Custom Data Request ID/Name: PHMSA_ECOUSA_2023 


Purpose: DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is required to provide pipeline operators with an updated Eco USA dataset every five years as outlined in Title 49, Section 195.6.  PHMSA seeks the services of NatureServe due to their existing data sharing agreements with each State Heritage Program and ability to quickly access the most up to date available information; knowledge of PHMSA defined ecological USA resources (Eco USAs); expertise to

gather and process the various geospatial data used to create Eco USAs (including data from sources other than State Heritage Programs and previously applied Eco USA GIS models and filtering criteria); and capability to produce a national geospatial dataset reflecting all areas that match the definition of an Eco USA from 49 CFR Part 195.6*. NatureServe will work with PHMSA’s designated Subject Matter Expert (SME) contractor through the duration of the period

of performance to create an updated Eco USA dataset.


NatureServe has been contracted to provide PHMSA with a 5-year license and we will refresh the data after 2.5 years. Eco USA data includes EO species blind data in combination with other external biodiversity datasets required under the regulation to inform the development of existing liquid hazardous pipeline Integrity management plans.


Scope:  PHMSA is required to provide pipeline operators with an updated Eco USA dataset covering all 50 states plus Puerto Rico, every five years as outlined in Title 49, Section 195.6. NatureServe has been contracted to provide PHMSA with a 5-year license and we will refresh the data after 2.5 years. Eco USA data includes EO species blind data in combination with other external biodiversity datasets required under the regulation to inform the development of existing liquid hazardous pipeline Integrity management plans.


Background

  1. PHMSA is required to provide pipeline operators with an updated EcoUSA dataset every five years as outlined in Title 49, Section 195.6. Thus, the RFP requires that we provide PHMSA with a 5-year license, but we have negotiated a requirement to refresh the data after 2.5 years and will work with PHMSA to automate that process. 
  2. The EcoUSA dataset will be: 
    1. species blind and will not include any attribute information other than a unique ID and the name of the organization(s) where the data originated (sometimes EcoUSA polygons include data from more than one source),
    2. provided to PHMSA, and PHMSA will provide subsets of the data to pipeline operators based on their area of operation (the entire dataset will not be provided to pipeline operators), and
    3. an integration of EO data, and other data, and requires an analysis using guidelines provided by PHMSA (based on the federal register definitions).
  3. The EcoUSA dataset must include NatureServe data but also requires integration of several national datasets and this time PHMSA is requiring that we fill in any data gaps with other datasets that are available (including other state level datasets).
    1. National datasets required in the EcoUSA: NatureServe Network EO data (G1-G2 or species with a federal status), NOAA’s depleted marine mammal areas data, NOAA’s Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data, EPA’s National Hydrologic Dataset (NHDPlusV2), and Ramsar Sites or Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network sites designated under the RAMSAR Convention. 
  4. All of the specifications listed above will be part of a data license agreement with PHMSA including the requirement to get a refresh after 2.5 years and obtain another update again after 5 years or discontinue use of the dataset.