Operators of intrastate pipelines, which are pipelines that begin and end in Texas, are required to file a T-4 pipeline permit with the Commission and renew these permits every year. Beginning October 1, the Commission will charge a $500 permit processing fee for each new and renewed permit. The permit fee is one of two…
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Comments Posted for PHMSA ANPRM “Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements”
On July 31, 2018 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. (See related article in the August 2018…
CGA Annual DIRT Report
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) released their annual report which provides a summary and analysis of the events submitted into CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) which analyzes damage and near-miss events from excavation activities related to buried facilities. The complete report for 2017 is available for download on the CGA Website. In addition, CGA…
Free Training on Pipeline Safety for Non-Pipeline Personnel
May 8 – 10, 2019, Houston, TX The Pipeline Safety Trust (PST) received a grant in 2017 and again in 2018 to send 20-30 people from local and tribal government, and non-profit organizations to an in-depth training on pipeline safety. Their goal with this training is to provide attendees with the information they need to…
Underwater Inspection Procedures & Inspection Interval Risk Model Updates
2018 has been one of the busiest hurricane seasons in recent history for operators with assets in the Gulf of Mexico and its inlets subject to 49 CFR 192.612 and 195.413. Because of the strength and number of tropical cyclones in the shallow waters of the Gulf it may be appropriate to re-evaluate the inspection…
FERC Guidance for Horizontal Directional Drill Monitoring, Inadvertent Return Response, and Contingency Plans (HDD Plan Guidance)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects (OEP) has developed draft Guidance for Horizontal Directional Drill Monitoring, Inadvertent Return Response, and Contingency Plans (HDD Plan Guidance), dated October 2018, to help industry professionals improve the quality and consistency of their HDD Plans and, as a result, increase the efficiency and effectiveness of…
Project Report: Addressing Human Factors for Non-Destructive Evaluation In-The-Ditch
Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is frequently performed in-the-ditch to evaluate potential pipeline defects that could impact safety and reliability, but these in-the-ditch inspections may lack accuracy and reliability due to human factors. PHMSA funded a project focused on this issue, led by Battelle. Extensive interviews, protocol reviews, field observations, and control tests with field pipe defects…
Update on PHMSA Rulemakings
PHMSA has posted a table summarizing the status and schedule for various rulemakings per the 2011 and 2016 pipeline safety acts. It can be found on the PHMSA website.
Operator Submitted Forms to PHMSA
PHMSA now has two (2) options for downloading forms and instructions for reporting under various parts of 49 CFR 191 and 195: A zip file containing ALL the potentially relevant forms and instructions can be downloaded here. Alternatively, individual forms and instructions can be browsed and downloaded here. Both links include both current and superseded…
PHMSA Interpretation on Farm Taps and Regulator Maintenance
On November 5, 2018, PHMSA issued a letter of interpretation (LOI) to the Kentucky Public Service Commission concerning the application of 49 CFR 192.740 to Farm Taps, including Farm Taps which come directly from otherwise un-regulated gas pipelines. The LOI says in part: Part 192 defines a service line as a “distribution line that transports…
Free Training on Pipeline Safety for Non-Pipeline Personnel
May 8-10, 2019; Houston, TX The Pipeline Safety Trust (PST) received a grant in 2017 and again in 2018 to send 20-30 people from local and tribal government, and non-profit organizations to an in-depth training on pipeline safety. Their goal with this training is to provide attendees with the information they need to better understand…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop
JANUARY 8-10, 2019 Join us January 8-10, 2019 in Houston at our corporate 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, 196, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations…
Meeting of the Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working Group
JANUARY 8-10, 2019 The Voluntary Information-sharing System (VIS) Working Group is meeting to discuss proposed recommendations to establish a voluntary information-sharing system. The public meeting will be held on December 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and December 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Members of the public who wish to…
Introduction to the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions – Fall 2018
The Unified Agenda has appeared in the Federal Register twice each year since 1983 and has been available online since 1995. The complete Fall 2018 Unified Agenda contains the Regulatory Plans of 28 Federal agencies and 66 Federal agency regulatory agendas providing information about regulations that the Government is considering or reviewing. The Fall Edition…
AGA: Leading Practices to Reduce the Possibility of a Natural Gas Over-Pressurization Event
The American Gas Association (AGA) has published a 43-page document intended to provide guidance to natural gas utilities on leading practices that may supplement current practices to reduce the possibility of an over-pressurization event, especially in a utilization pressure system. The document contains practices above and beyond minimum federal regulations, recognizing that not all practices…
Senate Committee Hearing on Pipeline Safety in the Merrimack Valley: Incident Prevention and Response
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0073] The US Senate on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing on November 26th to hear testimony regarding the over-pressurization incident that occurred in Merrimack Valley Massachusetts on September 13, 2018. Representatives from the federal, state and local government, emergency responders, NiSource and affected public provided testimony, including what actions are being…
NTSB Emergency Recommendation in response to the Merrimack Valley Incident
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0073] On September 13, 2018, a series of explosions and fires occurred after high-pressure natural gas was released into a low-pressure gas distribution system in the northeast region of the Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts. The distribution system was owned and operated by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a subsidiary of NiSource. The National Transportation Safety…
PHMSA Pipeline Safety: Guidance on the Extension of the 7-year Integrity Management Reassessment Interval by 6 Months
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0073] On November 15, 2018, PHMSA published a document titled “Pipeline Safety: Guidance on the Extension of the 7-year Integrity Management Reassessment Interval by 6 Months.” PHMSA is requesting comments on the FAQs developed for the aforementioned subject. Under the amended section 5 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act…
PHMSA Plastic Pipe Final Rule
[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0098: Amdt. No. 192-124] PHMSA is amending the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations that govern the use of plastic piping systems in the transportation of natural and other gas. These amendments are necessary to enhance pipeline safety, adopt innovative technologies and best practices, and respond to petitions from stakeholders. The changes include increasing the…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop
JANUARY 8-10, 2019 Join us January 8-10, 2019 in Houston at our corporate 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, 196, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations…