Final rules for annual reporting of results of government mandated drug testing by U.S. pipeline companies have been issued by a Department of Transportation (DOT) agency.
The reporting rules apply to U.S. companies that operate natural gas, liazardous liquid, CO2, and LNG facilities. Drug testing is mandated under 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 199.
DOT's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued the final rules on Dec. 23, 1993, which took effect Jan. 1.
WHO'S COVERED
Operators employing more than 50 covered employees must submit an annual report to RSPA of its drug testing results no later than Mar. 15 for the previous calendar year. First reporting deadline is Mar. 15, 1995, for 1994.
Covered employees include those engaged in operation, maintenance, and emergency response.
At its administrator's discretion, RSPA may require companies employing 50 or fewer covered employees to submit such reports.
The reports are submitted to RSPA's pipeline safety compliance office, which says electronic reporting will not be available until RSPA gains the capability, to receive data electronically.
CHANGES
Operator comments since the reporting rules were proposed Dec. 15, 1992, prompted several changes, including:
- Companies will not have to classify employees for reporting purposes by separate covered employee categories (operation, maintenance, or emergency response) because operators argued that some employees function in more than one category.
- Operators with fewer than 50 employees have been exempted from mandatory reporting.
Initially, more than 2,400 operators were subject to the reporting provisions. Approximately 800, RSPA estimates from operator comments, have fewer than 50 employees performing covered junctions and have, therefore, been made exempt.
- RSPA dropped an earlier provision that would have made operators responsible for reporting drug testing information for their contract employees.
Operators must ensure, however, that all contractors are maintaining drug testing records for their employees.
