September 15, 2015 RCP is a leading industry expert on pressure testing and will be hosting a WebEx presentation on TestOp™, our new comprehensive pressure testing tool. TestOp™ is a proprietary web-based application that provides operators with a platform to plan, design, certify and document their pressure tests. For use on gas and liquid lines,…
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TRRC Proposed Amendments to 16 TAC Relating to Permit Fees
[SMRD Docket Number 1-15] At its open meeting on August 25, 2015, the Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) approved a proposed rulemaking to be published for public comment. The proposed amendments to 16 TAC in §12.108 relating to Permit Fees would adjust the annual fees for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The proposal will be…
GIS Services
RCP is an Esri Business Partner which enables RCP to provide a better service to our clients with access to all of Esri’s related products and technical support. RCP also has direct access to the latest NOAA Navigational Charts, USGS National Hydrology data, USDA Soil data, Bureau of Energy Management offshore data, Google and Bing…
PHMSA NPMS Public Meeting
September 10 – Arlington, VA PHMSA will conduct a half-day public meeting to bring pipeline stakeholders together to discuss the revised National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Information Collection which is out for comment and due on October 26, 2015. Operators and industry groups have expressed concern about the cost and time that will be needed…
PHMSA NPMS Request for Revision on Information Collection
[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0092 / (OMB Control No. 2137–0596)] On August 27, 2015, PHMSA issued a notice to request a revision to a proposed information collection related to the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) that PHMSA intends to submit to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) for approval. The notice is in response to the…
Public Awareness Emergency Response Guidelines
2015 Edition The Pipeline Association for Public Awareness (PAPA) issued its 2015 edition of “Pipeline Emergency Response Guidelines.” The Guidelines provide tips and techniques needed to help protect life, property and the environment. The ERG can be downloaded from the PAPA website.
TRRC Updates Website Domain, Email Addresses and more!
Effective September 1, 2015, the Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) has updated its website domain to http://www.rrc.texas.gov. In addition to the website domain change, the TRRC email addresses have been updated. Emails directed to TRRC staff members should be sent to: firstname.lastname@rrc.texas.gov. The new domain is consistent with the State of Texas government domain standard…
TRRC Notice to Operators: Hazardous Liquid Accident Reporting Requirements
On September 21, 2015, the Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) issued a news release regarding hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines accident reporting requirements. In accordance with 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §8.301, Required Records and Reports, an operator is required to notify the Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission) by telephone of any intrastate pipeline…
Maine Gas Pipeline Regulation Updates
On October 7, 2015 the Public Utilities Commission in Maine updated their safety regulations for natural gas and liquefied natural gas facility operators. Along with minor clarifications, the rule may require Operators of gas pipelines to update both their Public Awareness Program and their OQ Written Program. In addition, requirements were added or changed for…
Introducing TestOp®
The software that RCP utilizes on-site to validate our customer’s pressure tests is now available to license. The license allows operators to create, plan, simulate, execute and generate comprehensive reports of pressure tests using a web-based platform with optional offline data upload capabilities. Some key features of TestOp® include: Useful for any pressure test conducted…
PHMSA Final Rule on Misc. Changes to Pipeline Safety Regulations
[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0026; Amdt. Nos. 191-23; 192-120;195-100] This final rule responds to petitions for reconsideration of the final rule that PHMSA published on March 11, 2015, amending the pipeline safety regulations to make miscellaneous changes that updated and clarified certain regulatory requirements. PHMSA is delaying the effective date of the amendment to 49 CFR 192.305…
PHMSA NPRM: Safety of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0229] PHMSA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Regulations in 49 CFR Part 195. This NPRM proposes to: extend annual safety and incident reporting requirements to gravity lines and all hazardous liquid gathering lines; require inspections of pipelines 72 hours after in areas affected by…
New Pipeline Safety Management System RP Exceeds NTSB Recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed out a recommendation that it made after the Enbridge oil spill in Marshall, Michigan, concerning safety management systems. In response to NTSB’s recommendation, API developed Recommended Practice 1173 which addressed the NTSB recommendation as well as other topics including safety culture. The NTSB’s press release on this…
API RP 1166: Excavation Monitoring and Observation, Second Edition
API has published a new edition of Recommended Practice (RP) 1166 on monitoring and observation of excavations near energy pipelines. This RP provides a consistently applied decision making process for monitoring and observing of excavation and other activities on or near pipeline rights-of-way for “hazardous liquid” and “natural and other gas” transmission pipelines. The goal…
Underwater Inspection Procedures & Inspection Interval Risk Model Updates
Now that Hurricane season is almost over, this is a reminder to those that have UIP and IIRM plans that you may want to review them soon. RCP’s latest Inspection Interval Risk Model (IIRM) has been improved to include additional inspection trigger results for hazardous liquid pipelines that cross navigable waterways within Inlets of the…
Panel on Cost-Benefit Analysis at the Pipeline Safety Trust Conference
November 19-20, 2016 – New Orleans Your humble newsletter editor will participate in a panel discussion at the upcoming Pipeline Safety Trust (PLST) Conference in New Orleans on November 19-20 concerning cost-benefit analysis during the rulemaking process. Registration information, agenda and hotel information is available on the Pipeline Safety Trust website. Be sure to be…
National Pipeline Mapping System; Extension of Comment Period and Notice of Operator Workshop
[Docket ID PHMSA-2014-0092] PHMSA is sponsoring a one-day National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) operator technical workshop on November 18, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Key Bridge, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss and understand existing and future NPMS submission technical issues such…
TRRC Notice of Amendments to 16 TAC §12.108
[SMRD Docket Number 1-15] At its open meeting on November 3, 2015, the Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) adopted some amendments to 16 Texas Admin. Code §12.108 regarding permit fees. TRRC amends the calendar years to 2015 and 2016; deletes paragraph 1 to eliminate the annual fee for each acre of land within a permit area…
Oklahoma Enforces State Damage Prevention Act
[OK 165:20-17] The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) published a new Subchapter to Oklahoma Regulation Title 165, Chapter 20: Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety. Subchapter 17: Obligations Under The Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act Subject To Commission Enforcement gives the OCC the enforcement authority for the state’s Damage Prevention Act. The Commission previously had…
Season’s Greetings from RCP!
RCP would like to thank our valued clients for a wonderful year. We appreciate the opportunities you have given us to serve as your Professional Engineers, Regulatory Experts, and Trusted Partners. We look forward to working with you on even more projects in the years ahead. Best wishes for the holiday season and the New…