PHMSA has published a new inspection protocol set, applicable to gas transmission pipelines. These protocols are designed to address new regulatory requirements from the Final Rule that was published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2019 (Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments). These…
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Pennsylvania NPR Construction and Operation of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
[52 Pa. Code Chapter 59 | Docket No. L-2019-3010267] On July 15, 2021, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for the construction and operation of hazardous liquid pipelines. The proposed regulations would apply to intrastate pipelines and are primarily a mix of application of PHMSA Advisory Bulletins, industry best…
Maine Damage Prevention Regulation Updates
The State of Maine has updated its damage prevention regulations found in state regulations 65-407 – Public Utilities Commission – General; Chapter 895 – Underground Facility Damage Prevention Requirements. In addition to a few minor revisions, the modified rule adds exemptions for quarries and borrow pits, and adds requirements for unpaved road grading. It also…
CGA Best Practices 18.0
CGA has released the newest edition of its Best Practices Guide, the trusted, consensus-based resource providing guidance to the damage prevention industry for the last two decades. The Best Practices 18.0 introduces two new practices: 2-19: Underground Electronic Utility Markers; 6-19: As-Built Mapping of Underground Electronic Utility Markers; as well as, An addition to Appendix…
Pipeline Data Query (PDQ®)
Need to understand your company’s assets and performance relative to its peers? RCP’s Pipeline Data Query (PDQ®) database enables us to perform complex queries and analysis of every incident and accident reported to PHMSA since the advent of the reporting regulations, for every gas and liquid pipeline operator – as well as all the reported…
PHMSA Update
PHMSA recently provided an update on the agency’s current activities. Some notes taken from the presentation are provided below. GPAC and LPAC meetings scheduled for October 20-21. Items likely to be discussed include Class Location NPRM Hazardous Liquid Regulatory Reform Standards IBR Update Safety of Gas Transmission Lines (RIN 2) scheduled to be finalized late…
PHMSA FAQs on 911 Notifications Following Possible Pipeline Ruptures
[Docket No. 2020-0164] PHMSA is soliciting public comment on draft frequently asked questions (FAQs) intended to clarify existing regulatory requirements that operators of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines and hazardous liquid pipelines alert emergency responders when a pipeline emergency occurs. The draft FAQs explain that compliance with these existing requirements is best achieved when…
Texas Railroad Commission: The Pipeline, Inspection, Permitting, and Evaluation Public Portal
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has launched the Pipeline Inspection, Permitting, and Evaluation System (PIPES) Public Portal. Intrastate pipeline operators can file a plan of correction, safety-related condition reports, integrity notifications, and PS-95 reports online. The public can go online and access documents in the RRC’s pipeline safety inspection process. Users can search for…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin: Eliminating Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas from Pipeline Facilities
PHMSA has issued a new Advisory Bulletin (ADB 2021-01) reminding operators of the statutory mandate from the PIPES Act of 2020, which 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 limited to,…
PHMSA Max Civil Penalty Adjustment Final Rule
[RIN 2105-AE99] DOT issued a final rule increasing the maximum civil penalties that PHMSA may assess for violations of the federal Pipeline Safety Laws (49 CFR Part 190 – Pipeline Safety Enforcement and Regulatory Procedures) to reflect the 2021 inflation adjustment. Effective May 3, the maximum civil penalty for each pipeline safety violation increased from…
PHMSA Notice: Terminates Stay of Enforcement Related to COVID-19
On May 19, 2021, PHMSA will suspend its March 20, 2020 Stay of Enforcement and Notice of Enforcement Discretion as of May 26, 2021. The March 20, 2020 Stay laid out a course of notification that pipeline operators and natural gas storage operators could use to avoid enforcement due to ‘…limited personnel resources and the…
PHMSA Notice Pipeline Safety Information Collection Activities
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0172] PHMSA will modify the instructions for Part G, Part F, and Part L to clarify that operators are only required to report baseline and reassessment data for moderate consequence area (MCA) segments subject to 49 CFR 192.710. PHMSA is withdrawing its proposal to move reporting of relief valve & ESD events from…
TSA Security Directive “Enhancing Pipeline Cybersecurity”
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Security Directive (2021-01), effective May 28, 2021, titled Enhancing Pipeline Cybersecurity. This Directive was sent to the specific pipeline operators who were identified by the TSA as operating critical pipeline systems or facilities. The Directive has three requirements: Report cybersecurity incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency…
TSA Pipeline Security Guideline
[March 2018 Edition with Change 1 (April 2021)] The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has updated its Pipeline Security Guidelines manual. This update was published in April 2021. The Criticality Section has been replaced in the new manual. Where the old manual treated all pipelines equally, the new manual breaks down the guidance into gas distribution,…
Indiana Pipeline Safety Regulation Amendments
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission provided notice that they intend to amend pipeline safety regulations, including the following items. Amends 170 IAC 5-3-0.5, 70 IAC 5-3-0.6, 170 IAC 5-3-1, 170 IAC 5-3-2, 170 IAC 5-3-3, 170 IAC 5-3-4, and 170 IAC 5-3-5 to make various updates, incorporate new federal regulations through July 1, 2021. Specify…
Dura-Line Pauses NGD Polyethylene Pipe Orders
On April 20, 2021, Dura-Line announced a pause in the shipping and sale for any small diameter natural gas distribution polyethylene pipe as they look into inconsistencies in quality. The specific products affected are NGD pipe of 1.5-inch diameter or smaller (specifically, the NGD pipe sizes of 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4, and 1 1/2…
DHS Notice: Collection of Information on Top 100 Most Critical Pipelines
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invites public comment on a new Information Collection Request from the owners/operators of 125 pipeline systems. This collection provides TSA critical facility and annual product through-put information from the nation’s largest pipelines, and is necessitated by the requirements set forth in the Implementing the Recommendations…
New Wetlands Mitigation Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) have announced innovative new standards to promote no net loss of wetlands. Wetlands and other aquatic resources play an important role in the environmental landscape. Those who intend to dredge or deposit fill in wetlands or other waters of the…
TEEX Pipeline Training Facility / Emergency Responders
The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is world renowned for its hands-on customized training — providing training and technical assistance to more than 204,000 workers last year. This year, TEEX is building a pipeline prop at their facility which will benefit the industry in training emergency responders. It will be fully functional for training on…
PHMSA Issues Revised Inspection Protocols
PHMSA has published revised inspection protocols (updated March 7, 2008) on their website. The list of recently updated inspection protocols include: PHMSA Form-1 (Standard Inspection Report of a Gas Transmission Pipeline) PHMSA Form-2 (Standard Inspection Report of Gas Distribution Operator) PHMSA Form-3 (Standard Inspection of a Liquid Pipeline Carrier) PHMSA Form-4 (Standard Inspection Report of…