In the August 2020 Louisiana Register, LDNR published a Notice of Intent (NOI) for Pipeline Safety regulations to bring state regulations in line with federal regulations. LDNR is accepting public comment on these proposed regulations, which must be sent to the Office of Conservation by 4:00 PM on September 21, 2020. See full details on…
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Texas Pipeline Mapping System Updates Publication
The Texas Railroad Commission’s Pipeline Mapping System (TPMS) has adopted a new name for its Attribute Definitions, Valid Codes and Digital Projection Requirements publication. It’s now known as A Guide to Shapefile Submissions. The TPMS is a geographic information system database that requires pipeline attributes to be represented by certain codes. A Guide to Shapefile…
Pipeline Safety Trust Announces New Executive Director
The Pipeline Safety Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Caram as Executive Director. Caram comes to the Pipeline Safety Trust from the Deschutes River Conservancy in Bend, Oregon where he served the collaborative environmental organization as Director of Finance and Development. Caram envisions fostering a group of pipeline safety experts much broader…
PHMSA Grants to Enhance Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
PHMSA announced that it is awarding over $97 million in grants through its pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. The awards will be distributed to states, local communities, tribal entities, universities, and non-profit organizations to support state pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. Award recipients will use the funds for projects such as training first…
Job Posting
RCP and our clients are always on the lookout for good technical and regulatory compliance personnel. If you know of someone who might be in need of a position, please have them send a resume to RCP’s HR department.
Underground Gas Storage Final Rule Correction
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0016; Amdt. No. 191-28] On July 23, 2020, PHMSA published a notice in the Federal Register that corrects an unintended deletion of certain National Registry of Operators reporting requirements for natural gas pipeline operators in regard to the final rule titled “Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities” that PHMSA published in the…
Louisiana Dig Law Annotated to new LDNR Damage Prevention
In the July 2020 Louisiana Register, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) published a Final Rule for Damage Prevention regulations. LDNR is now the regulatory agency for damage prevention under the new law located at LAC Title 43 Part XI Subpart 6 Damage Prevention Chapter 27 Damage Prevention. These regulations updated the previous LA…
PHMSA Announces $10 Million Award for Engineering Services for a New Pipeline Research, Development and Testing Center
PHMSA announced an initial investment of $10 million for the conceptual study, design, and development of a world-class pipeline Research, Development, and Testing (RDT) facility at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The proposed testing center is on Federal Railroad Administration property, leased from the State of Colorado, and managed through a contractor. This…
PHMSA Response to Petition for Reconsideration: Gas Transmission Rule
[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0023; Amdt. No. 192-127] Several trade associations jointly petitioned PHMSA on October 31, 2019 to consider amendments to the gas transmission final rule, which became effective July 1, 2020. On July 6, 2020 PHMSA published amendments to the final rule to address this petition. There are two main issues that are addressed in…
PHMSA Pipeline Advisory Committee (Virtual) Meetings
July 22-23, 2020 The Pipeline Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings are scheduled virtually for July 22 (Gas PAC) and July 23 (Liquid PAC). The meeting announcements and registration information can be found on the PHMSA Meeting Registration webpage. Topics for discussion include: The GPAC will meet to discuss the NPRM titled: “Amendments to Parts 192 to…
Delaware NPRM Underground Facilities Enforcement
[Docket No. 19-0713] The Delaware Public Service Commission (“Commission”) has proposed regulations governing its enforcement of the Underground Utility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, which is codified at 26 Del. C. §§ 801-813. The Order #9595 and the proposed regulations can be viewed in the Commission’s electronic filing system DelaFile at docket number 19-0713. Pursuant…
TaskOp Audit Tool for Social Distancing
How we conduct business may have changed due to social distancing, but RCP’s TaskOp Audit Tool fits perfectly into this new business model. The TaskOp audit tool, with all its online document retention, tracking of findings, resolutions, etc., not only makes audits a breeze, but it is also perfectly suited for audits requiring social distancing…
RCP’s 25th Anniversary
This year marks a remarkable and very successful 25th anniversary for RCP. After our opening in 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we now have employees throughout the U.S. Our projects range from Maine to Hawaii, Florida to Alaska, Canada and overseas. I want to sincerely thank our clients for the privilege of being your Professional…
PHMSA Proposed Rule – Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0046] PHMSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that contains a variety of misc. modifications to the existing gas pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191 and 192. The proposed rule changes are intended to ease regulatory burdens on the construction, maintenance and operation of gas transmission, distribution, and gathering pipeline systems. PHMSA expects…
EPA Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule
[Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0405] On June 1, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the “Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule” to update and clarify the substantive and procedural requirements for water quality certification under Clean Water Act (CWA or the Act) section 401. CWA section 401 is a direct grant of authority to States…
PHMSA NPRM Regulatory Reform for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
[Docket No. PHMSA-2018-0047] PHMSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the “Regulatory Reform for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines.” PHMSA is soliciting public comments on proposed amendments to 49 CFR 190, 194, and 195 for the safety of hazardous liquid pipelines that would revise the requirements for facility response plans, revise the definition for accidents, and…
PHMSA Notice Stay of Enforcement to Gas Pipeline Operators Affected by COVID-19
PHMSA announced they will not enforce provisions of the recently finalized gas transmission rule for certain items that were due to be implemented on July 1, 2020. They will extend this July 1 deadline to December 31, 2020 (this is good news for all of you Really Cool People!). According to PHMSA’s FAQ-1, the following…
PHMSA Farm Tap FAQs
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0131] PHMSA is preparing to update its FAQs for gas farm taps. PHMSA has published a series of new FAQs to replace the current FAQ (C.3.7) concerning farm taps. The current FAQs can be reviewed on the PHMSA Gas Distribution Integrity Management webpage. The new FAQs will be available for public comment until…
COE Nationwide Permit Injunction / Directive
On April 15, a federal court in the District of Montana vacated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (COE) Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12 and remanded it to the COE for reconsideration in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The court also enjoined the COE from authorizing any dredge or fill activities under NWP 12…
Updated COS-2-03 Requirements for 3rd Party SEMS Auditing, 2nd Edition
The Center for Offshore Safety (COS) has issued a new edition of COS-2-03, “Requirements for Third-Party SEMS Auditing,” Second Edition, and three additional guidance documents: COS-1-06, “Guidance for Developing a SEMS Audit Plan”; COS-1-07, “Guidance for Developing a SEMS Corrective Action Plan”; and, COS-1-08, “SEMS Audit Report Format and Guidance.” It is important to understand…