Notice2026-03361
Pipeline Safety: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind operators of gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of their obligation to report incidents in accordance with PHMSA's incident reporting requirements. This advisory bulletin addresses a safety recommendation that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued to PHMSA in response to a fatal incident that occurred on a gas distribution system in February 2018.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 34 (Friday, February 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8305-8307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03361]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2026-0496]
Pipeline Safety: Incident Notifications to the National Response
Center
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind operators of
gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities, and
liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of their obligation to report
incidents in accordance with PHMSA's incident reporting requirements.
This advisory bulletin addresses a safety recommendation that the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued to PHMSA in response
to a fatal incident that occurred on a gas distribution system in
February 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy White by phone at 202-923-8268
or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdf3dcd3dec493ead5d4c9d88cfdd9d2c993dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a446b646973245d62637e6f3b4a6e657e246d657c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 23, 2018, an incident occurred
[[Page 8306]]
on a gas distribution system in Dallas, Texas, resulting in one
fatality, injuring four other people, and causing major structural
damage to a residence. Two separate incidents occurred two days earlier
at nearby residences served by the same gas distribution system,
resulting in second-degree burns to an occupant and causing significant
structural damage to the residences.\1\ The operator did not provide an
immediate notification to the National Response Center (NRC) of either
incident as required by 49 CFR 191.5 or file a written incident report
with PHMSA,\2\ asserting there was no evidence at the time that a
release of natural gas from its distribution system was involved.\3\
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\1\ NTSB, Accident Report PAR-21/01, Atmos Energy Corporation
Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion: Dallas, Texas: February 23, 2018, at 1
(Jan. 12, 2021) (NTSB/PAR-21/01), available at: <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAR2101.pdf">https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAR2101.pdf</a>.
\2\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 61. Atmos provided a courtesy email to the
state regulator following the second explosion on the evening of
February 22, 2018, but did not provide official notification or file
a formal incident report.
\3\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 4, 61.
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NTSB conducted an investigation and determined that the probable
cause of the February 23, 2018 incident was:
. . . the ignition of an accumulation of natural gas that leaked
from the gas main that was damaged during a sewer replacement
project 23 years earlier and was undetected by [the gas distribution
operator's] investigation of two related natural gas incidents on
the 2 days before the explosion. Contributing to the explosion was
[the gas distribution operator's] insufficient wet weather leak
investigation procedures. Contributing to the severity of the
explosion was [the gas distribution operator's] inaction to isolate
the affected main and evacuate the houses. Contributing to the
degradation of the pipeline system was [the gas distribution
operator's] inadequate integrity management program.\4\
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\4\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 71.
NTSB also issued Safety Recommendation P--21-1 to PHMSA, advising
the Agency to ``[e]xpand incident reporting requirements in [49 CFR]
Part 191 so that events that may meet the definition of `incident' are
immediately reported to [NRC,] even when the source of the natural gas
has not been determined.'' \5\ NTSB's Accident Report also lists
industry guidance factors that pipeline operators can use to determine
whether an event could be a reportable incident, such as a rupture or
explosion, fire, loss of service, evacuation of people in the area,
involvement of local emergency response personnel, and degree of media
involvement (ANSI/GPTC 2018).\6\
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\5\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 72.
\6\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 61, 62.
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PHMSA's regulations in 49 CFR part 191 require operators of gas
pipelines, UNGS facilities, and LNG facilities to notify the NRC of an
incident at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no
later than one hour after confirmed discovery.\7\ An ``incident'' is
defined in Sec. 191.3 as any of the following events:
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\7\ 49 CFR 191.5(a).
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(1.) An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline, gas
from a UNGS facility, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas,
refrigerant gas, or gas from an LNG facility, and that results in one
or more of the following consequences:
(i) A death, or personal injury necessitating in-patient
hospitalization;
(ii) Estimated property damage of [$149,700] or more, including
loss to the operator or others, or both, but excluding the cost of gas
lost,\8\ [or]
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\8\ The dollar figure adjusts for inflation for 2025. Changes to
the reporting threshold are posted on PHMSA's website and determined
in accordance with the procedures in appendix A to Part 191. See
<a href="https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-04/2025-Gas-Property-Damage-Reporting-Threshold-Inflation-Adjustment.pdf">https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-04/2025-Gas-Property-Damage-Reporting-Threshold-Inflation-Adjustment.pdf</a>.
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(iii) Unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet
or more.
(2.) An event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG
facility or a UNGS facility.\9\
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\9\ ``Activation of an emergency shutdown system for reasons
other than an actual emergency within the facility does not
constitute an incident.'' 49 CFR 191.3.
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(3.) An event that is significant in the judgment of the operator,
even though it did not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2) of
this definition.
For purposes of the incident reporting requirements, ``confirmed
discovery'' of an event occurs ``when it can be reasonably determined,
based on information available to the operator at the time a reportable
event has occurred, even if only based on a preliminary evaluation.''
\10\
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\10\ 49 CFR 191.3.
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Operators are required to file additional telephonic or electronic
reports to NRC to confirm or revise the initial estimates of the number
of fatalities or injuries, amount of product released, or extent of
damages.\11\ This may include filing an updated NRC report for a
previously reported event that an operator subsequently determines did
not meet the regulatory reporting thresholds.
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\11\ 49 CFR 191.5.
