Pipeline Safety: Breakout Tank Inspection Rule
Review breakout tank inspection programs and consider commenting on the proposed API 653 and RBI changes.
§ 01 Summary
PHMSA proposes to update the incorporated inspection standard for hazardous-liquid pipeline breakout tanks from API Standard 653, 3rd edition, to the 5th edition. The proposal would also allow operators to use risk-based inspection procedures to set inspection intervals for in-service breakout tanks.
§ 02 Why this matters
The proposal would change the incorporated technical standard governing breakout tank inspection, repair, alteration, and reconstruction, and would permit risk-based inspection methods to determine inspection intervals. If finalized, pipeline operators would need to evaluate inspection programs against API Std 653 5th edition and RBI requirements.
§ 03 Topics
§ 04 Affected entities
- agency: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- agency: Department of Transportation
- industry: hazardous-liquid-pipeline-operators
- other: American Petroleum Institute Standard 653
§ 05 Matching feeds
§ 06 Source document
Read the full Federal Register entry on federalregister.gov.
Show classifier input (what GPT-5.5 saw)
Type: Proposed Rule Agencies: Transportation Department; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Citation: 91 FR 32919 Title: Pipeline Safety: Breakout Tank Inspection Rule Abstract: Breakout tanks are used to "relieve surges in a hazardous liquid pipeline system" or to "receive and store hazardous liquid transported by a pipeline for reinjection and continued transportation by pipeline." American Petroleum Institute Standard 653 (API Std 653) sets industry standards for the inspection, repair, alteration, and reconstruction of aboveground storage tanks. PHMSA currently incorporates the 3rd edition of API Std 653 (issued December 2001) by reference into its regulations for breakout tanks. In this rulemaking, PHMSA is proposing to update its regulations for breakout tanks to incorporate the 5th edition of API Std 653 (issued November 2014) by reference. As a key part of this, PHMSA is proposing to authorize the use of risk-based inspection (RBI) procedures for establishing the inspection intervals of in-service breakout tanks.
Classified Jun 3, 2026 by gpt-5.5. Fetched Jun 2, 2026.
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