribution pipeline operators who most need this information small operators who lack the technical staff to seek out plastic pipe failure information on their own and whose resource constraints preclude their participation in PPDC are not provided information they need to analyze their risk properly. PHMSA has included a requirement in this proposed rule that operators report all plastic pipe failures so that the info
