As a reminder, there are mandatory revisions to gas pipeline O&M manuals due by December 27, 2021. The PIPES Act of 2020 (Section 113) contains self-executing provisions requiring pipeline facility operators to update their inspection and maintenance plans to address the elimination of hazardous leaks and minimization of releases of natural gas (including, and not…
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TSA Extends Comment Period for Security Directive
The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Safety Administration has extended the comment period for its security directive of May 26, 2021, concerning Critical Pipeline Operators. The agency is requesting comments if the proposed information request is necessary and has a practical utility at the agency. The agency is also collecting comments about the accuracy of…
Colorado Proposed Gas Pigging Regulations
Colorado is proposing new environmental regulations that may impact the midstream gas pipeline segment. The new regulations define the midstream gas pipeline segment as the pipe between the well and the transmission pipeline. The purpose of the proposed regulations is to reduce the quantity of greenhouse gases, primarily methane, and volatile organic compounds emitted from…
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Proposed Regulation Changes
[RM#20-03] The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is proposing a draft set of changes and additions to the 170 IAC 5-3. Many of the changes are clarifications to the existing regulations and modifications to 49 CFR 192. These clarifications include more precise definitions, providing detailed examples and specific reporting requirements. The proposed definition changes include ‘operator’…
Nevada New Pipeline Safety Regulations to Conduct Annual Leak Detection Surveys
[Docket No. 19-09011] The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) adopted proposed regulations for annual leak surveys for all distribution systems. Nevada becomes the first state in the nation to apply such a standard to every type, vintage and mile of distribution pipe. These regulations were approved by the state Legislative Commission on October 22, 2021. The PUCN opened…
New York Proposed Rulemaking: More Specific Requirements for Operator Qualification to Work on Pipelines
The New York Public Service Commission is considering revisions to certain sections of 16 NYCRR Part 255 to make the provision of natural gas service safer in New York State with better qualified pipeline workers. For a copy of the proposed rulemaking, contact Jessica Foley.
API’s Facility Integrity Workshop Date Change
API is postponing the Facility Integrity Workshop, initially scheduled for November 10, 2021, to January 19, 2022. The workshop will remain as a virtual event. All existing registrations remain in effect. If you prefer to receive a refund, please contact registrar@api.org. The postponement will provide additional time for coordination across the API Pipeline Integrity Group…
Pipeline Transportation: Hydrogen and Emerging Fuels R&D Virtual Public Meeting
PHMSA is holding a virtual public meeting and forum titled: “Pipeline Transportation and Emerging Fuels R&D Public Meeting and Forum.” The public meeting and forum will serve as an opportunity for pipeline stakeholders to discuss research gaps and challenges in pipeline safety and emerging fuels, including hydrogen transportation. It will also serve as a venue for…
Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law
On January 2, 2022 amendments to the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law go into effect. These changes affect both the operator and excavator. When an operator receives a notification request to mark a pipeline and determines their pipeline and facilities are not affected and do not need marking, they must let the…
Oklahoma Corporation Commission OCC Domains Have Expired
Update your bookmarks and address books! As the Oklahoma Corporation Commission continues on the path to digital transformation and agency modernization, the prior website domains (occeweb.com and occ.state.ok.us) and older email formats including f.last@occemail.com) have expired and will no longer work. Please update your bookmarks to oklahoma.gov/occ (website launched November 2020). And, check that your…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Virtual Workshop
Nov 15-17, 2021 Join us virtually, November 15-17, 2021 for an informative and interactive online workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics. This Workshop will give a brief overview of the new rules, in addition to our standard overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, and 199. It also…
GPAC and LPAC Virtual Public Meetings October 20-21
[Docket number PHMSA-2021-0069] PHMSA has announced a meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) to discuss a variety of policy issues and topics relevant to both gas and liquid pipeline safety. In addition, the committees will discuss the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled, “Periodic Updates of Regulatory…
Texas Proposed Gas Regulations for Critical Infrastructure
[TR, Volume 46, Number 40] On October 1, 2021, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) published in the Texas Register proposed regulations for implementing Senate Bill 3 (SB3) and House Bill 3648 (HB3648). These bills are titled, “Critical Designation of Natural Gas Infrastructure.” In the preamble, the RRC stated these proposed regulations are the first of…
Louisiana Gas & Liquid Pipeline Regulations Updates
Louisiana published updates to its hazardous liquid pipeline and gas pipeline regulations. These updates are primarily to adopt changes made in the corresponding PHMSA regulations. There are some exceptions to this general adoption of the federal regulations. In Title 43, Part XIII Chapter 9, the minimum wall thickness for 1” CTS pipe is 0.119inches (PHMSA…
Tennessee Damage Prevention Act Changes
On September 16, Tennessee published changes to its Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. The changes mostly added details or changed certain aspects of reporting. If an underground utility is damaged during excavations, the person responsible for the excavation is to report the damage to the One-Call Center instead of the utility owner; and, if there…
Texas Railroad Commission PIPES Online Portal Webinar
October 20, 2021 The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) will host a free webinar to inform and train industry personnel and the public on the Pipeline, Inspection, Permitting and Evaluation System (PIPES) portal. The webinar will be held at 10 AM CT on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. RRC PIPES, which launched in July, allows pipeline…
PHMSA Grants to Support Pipeline Safety Efforts
PHMSA is awarding $98,800,117 in grants to states, territories, and tribes to help enhance pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs at the community level for 11 different safety programs. The awards provide over $69 million in grant funding for six different pipeline safety grant programs, including: Pipeline Safety State Base grants Underground Natural Gas Storage Pipeline Safety Technical Assistance State Damage Prevention Program grants One-Call grants In addition, the award provides over $28 million…
September Featured Service
TestApp is a complete hardware and software solution for gas distribution operators to simplify how pressure tests are conducted for pipelines operating less than 100 psig. TestApp eliminates any concerns whether a test actually met an operator’s test acceptance criteria. TestApp eliminates the need for hand written records, providing a digital record of: what was…
Iowa Updated Permit Requirements
On September 9, 2021, the Iowa Department of Commerce, Utilities Division, issued an updated Chapter 13 under Title 199. Except for the new requirement to submit copies of all PHMSA reports to the Utilities Board, most of the update is a re-ordering of Chapter 13 and adding details to existing requirements for requesting, amending and…
Ohio PUCO Chapter 16 Gas Pipeline Safety Updated Regulation
The Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) published an updated Gas Pipeline Safety regulation on August 17, 2021. The regulation was updated to include the results of the five-year review. The next schedule review is due July 26, 2026. One new requirement was included in this update. Starting August 5, 2023, each operator will have to…