GAO’s Report Concurs with NTTC Position That Data Does Not Support Wetlines Rule

Sept. 16, 2013
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) incident data cannot be used to reliably identify risks from incidents involving collisions with wetlines under tank trailers.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) incident data cannot be used to reliably identify risks from incidents involving collisions with wetlines under tank trailers, according to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report that was issued to Congress.

Further, the report indicates that incidents used in the rationalization of the proposed rule (HM-213D) were not specifically identified within PHMSA’s database and that the data itself also contained inaccuracies.

“I am extremely pleased with GAO’s findings given its significance to the tank truck industry,” said Daniel R. Furth, President of the National Tank Truck Carriers. “As we have mentioned repeatedly, the GAO approached its task in a very professional, thorough manner which led to the same conclusion that we have argued now three times since 1990. Based on this study, I now urge PHMSA to withdraw HM-213D and allow the carrier and enforcement communities to collectively focus their talents and resources on legitimate safety concerns.

“While today’s political environment can be a bit disheartening, this finding serves to restore one’s faith in the process and I’d like to extend our gratitude to the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee – specifically Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Penn.) and Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) – who had the inclination to listen to our carriers and dig into the substance of our arguments.”

Specific GAO findings within its review included the following: (1) GAO could not accurately reproduce PHMSA’s analysis of which incidents were true wetlines incidents and which were not; (2) PHMSA’s cost-benefit analysis inaccurately portrayed to consequences of wetlines incidents; and (3) accordingly, PHMSA’s analysis may not accurately represent the costs and benefits of the proposed rule.

In the study, the GAO recommends that PHMSA improve its data collection processes to remove uncertainty in its reporting. GAO then recommends that PHMSA base any future wetlines rulemaking on the results of this improved data. Additionally, the report recommends changes to the hazmat release reporting process. Specifically, it suggests that PHMSA modify its Form 5800 reporting process to explicitly track whether or not a hazmat release was the result of a wetlines breach.