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PHMSA's incident reporting requirements play a critical role in
ensuring public safety. Federal, state, and local agencies need to be
aware of incidents ``at the earliest practicable moment so that
emergency personnel or investigators can be dispatched quickly to
mitigate the consequences of such an event.'' \12\ Incident reporting
also provides PHMSA and states with a means to identify safety issues,
implement preventative measures to mitigate safety risks, analyze
trends, and enhance pipeline safety across the Nation.
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\12\ PHMSA, Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost
Recovery, Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline
Safety Changes, 82 FR 7972, 7978 (Jan. 23, 2017).
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PHMSA and its predecessor agency, the Research and Special Programs
Administration, have issued numerous alerts and advisory bulletins
emphasizing the importance of complying with the incident reporting
requirements in Part 191, and providing complete and accurate
information during emergencies.\13\ PHMSA continues to remind operators
of gas pipelines, UNGS facilities, and LNG facilities of the
requirement to report incidents to NRC at the earliest practicable
moment following discovery, but no later than one hour after confirmed
discovery.
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\13\ E.g., ALN-91-01, Reemphasize each pipeline operator's
responsibility to report promptly; criteria specified in 49 CFR
191.5/195.52. (Apr. 15, 1991); ADB-02-04, Pipeline Safety: Required
Notification of National Response Center (Sep. 6, 2002); ADB-10-08,
Emergency Preparedness Communications (Nov. 3, 2010); ADB-2012-09
Communications During Emergency Situations (Oct. 11, 2012); ADB-
2013-01, Pipeline Safety: Telephonic Notification Time Limit to NRC
(Jan. 30, 2013).
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Guidance and advisory bulletins are not rules; are not meant to
bind the public in any way; and do not assign duties, create legally
enforceable rights, or impose new obligations that are not otherwise
contained in regulations.
I. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2026-04)
To: Owners and Operators of Gas Pipelines, Underground Natural Gas
Storage Facilities, and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.
Subject: Incident Notifications to the National Response Center.
Advisory: PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to inform owners
and operators of gas pipelines, underground natural gas storage (UNGS)
facilities, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities of the findings
and safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) in response to a natural gas distribution incident that
occurred in Dallas, Texas on February 23, 2018, and to remind operators
of their obligation under 49 CFR part 191 to notify the National
Response Center (NRC) of
[[Page 8307]]
incidents at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but
no later than one hour after confirmed discovery. For purposes of the
incident reporting requirements in Part 191, confirmed discovery occurs
``when it can be reasonably determined, based on information available
to the operator at the time a reportable event has occurred, even if
only based on a preliminary evaluation.'' \14\
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\14\ 49 CFR 191.3.
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PHMSA's incident reporting regulations are intended to ensure that
Federal, state, and local agencies are alerted to incidents ``at the
earliest practicable moment so that emergency personnel or
investigators can be dispatched quickly to [help] mitigate the
consequence of such an event.'' \15\ Operators are reminded that the
regulations require reporting of events that are significant in the
judgement of the operators even if they do not meet criteria specified
in the regulations.\16\ Operators are also reminded that the
regulations require immediate notification to the NRC of potential
incidents based on available information, even if only a preliminary
evaluation has been conducted.\17\ Gas pipeline operators should also
note that the ``[e]stimated property damage of $[149,700] or more''
requirement under Sec. 191.3 does not include cost of gas lost but
does encompass certain ancillary costs associated with the natural gas
release event.
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\15\ Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery,
Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety
Changes, 82 FR 7972, 7978 (Jan. 23, 2017).
\16\ See 49 CFR 191.3.
\17\ See 49 CFR 191.3.
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PHMSA notes that NTSB's Accident Report identifies factors that
pipeline operators can use to determine whether an incident might be
reportable. Those factors include rupture or explosion; fire; loss of
service; evacuation of people in the area; involvement of local
emergency response personnel; and degree of media involvement.\18\
NTSB's Accident Report further identifies that several of these factors
(explosion, fire, local emergency response, and media involvement)
occurred during the two nearby incidents that preceded the February 23,
2018 incident yet these incidents went unreported by the gas
distribution operator.\19\
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\18\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 61-62.
\19\ NTSB/PAR-21/01 at 62.
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PHMSA agrees with NTSB that timely incident reporting ``can make
the difference between life and death'' and ``provides appropriate
stakeholders with the information they need to perform their incident
response functions which support the identification, analysis, and
evaluation of pipeline safety problems, and facilitate[s] the
development of practical solutions to pipeline safety challenges.''
\20\ It is imperative for an effective emergency response to ensure
that all information concerning a gas pipeline, UNGS facility, or LNG
facility's reportable incident is identified, considered, evaluated,
and integrated with other known system information.\21\
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\20\ NTSB, PAR-21/01 at 60.
\21\ See 49 CFR 192.615(a)(3) and 192.631(a)(2); see also PHMSA,
Pipeline Safety: Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and
Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes, 82 FR 7972
(Jan. 23, 2017).
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For these reasons, PHMSA reminds operators that Federal pipeline
safety regulations require operators to notify NRC at the earliest
practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one hour
after confirmed discovery, of a reportable incident that involves a
release from a gas pipeline, UNGS facility, or LNG facility, even if
only based on a preliminary evaluation. PHMSA notes that the contents
of this advisory bulletin do not have the force and effect of law and
are not meant to bind operators nor the public in any way.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2026, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Linda Daugherty,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2026-03361 Filed 2-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 20, 2026.
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