This site is administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). It provides information regarding the Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas for Hazardous Liquid Operators Rule (see 65 FR 75377 and 67 FR 2136), commonly referred to as the "Liquid IM Rule", or alternatively, the "HL IM Rule."

The HL IM Rule resulted in regulations within 49 CFR Part 195 (§§ 195.450 and 195.452) which specify how pipeline operators must identify, prioritize, assess, evaluate, repair and validate the integrity of hazardous liquid pipelines that could, in the event of a leak or failure, affect High Consequence Areas (HCAs) within the United States. These HCAs include: population areas; areas containing drinking water and ecological resources that are unusually sensitive to environmental damage; and commercially navigable waterways. Operators were given until March 31, 2002 or February 18, 2003, depending on their total pipeline mileage, to develop and implement their IM programs.

For an overview of the progress being made under the hazardous liquid pipeline integrity management (HL IM) regulations, please see the Performance Measures page. There you will find graphs and charts which depict progress and other aspects of operator implementation of the HL IM regulations. You will also find a link to the data provided by pipeline operators in accordance with these regulations.

Other HL IM menu links on the left provide additional information, including an operator IM process flowchart and a fact sheet that summarizes key requirements of the HL IM regulations; details of the HL IM regulations; a glossary of related terminology; FAQs; and, other information useful in more fully understanding these regulations.