FMCSA Issues Emergency Declaration to June 8 Due to Pipeline Cyberattack

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is providing emergency relief from hours-of-service regulations to motor carriers and drivers assisting operations linked to refined petroleum supply chains in the East Coast in the wake of a cyberattack against Colonial Pipeline, which has extensive operations across multiple states.

The agency issued an emergency relief declaration May 9, and indicated the relief would be in effect through June 8 or until officials determine the emergency to be over.

The declaration covers operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

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Specifically, the declaration provides exemption from Parts 390-399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which have to do with hours of service, parts and accessories required for safe operation, and longer combination vehicles.

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According to FMCSA, “This emergency declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations while providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum products into the affected states during the emergency from shortages due to the shutdown, partial shutdown, and/or manual operation of the Colonial pipeline system.”

The declaration is not meant for relief from drug and alcohol regulations, commercial driver’s license requirements, or size and weight requirements, the agency said.

Colonial Pipeline announced that it remains mostly offline after stating it had been the victim of a cyberattack. The company has determined the incident involved ransomware.

“We are in the process of restoring service to other laterals and will bring our full system back on line only when we believe it is safe to do so, and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations. At this time, our primary focus continues to be the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system, while minimizing disruption to our customers and all those who rely on Colonial Pipeline,” according to a company statement issued May 9.

The company notes its operations feature 5,500 miles of pipe to transport about 100 million gallons of fuel daily.

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