On June 10, the Department of Transportation/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a second notice to allow response to comments received concerning its intent to revise the gas distribution annual report (Form F7100.1-1) and to improve the granularity of the data collected. A range of changes are being proposed including requiring operators to enter information on the “Type of Operator,” adding types of material to report data on, and new data collection requirements for Excavation Damage.

PHMSA is giving the public another 30 days (deadline of July 30, 2013) to post additional comments. Comments can be submitted via email to OIRA-Submission@omb.eop.gov and reference the docket number PHMSA-2013-0004.

For a copy of this notice from the Federal Register, please contact Jessica Roger

The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is preparing to revise the incident and annual report forms for Gas Pipeline Operators. PHMSA is seeking comments on the proposed revisions to these forms and instructions on or before August 26, 2013. Comments may be submitted via the E-Gov Web site and reference the Docket No. above. The forms being revised include:

• F 7100.1 Incident Report-Gas Distribution System: PHMSA intends to revise this form by adding a pipe material type, adding a commodity type, changing system types, removing a system type, requiring additional fields, and revising the instructions.
• PHMSA F 7100.1-2 Mechanical Fitting Failure Report Form for Calendar Year 20- for Distribution Operators: PHMSA intends to revise the form to improve the granularity of the data collected and provide clarification to operators for selecting the cause of the mechanical fitting failure.
• PHMSA F 7100.2 Incident Report-Natural and Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems: PHMSA proposes to revise the form by restoring a data element for how the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) was determined, adding a commodity type, requiring additional fields, and revising the instructions.
• PHMSA F 7100.2-1 Annual Report for Calendar Year 20- Natural and Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems: PHMSA proposes to revise this form by removing and reserving Part C.
• PHMSA F 7100.3 Incident Report-Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: PHMSA proposes to revise this form to limit location data to the state and modify the “regulated by” data.
• PHMSA F 7100.3-1 Annual Report for Calendar Year 20– Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: PHMSA proposes to revise this form by removing section A5, require entry of interstate or intrastate facility, and eliminate duplicative reporting.

For a copy of these proposed changes outlined in the Federal Register, contact Jessica Roger

On June 5, the New York Public Utilities Commission updated the pipeline regulations found in 16 NYCRR Part 255. These updates were made to incorporate new federal regulations. The most significant change to the regulations was adding the requirement for developing a gas distribution pipeline integrity plan (GDPIM). In addition, reports of each mechanical fitting failure, excluding those that result only in a nonhazardous leak, are required to be submitted on a Department of Transportation/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) form to both PHMSA and the New York Commission.

For a copy of this regulation from the New York State’s GDPIM, please contact Jessica Roger

1st Edition, May 2013

The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) released their “Facility Integrity Management Program Recommended Practice” (FIMP) which provides guidelines for developing, documenting, and implementing a facilities management program specific to the facilities portion of a transmission pipeline system. CEPA developed this recommended practice to create a formal mechanism to manage the integrity of facilities such as pumping and compressor stations.

CEPA represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies who operate approximately 110,000 kilometres of pipelines in Canada.

For a copy of CEPA’s FIMP (1st Edition, May 2013), please contact Jessica Roger

The North Carolina legislature ratified Senate Bill 9, “An Act requiring utility owners to locate and describe underground utilities upon written or oral request from a person who is responsible for designing or surveying underground facilities or requires a general description and location of existing underground facilities in an area.”

Senate Bill 9 amends the existing law (Article 8 of Chapter 87 of the General Statutes) by adding a new section §87-107.1 Surveyor requests; notice required; duties of utility owners; exceptions. This Act becomes effective July 15, 2013, and will require that operators respond by one of three methods to design requests:

1. The location and description of all of the underground utilities within the area to be surveyed.

2. The best available description of all underground utilities in the area of the proposed survey, which may include drawings marked with a scale, dimensions, and reference points for underground utilities already built in the area or other facility records that are maintained by the utility owner.

