Archived Rulemaking: Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program
This proposed rule sets forth regulations to require operators of gas, hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities who are subject to RSPA regulations to implement an alcohol misuse prevention program for employees who perform certain safetysensitive functions covered by the pipeline safety regulations. The proposed rule is consistent with proposed DOT regulations and the other operating administration alcohol rules. The proposed rule would require proemployment/pre-duty, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing to detect and deter such conduct. As required by this rule, operators would have to remove employees who engaged in prohibited conduct from safetysensitive functions until certain requirements had been met. Additionally, operators would be required to provide employees with written materials that specifically identify the employees covered by the rule, explain the requirements of this rule, and establish the consequences of engaging in prohibited conduct. Finally, employers would be required to maintain records concerning this program and to report data regarding employee alcohol misuse to RSPA in an annual report. When finalized this rule should increase the overall safety of pipeline operations.