---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 60137"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "60137"
heading: "Pipeline control room management"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/60137"
units:
  - "Subtitle VIII — Pipelines"
  - "Chapter 601 — Safety"
---

# §60137. Pipeline control room management

- (a) **In General.—** Not later than June 1, 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) shall issue regulations requiring each operator of a [gas](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-2) or [hazardous liquid](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-4) pipeline to develop, implement, and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or, in the case of an operator of an intrastate pipeline located within the boundaries of a [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) that has in effect an annual certification under [section 60105](/usc/49/60105.md), to the head of the appropriate [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) authority, a human factors management plan designed to reduce risks associated with human factors, including fatigue, in each control center for the pipeline. Each plan must include, among the measures to reduce such risks, a maximum limit on the hours of service established by the operator for individuals employed as controllers in a control center for the pipeline.
- (b) **Review and Approval of the Plan.—** The [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or, in the case of an operator of an intrastate pipeline located within the boundaries of a [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) that has in effect an annual certification under [section 60105](/usc/49/60105.md), the head of the appropriate [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) authority, shall review and approve each plan submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or the head of such authority under [subsection (a)](#a). The [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) and the head of such authority may not approve a plan that does not include a maximum limit on the hours of service established by the operator of the pipeline for individuals employed as controllers in a control center for the pipeline.
- (c) **Enforcement of the Plan.—** If the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or the head of the appropriate [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) authority determines that an operator’s plan submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or the head of such authority under [subsection (a)](#a), or implementation of such a plan, does not comply with the regulations issued under this section or is inadequate for the safe operation of a pipeline, the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or the head of such authority may take action consistent with this chapter and enforce the requirements of such regulations.
- (d) **Compliance With the Plan.—** Each operator of a [gas](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-2) or [hazardous liquid](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-4) pipeline shall document compliance with the plan submitted by the operator under [subsection (a)](#a) and the reasons for any deviation from compliance with such plan. The [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) or the head of the appropriate [State](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-20) authority, as the case may be, shall review the reasonableness of any such deviation in considering whether to take enforcement action or discontinue approval of the operator’s plan under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (e) **Deviation Reporting Requirements.—** In issuing regulations under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-25) shall develop and include in such regulations requirements for an operator of a [gas](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-2) or [hazardous liquid](/usc/49/60101.md?p=a-4) pipeline to report deviations from compliance with the plan submitted by the operator under [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–468, § 12(a), Dec. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 3494.)