PHMSA posted a draft set of FAQ’s requesting comment as to the federal jurisdictional delineation points for gas processing facilities to which there may be overlapping authority between PHMSA and OSHA. The two agencies agreed to delineate where they each would perform regulatory oversight activities for midstream processing facilities based on the predominate use of…
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Oklahoma Underground Gas Storage Regulations
As of October 1, 2020, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has added 165:20-6-1 to Title 165, Chapter 20 – Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety, to adopt all of the provisions of 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192, as such exist on January 1, 2020, pertaining to Intrastate Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities.
Underwater Inspection Procedures & Inspection Interval Risk Model Updates
2020 has been a hurricane season we all can agree we wish had never happened. For many operators with assets in the Gulf of Mexico and its inlets subject to 49 CFR 192.612 and 195.413, there has been not only a named storm, but several named storms that crossed those assets. You did your initial…
RCP’s 2021 Workshop Schedule
The virtual format for this is unlike anything you have experienced before. Attendees will receive links to workshop materials two weeks prior to live stream Q&A sessions with the trainers and other attendees. Registration is now open for the February workshop. For more info visit our events page.
PHMSA ADB-2020-01 Pipeline Safety: Meters and Regulators Inside Buildings
[Docket No. PHMSA-2020-0115] PHMSA issued an advisory bulletin to alert owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipelines to the consequences of failures of meters and regulators inside buildings. PHMSA is also reminding operators of existing Federal regulations covering the installation and maintenance of meter and regulators inside buildings, including the integrity management regulations for…
PHMSA ADB-2020-02 Overpressure Protection on Low-Pressure Natural Gas Distribution System
[Docket No. PHMSA-2020-0025] PHMSA issued an advisory bulletin to remind owners and operators of natural gas distribution pipelines of the possibility of failure due to an over-pressurization on low-pressure distribution systems. PHMSA also reminds pipeline operators of their obligations to comply with the gas DIMP regulations at 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart P. PHMSA encourages…
Mega Rule FAQs
[Docket Number PHMSA-2019-0225] On September 15, 2020, PHMSA posted Batch 1 FAQs on the Gas Transmission Final Rule (aka Mega Rule) to assist gas transmission pipeline operators in complying with the pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192. The FAQs include PHMSA’s responses to public comments and address a number of issues…
PHMSA Announces Nearly $8 Million in Pipeline Safety R&D Awards
PHMSA announced an award package totaling $7,810,213. The awards will fund 10 pipeline safety research and development (R&D) projects that address pipeline safety priorities including Damage/Threat Prevention, Leak Detection, Anomaly Detection/Characterization, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Improved Materials. Project awardees will contribute an additional $4,082,308 in cost-share funds. A Merit Review Panel consisting of 28…
California Adopts New Article 7 for Risk Analysis and Best Available Technology for Minimizing Releases from Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
California’s Office of the State Fire Marshal has adopted requirements that govern the requirements for hazardous liquid pipeline construction and operation near environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas in the Coastal Zone. Hazardous liquid pipeline operators are required to conduct and submit a Risk Analysis with associated Implementation Plans to the State Fire Marshal for detecting…
Corps of Engineers NOPR to Reissue Nationwide Permits 2 Years Ahead of Schedule
[Docket No. COE-2020-0002] On September 15, 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to replace the 2017 Nationwide Permits (NWPs) by the end of 2020. NWPs provide a streamlined process for the Corps to authorize work in streams, wetlands, lakes, and tidal waters under Section 404 of…
Michigan Gas Regulation Changes
The Michigan Public Service Commission has made a number of minor changes to its regulations in Chapter 460, Technical Standards for Gas Service. It also added a new section regarding security reporting, a new section on statistical quality sampling program for diaphragm-type meters, and incorporated a number of industry standards.
Washington State’s Proposed New Reporting Requirements for Crude Oil Movement by Rail and Pipeline
[Chapter 173-185 WAC] The Washington State Department of Ecology proposed new reporting requirements for pipeline and rail transport of crude oil. These new requirements include reporting the gravity, vapor pressure and the type of crude oil. The new information will be reported to the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). Three Public Hearings are scheduled through…
Washington State New Reporting Requirements for Gas Pipelines
[RCW 81.88.160] Starting March 15, 2021, gas pipeline operators will be required to file an annual report with Washington’s State Department of Ecology. The reporting requirements include information about the number and size of gas leaks, pipeline repair activities, and the scheduling of future pipeline repairs. The information reported will be included in the estimated…
2020 International Pipeline Conference Wrap Up
Your humble newsletter editor is honored to have served as the chair of the 2020 International Pipeline Conference (and relieved that it is all over!). The conference was held virtually for the first time but still included more than 200 peer-reviewed technical papers on cutting-edge energy pipeline research from throughout the world. Recorded presentations for…
PHMSA’s NPRM Offers Pipeline Operators New Alternatives to Addressing Changes in Population Density Near Natural Gas Pipelines
On September 3, 2020, PHMSA transmitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to the Federal Register. The NPRM seeks public comment on proposed revisions to safety regulations pertaining to class location requirements for natural gas transmission pipelines. The proposals would provide new options for required actions following a change in class location due to population…
Changes to PHMSA Portal, OMS Functions, OPID Contact Management
Over the past six years, pipeline operators have had the ability to update contacts for an OPID in the PHMSA Portal for the following: Compliance Officers Compliance Assistants Inspections Emergency Situations Senior Executive Official NPMS Submissions Drug & Alcohol User Fee Some OPID have consistently updated contacts as they change while others have not. Also,…
GPAC Virtual Public Meeting Notice
There will be a virtual public meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) to discuss the Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform NPRM that PHMSA published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2020 (85 FR 35240). GPAC will review the NPRM and its associated regulatory analysis. The meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, October…
DOT Revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form
The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that their revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In the ‘terms of clearance’, OMB is authorizing the use of the ‘old’ CCF until August 30, 2021. To learn more about what this means…
Senate Passes Bill S.2299 to Reauthorize Pipeline Safety Act
The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020, reauthorizing pipeline safety programs through FY 2023, passed in the U.S. Senate on August 6, 2020 and goes to the House next for consideration. The House bill would need to be reconciled with the Senate bill before legislation can be signed by…
TRRC Notice to Pipeline Operators: Recent Amendments 16 TAC §3.70 and Updates to the Pipeline Online Permitting System
On September 1, 2020, the Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) will require pipeline operators to file for the renewal of their pipeline permits by the last day of their designated month. This is in accordance with amendments to 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.70 which were adopted by TRRC on January 6, 2020 and take effect…