PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing Act

The PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing Act establishes a confidential, nonpunitive system for pipeline operators to voluntarily share safety data about gas transmission, distribution, and hazardous liquid pipelines without fear of penalties or legal repercussions. The system, called the VIS, will be governed by a 15-member board with balanced representation from industry, government, and public safety groups, and managed by a Third-Party Data Manager who will de-identify and analyze the data. The VIS protects shared information from being used as evidence in lawsuits while allowing it to be analyzed to identify safety trends and share lessons learned across the industry. Annual public reports will detail safety trends, data analyzed, and recommendations from the system. This system aims to improve pipeline safety through confidential information sharing and collaborative analysis.