[DOCKET NO. PHMSA–2017–0151] PHMSA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comment on its existing class location requirements for natural gas transmission pipelines as they pertain to actions operators are required to take following class location changes due to population growth near the pipeline. Operators have suggested that performing integrity management measures…
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PHMSA Hazardous Liquid Annual Report Form – Minor Revisions
[DOCKET NUMBER PHMSA-2018-0072] PHMSA invites comments on its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a revision to form PHMSA F 7000-1.1 Annual Report for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Systems, which is currently collected under OMB Control number 2137-0614. PHMSA Form F 7000-1.1 is used to report both hazardous liquid and carbon…
Pressure Test Basics and TestOp® User’s Group Meeting
November 1, 2018 Registration is now open for RCP’s first Pressure Test Basics and TestOp® User’s Group Meeting at its facilities in downtown Houston. During the morning session, attendees can expect to gain a basic understanding of how to plan, design, analyze, troubleshoot and document a pressure test. The afternoon session is open to all…
New! NEI Damage Prevention Campaign Featuring Mike Rowe
[Thanks to AGA for sharing this blurb.] The National Excavator Initiative (NEI) has announced work is under way on a series of new videos and public service announcements (PSAs) with Mike Rowe, known for his television work on Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, and his promotion of 811, damage prevention and workforce issues. Two videos are…
Texas RRC New Pipeline Safety Director
The Railroad Commission of Texas announced that Stephanie Weidman has been appointed Pipeline Safety Director effective September 1, 2018. She will continue to serve in a dual role in her position as Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Program Director for the Commission’s Oversight and Safety Division. Weidman represents the Commission before PHMSA, the National…
Illinois Gas Pipeline Reporting via Electronic Submission
The Illinois Commerce Commission (Commission) issued a Notice of Proposed Amendment to Part 595: Report of Accidents or Incidents by Persons Engaged in the Transportation of Gas, or Who Own or Operate Gas Pipeline Facilities; Section 595.120 Reporting of Accidents or Incidents. Reports required under this Part shall be filed with the Commission in electronic…
PHMSA Staff Appointment
[From AGA’s Weekly Update] PHMSA this week announced the appointment of Massoud Tahamtani as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs with PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety. Massoud is a career public servant, with over 38 years of service. He brings with him extensive leadership experience through his tenure as Director of the Division…
PHMSA, FERC Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Safety Review and Permitting Process for LNG Facility Proposals
On Friday, August 31, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that the two agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate the siting and safety review of FERC-jurisdictional LNG facilities. PHMSA is responsible for standards governing the location…
PHMSA Pipeline Safety Research & Development Forum
September 11 – 12 in Baltimore, MD PHMSA has released the Agenda for the upcoming Pipeline Safety Research & Development Forum on September 11 & 12th. The forum is a 2-day event held periodically to generate a National research agenda that fosters solutions for the various challenges associated with pipeline safety and with protecting the…
Meeting of the Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working Group
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0128] The Voluntary Information-sharing System (VIS) Working Group will convene on October 3, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. at U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590 to discuss and identify recommendations to establish a voluntary information-sharing system. Members of the public who wish to attend…
PHMSA Notice: Gas & Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Risk Models
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0050] PHMSA published this notice seeking public comments on a report developed to support improvements in gas and hazardous liquid pipeline risk models titled “Pipeline Risk Modeling-Overview of Methods and Tools for Improved Implementation” (Pipeline Risk Modeling Report). Pipeline risk models are a foundational part of the assessment of operational pipeline risk. Federal…
PHMSA Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility User Fee
[Docket No. PHMSA-2017-0129] On December 8, 2017, PHMSA published a notice and request for comments in the Federal Register titled: ‘‘Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility User Fee’’ seeking comments from underground natural gas storage facility (UNGS) operators on a proposal to use UNGS annual report data in the user fee rate structure. (See related article…
PHMSA Revisions to OPID Assignment Request and National Registry Notification
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0078] PHMSA published a notice & request for comments for the revision of the Operator Assignment Request (PHMSA F 1000.1) and National Registry Notification (PHMSA F 1000.2) currently approved under OMB control number 2137–0627. PHMSA intends to revise the OPID Assignment Request form and its instructions by adding ‘‘Underground Natural Gas Storage’’ as…
2018 Industry Conference Schedule
PIPELINE SMS INDUSTRY TOOLS WORKSHOPOctober 10, 2018San Luis Hotel, Galveston, TX API STORAGE TANK CONFERENCE & EXPOOctober 15-18, 2018Hyatt Regency Austin, TexasStop by RCP’s Booth #10 API Storage Tank Conference & Expo will give attendees an opportunity to learn about new and existing industry codes and standards, and to hear about emerging trends from industry…
PHMSA Awards $3.8 Million to 11 Universities to Support Pipeline Safety Tech Research
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) announced that it is providing a total of $3,855,575 to 11 universities as part of its Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) for pipeline safety research and innovation. The awards will go to: Arizona State University, The Ohio State University, The University of Akron,…
PHMSA Awards $90 million in Grants to Support State Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Programs
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing a combined $89.9 million in Fiscal Year 2018 grants from its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety programs. The grants will be awarded to states, local communities, tribal entities, and non-profit organizations to support state pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. Grantees…
Pressure Test Basics and TestOp® User’s Group Meeting
November 1, 2018 Registration is now open for RCP’s first Pressure Test Basics and TestOp® User’s Group Meeting at its facilities in downtown Houston. (This meeting is for Operators only.) During the morning session, attendees can expect to gain a basic understanding of how to plan, design, analyze, troubleshoot and document a pressure test. The…
Delaware Damage Prevention Rule Change
On October 2, 2018, the Delaware Underground Utility Prevention and Safety Act (Title 26 Chapter 8 Subchapter I) was updated to require Operators to report all facility damage, as defined in Title 26 Section 802(2)(c), caused by excavation that exceeds $3,000 within 15 days to the Public Service Commission. If the notification cannot be made…
New Mexico One Call Law Change
NMR, Vol. 29, Number 18, 09/25/2018 [Case No. 18-00262-PL] The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (Commission) gave notice of proposed revisions to Part 5 of Title 18, Chapter 60 of the New Mexico Administrative Code (18.60.5 NMAC) regarding Excavation Damage to Pipelines and Underground Utility. The purpose of the proposed rulemaking is to clarify that…
Illinois Proposed Amendment to Accident Reporting
Ill Register, Vol. 42, Issue 38 [Docket No. 18-1447] The proposed amendment for 83 Ill. Adm. Code 220, Reports of Accidents by Fixed Public Utilities Other Than Pipelines Transporting Liquids, would change Section 220.60, Instructions for Reporting, to increase the monetary threshold in subsection (a) for required reports of accidents not involving death or personal…