(January thru May) Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will be attending the following conferences. We hope to see you there! API INSPECTION AND MECHANICAL INTEGRITY SUMMITJanuary 28-31, 2019Galveston Island Convention Center, Galveston, TexasRCP Booth #200 Sheri Baucom, RCP’s Director, Integrity Services, will be presenting “A Practicum on Pressure…
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BSEE Notice Regarding Pipeline Decommissioning in Deep Water
[Docket No. BSEE-2018-0017] The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is soliciting information and public comments regarding potential impact [including impacts on future use of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)] related to decommissioning-in-place (DIP) of certain pipeline-related infrastructure in deep water (i.e., depths of at least 600 feet) on the OCS. Responses to this…
PHMSA Public Awareness and Engagement Workshop
March 13-14, 2019 The PHMSA Public Awareness and Engagement Workshop has been scheduled for March 13-14 and will be held in Washington, DC at the US DOT HQ Atrium. Mark your calendars if you are interested in attending, or participating via webcast. We will post more information as it becomes available.
PHMSA GPAC and LPAC Meeting Status – Postponed!
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0136] Due to the Government shut-down, the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), and a joint meeting of the GPAC and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) that was scheduled on January 8-10, 2019 has been postponed. Please be sure to cancel your hotel and airline arrangements. The GPAC had planned to discuss the…
PHMSA Revision to OPID Assignment Request & Registry Notification
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0078] The National Registry of Pipeline and LNG Operators serves as the storehouse for the reporting requirements for an operator regulated or subject to reporting requirements under 49 CFR Part 192, 193, or 195. This registry incorporates the use of two forms: OPID Assignment Request (PHMSA F 1000.1) and National Registry Notification (PHMSA…
PHMSA 2019 Random Drug Testing Rate
[Docket ID PHMSA-2018-0103] The minimum random drug testing rate for covered employees will remain at 50 percent during calendar year 2019. Drug and alcohol testing information must be submitted for contractors who are performing or are ready to perform covered functions. For electronic reporting, the “user name” and “password” for the Drug and Alcohol Management…
2019 Industry Conference Schedule
Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will be attending the following conferences. We hope to see you there! API Pipeline Conference and Control Room ForumApril 9-11, 2019Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Hotel, Phoenix, AZ API’s Pipeline Conference is the premier event of its kind in the U.S. Held every year…
PHMSA Public Awareness/Engagement Workshop Rescheduled!
The PHMSA Public Awareness and Engagement Workshop that was originally scheduled for March 13-14 has been rescheduled. The tentative date for the workshop is June 12-13, 2019 at the DOT HQ Building in Washington, DC. Save the dates if you are interested in attending, or participating via webcast. More information will be posted as it…
PHMSA GPAC Meeting Status – Rescheduled for June
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0136] The Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting originally planned for January 2019 has been rescheduled for June 25th and 26th. (See related article in the January 2019 edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance News). The agenda for the meeting is the Gas Gathering NPRM. This meeting will be Webcast. The Joint PAC…
API Pipeline Conference – PHMSA Administrator Speaker Confirmed
PHMSA Administrator Howard “Skip” Elliott will be the luncheon speaker on Tuesday, April 9 at the 2019 API Pipeline Conference. Elliott joined PHMSA following his retirement from CSX Transportation in Jacksonville, FL, where he served as Vice President of Public Safety, Health, Environment, and Security. Elliott’s portfolio at CSX included hazardous materials, transportation safety, homeland…
API RP 1160 Pipeline Integrity Management Standard for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
API released the third edition of API RP 1160: Managing System Integrity for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines. The third edition of RP 1160 incorporates recent industry experiences surrounding pipeline mechanics, while embracing a proactive approach to pipeline safety management. This standard will assist pipeline operators in building safe, contemporary, and comprehensive integrity management systems RP 1160…
California OSFM Title 19 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CHAPTER 14. HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE SAFETY The California Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the adoption of regulations/requirements for pipelines near environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas. The primary objective of the proposed regulations is to protect these areas and state waters and wildlife by reducing…
PHMSA Grants Compliance Deadline Extension for the Recent Plastic Pipeline Rule
On November 20, 2018, PHMSA issued a final rule that amended the federal pipeline safety requirements for the design, construction, and maintenance of plastic piping systems used in the transportation of natural or other gas (83 FR 58694). Subsequently, the American Gas Association (AGA) submitted a Petition for Reconsideration, requesting that PHMSA extend the compliance…
PHMSA Stay of Enforcement for API Specification 5L
PHMSA currently incorporates by reference the 45th edition of API Specification 5L “Specification for Line Pipe” in parts 192 and 195. API Spec 5L is the primary manufacturing specification for seamless and welded steel pipe for use in both gas and hazardous liquid pipeline transportation systems. API recently issued a 46th edition of this standard…
DOT Final Rule on Implementing Drug Testing Program
On April 23, 2019, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) adopted changes to its drug testing regulations to make the different drug testing programs more consistent. For the pipeline industry, the change was to the definition of a prohibited drug in 49 CFR 199.3. The new definition is now “any of the substances specified in…
PHMSA Revision Request for National Pipeline Mapping System Program
[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0092] PHMSA announced that their information collection request for the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Program will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This request would increase the geospatial data that operators of gas transmission pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas facilities submit to NPMS.…
PHMSA ADB-2019-01 Advisory Bulletin Pipeline Damage from River Flooding
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0047] PHMSA issued an advisory bulletin to remind all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines of the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding and actions that operators should consider taking to ensure the integrity of pipelines in the event of flooding, river scour, and river channel…
PHMSA ADB-2019-02 on Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement and Other Geological Hazards
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0087] PHMSA issued an advisory bulletin to remind owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines of the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by earth movement from both landslides and subsidence in variable, steep, and rugged terrain and for varied geological conditions. These conditions can pose a threat to the…
Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee Meeting Notice
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0136] The GPAC meeting that was previously scheduled for January 8-10, is now meeting on June 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET) and on June 26th from 8:30 a.m. to noon (ET). They will meet to discuss the gathering line component of the proposed rule titled ‘‘Safety of Gas Transmission and…
PHMSA Debrief on CAAP Project for Material Strength
May 10, 2019 PHMSA invites you to a debrief of the Competitive Academic Agreement Program (CAAP) project, “Bayesian Network Inference and Information Fusion for Accurate Pipe Strength and Toughness Estimation” on May 10th from 1:00-2:30 PM EDT. Instructions on connecting to the meeting:https://asu.zoom.us/j/419543932 US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923 Meeting ID:…