The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing an advisory bulletin to encourage pipeline owners and operators to use a Pipeline Safety Management System (PSMS) based on the American Petroleum Institute's guidelines. This approach aims to enhance safety by identifying and reducing risks throughout the pipeline's life. It follows the recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board after several pipeline incidents suggested that implementing such a system could prevent future accidents. The bulletin promotes voluntary adoption and emphasizes building a strong safety culture to prevent harm to people and the environment.
Simple Explanation
The people in charge of keeping pipelines safe want the companies that own these pipelines to follow special safety rules to prevent accidents. They suggest using a particular set of guidelines to help everyone stay safe, but they aren't making it a rule, just a suggestion.