[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0255] In case you missed this article in the April edition of our newsletter, we felt that it was important enough to run again. Operators must develop and incorporate procedures for implementing these requirements into their Operations and Maintenance Manuals prior to October 12, 2022. PHMSA is revising the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations…
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Correction to Gas Gathering Reporting Rule Re: Offshore Gas Gathering
On November 15, 2021, PHMSA published a final rule titled “Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting Requirements, Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments” (86 FR 63266) amending the Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR parts 190-199) to introduce, among other things, incident and annual reporting requirements for previously unregulated Types…
PHMSA Updated Advisory Bulletin ADB 2022-01
[Docket No. PHMSA-2022-0063] PHMSA issued an updated advisory bulletin to remind owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, including supercritical carbon dioxide pipelines, of the potential for damage to those pipeline facilities caused by earth movement in variable, steep, and rugged terrain and terrain with varied or changing subsurface geological conditions. Changing weather…
Unpacking the New Valve and Rupture Detection Rule
RCP will host a webinar to provide an overview of the requirements found within PHMSA’s Amendments to Parts 192 and 195 to Require Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards published April 8, 2022. We will discuss which lines are subject to the new rules, new definitions which have been added to the regulations, and…
Did you know?
API recently announced a new partnership to deliver on the significant habitat enhancement potential of an estimated 12 million acres of pipeline rights-of-way and facilities. Designed to advance ongoing conservation and community engagement efforts, the partnership supports U.S. pipeline operators as they enhance and accelerate robust conservation programs. As the industry continues to advance conservation,…
2022 Conference News
APGA Annual Operations ConferenceJuly 17-20 | Minneapolis, MN The APGA Annual Conference will take place at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center in Minneapolis. RCP staff will be on hand to answer your questions regarding TaskOp and Methane tracking and reporting for gas pipeline facilities. Registration is now open. LGA Pipeline Safety ConferenceJuly 18-21 | Hilton…
Client Feedback
RCP has a tradition of creating and sustaining trusted partnerships with the companies we serve. This has translated into long-term relationships that are based not only on the quality and scope of the work we provide, but also on the manner in which we provide it. We routinely hear from our clients with positive feedback…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In April 2022, PHMSA issued 4 WLs, 11 NOAs, and 9 NOPVs accompanied by $367,747 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
PHMSA Incident & Annual Reports – Proposed Changes
[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0054] PHMSA is proposing several changes to the following annual and incident / accident reporting forms: Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Systems PHMSA F 7000–1 Accident Report PHMSA F 7000–1.1 Annual Report Gas Distribution Systems PHMSA F 7100.1 Incident Report PHMSA F 7100.1–1 Annual Report Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems PHMSA F…
New York OQ Program Updates and Atmospheric Corrosion Monitoring Regulation
The New York State Department of Public Service has new regulations for its atmospheric corrosion control monitoring requirements. Operators are now required to conduct inspections of service lines for atmospheric corrosion every five years instead of every three years. The Department also issued updated Operator Qualification (OQ) regulations. The OQ regulation changes include new definitions…
National Academy of Sciences – Valves Study
The National Academy of Sciences held a meeting on April 26 and 27, 2022, related to the required study from the 2020 PIPES Act regarding Remove Operated Valves, Automatic Shutdown Valves, and Emergency Flow Restricting Devices (ROV/ASV/EFRD). This was the third meeting of the group. Their report should be delivered to the three congressional committees…
Did you know?
Safety is paramount to the Natural Gas industry, and guides everything we do. Members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) have made great strides through our widely recognized safety initiative – the “Integrity Management – Continuous Improvement” (IMCI) program. IMCI has provided a foundation for the past decade for members to safely…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In March 2022, PHMSA issued 14 WLs, 11 NOAs, and 7 NOPVs accompanied by $135,300 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshops (In Person)
Join us August 30th – September 1st, 2022 in Houston at our corporate office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics. 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…
Client Feedback
RCP has a tradition of creating and sustaining trusted partnerships with the companies we serve. This has translated into long-term relationships that are based not only on the quality and scope of the work we provide, but also on the manner in which we provide it. We routinely hear from our clients with positive feedback…
PHMSA Responds to Gas Gathering Rulemaking Petition for Reconsideration
PHMSA responded to a Petition for Reconsideration and a Motion to Stay of Final Rule, “Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting Requirements, Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments.” The Petition and Motion were filed by the American Petroleum Institute and the GPA Midstream Association. The Petition asserted that PHMSA’s adoption…
PHMSA Issues 2022 Civil Penalty Adjustments
PHMSA has published the 2022 Maximum Civil Penalty amounts, found under §190.223 Maximum Penalties, with a 1.06222% increase to maximum civil penalties. This authority was granted to PHMSA under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (herein referred to…
America’s Natural Gas Industry Will be Essential to Achieve a Net-Zero Emissions Future
Climate change is a defining challenge across the globe, and natural gas, natural gas utilities and the delivery infrastructure are essential to meeting our nation’s emissions reduction goals. Learn more about how the natural gas industry will play a critical role in helping reach our nation’s environmental goals in a recently release report from The…
EFRD Evaluation
RCP can assist pipeline operators (both gas and liquids) with performing an emergency flow restricting device (EFRD) evaluation based on the criteria, e.g. type of leak detection installed, product transported, quantity released, local topography, etc., identified in the Integrity Management rules. §192.179 requires that intermediate valves be installed along a cross country pipeline at the…
Additions and Changes to PHMSA Forms for Gathering Pipeline Systems Annual Reports
Type R (Reporting-Regulated) Gas Gathering Pipeline Systems Annual Report Form PHMSA F 7100.2-3 (new 3-2022): Beginning approximately May 16th, 2022, PHMSA will now require annual reports for previously unregulated gas-gathering pipeline systems. The annual report will be documenting miles of reporting-regulated gas gathering lines by nominal pipe size (NPS), decade installed, material and corrosion prevention…