3. Allowing the surveyor or any other authorized person to inspect the drawings or other records for all underground utilities within the area to be surveyed at a location that is acceptable to both parties.

North Carolina 811 will create four new positive response codes to address the required responses:

1. Code 90: “Survey Design Request – Facility Has been Marked in the Field”

2. Code 92: “Survey Design Request – No Facilities in the Area”

3. Code 94: “Survey Design Request – Facility Records Provided”

4. Code 98: “Survey Design Request – Access to Facility Records Provided.”

For a copy of this Act from North Carolina, please contact Jessica Roger

Join us August 13 – 15, 2013 in Houston at our new office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics . The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations and engineering concepts. It is appropriate for people who are new to pipeline regulations, who could use a refresher, or anyone who needs to know the latest developments in these areas. This workshop will be a combined format (unlike our previous workshops), addressing both gas and liquid pipeline topics in parallel. This will eliminate some redundancy of materials, and will allow more time for in-depth discussions for each topic.

Topics to be addressed in the workshop include:

• An overview of DOT/OPS pipeline compliance requirements
• State and Federal agency roles for pipeline safety
• PHMSA Jurisdiction
• PHMSA Inspections and Enforcement Processes
• Engineering Concepts and Stress – Strain Relationships; %SMYS
• Design Requirements
• Construction Requirements
• Corrosion Control Concepts and Requirements
• Operations and Maintenance Requirements
• Emergency Response Requirements (including spill response planning requirements for liquid pipelines)
• Damage Prevention Programs
• Operator Qualification Programs
• Drug and Alcohol Programs
• Public Awareness Programs
• Integrity Management (gas and liquid) Programs
• Control Room Management Programs

We will also discuss the recently enacted Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (pipeline reauthorization bill), recent Advisory Bulletins from PHMSA, and new, pending and proposed rulemakings.

Each attendee will receive speaker’s PowerPoint presentation handouts in hard copy, and electronic copies of the applicable regulations and voluminous reference materials including rulemakings, letters of interpretation, and other guidance documents. The workshop will adjourn at 2 p.m. on the third day, for those who need to fly out Thursday evening.

Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0119

The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is conducting a public workshop on the concept of “Integrity Verification Process.” The Integrity Verification Process shares similar characteristics with fitness for service processes. At this workshop, PHMSA, the National Association of State Pipeline Safety Representatives and various other stakeholders will present information and seek comment on a proposed Integrity Verification Process that will help address several mandates set forth in Section 23, Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure, of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011.

The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at the Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, VA 22203. This workshop will be webcast, and presentations will be available online at PHMSA after the conclusion of the meeting.

Members of the public may attend this free workshop. To help assure that adequate space is provided, all attendees are encouraged to register for the workshop in advance. More details on this meeting, including the location, times, and agenda items, will be available on the meeting registration website.

Members of the public may also submit written comments either before or after the workshop. Written comments must be received by September 9, 2013. Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0119 and can be submitted via the E-Gov Website.

For more information, contact Cameron Satterthwaite, Office of Pipeline Safety, at 202-366-1319 or by email.

PHMSA has created an app for their Emergency Response Guidebook 2012 (ERG), which can be downloaded from iTunes or Google Plan. Click here for more information to download the 2012 ERG Mobile App. The ERG is widely used by emergency responders to quickly locate information about hazardous materials. The 2012 edition includes new evacuation tables for large toxic gas spills, and standard response procedures for gas and liquid pipeline incidents. PHMSA’s website also contains an instructional video on their website.

Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will have representatives and Exhibits at these upcoming conferences. Click on the links below for registration and hotel information. We hope to see you there!

Louisiana Gas Association (LGA) Pipeline Safety Conference
July 22 – 26 (New Orleans, LA)

Southern Gas Association (SGA) Operating Conference & Exhibits
July 22 – 24 (Houston, TX)

Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC)
August 21 – 21 (Tempe, AZ)

NACE Central Area Conference
August 26 – 28 (Little Rock, AR)