As the OPS performs audits of the pipeline operators, pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 and Sub-part O of the newly released 49 CFR 192, the focus is no longer on the existence of a plan, rather, it is on the existence of a process, the completion of tasks defined within those processes and the documentation that supports and/or defines the decisions associated with said actions. The creation of the PIPe-MAS application will allow each operator a tool that will be utilized to link their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to specific requirements of the OPS for verification. The application will support the OPS protocols with functionality that includes, routing, notification, evaluation, approval, document management, event management and exception management, through an automated workflow process. The application will also address Operator Qualification requirements as well as to serve as a communication tool to the stakeholders including the public, government and emergency responders. The OPS effort to oversee the regulatory compliance of the operators will be simplified by virture of electronic access to each operator's processes, decisions made, actions taken and supporting documentation, either via the internet or on site.
