PHMSA has recently assessed a penalty against a liquid pipeline operator who claimed the “low stress piping” exemption for delivery pipeline segments at the end of a transmission pipeline system. Even though the pipeline segments were located downstream of a delivery facility, individually operated at low stress, and could be operated independently from the remainder…
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DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – October 25 – 27, 2011
Join us October 25 – 27 in Houston at our new office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance and OPA Planning for DOT Pipelines. This workshop has been attended by hundreds of pipeline personnel, with excellent feedback. The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline…
Damage Prevention Workshop via LiveMeeting
Plan to log on and participate in the upcoming API/AOPL Damage Prevention “Workshop” via LiveMeeting. There will also be limited on-site seating at the RCP Offices at 801 Louisiana, Suite 200, Houston, Texas. The LiveMeeting will occur Tuesday, October 11 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm eastern time and will focus on damage prevention program…
Use of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form; Technical Amendment and Clarifications
[Docket DOT-OST-2010-0161]; RIN 2105-AE03 All urine specimens collected under the Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, must be collected using chain-of-custody procedures that incorporate the use of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On November 17, 2009,…
PHMSA Control Room Management Implementation Workshop
November 17 / Houston, TX HMSA is hosting a free workshop on implementation of the Control Room Management Rule at the Intercontinental Hotel in Houston, Texas on November 17, 2010. This workshop is intended to foster an understanding of the Control Room Management Rule. Scheduled speakers will discuss components of the new regulations, such as…
2010 Damage Prevention Workshop
October 14-15 Houston, TX API, AOPL, INGAA, AGA, and APGA are sponsoring a Damage Prevention Workshop in Houston, TX at the Omni Houston Hotel Westside from Thursday, October 14, 2010 through Friday, October 15, 2010. The fee to attend is $145 if registered by October 4, 2010 and $195 thereafter. Click here for on-line registration.…
ASME Pipeline Systems Division Update
The ASME Pipeline Systems Division (PSD) is the proud sponsor of the International Pipeline Conference which is held every 2 years in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. During the PSD Executive Committee meeting on September 26 prior to this year’s conference, RCP’s President, Bill Byrd, was appointed Treasurer of the Division.
SPCC Rule Deadline Approaching
All SPCC Plan holders are reminded of the November 10, 2010 deadline for compliance with the recently updated SPCC Rule. EPA has proposed to extend those deadlines by another year for most facilities, but that rulemaking has not been finalized. In general the current deadlines for SPCC-regulated facilities are as follows: Facilities in operation on…
Control Room Management – Proposed Expedited Deadlines
Docket ID PHMSA-2007-27954; RIN 2137-AE64 The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published the Control Room Management/Human Factors final rule in the Federal Register on December 3, 2009, which became effective on February 1, 2010. (See related story in the DOT Pipeline Compliance News, December 2009 Special Edition.) The final rule established an…
Corporate Liability and Emergency Accident Notification (CLEAN) Act
111th Congress (2009-2010) H.R. 6008 The U.S. House passed Congressman Mark Schauer’s (D-MI) Corporate Liability and Emergency Accident Notification (CLEAN) Act, H.R. 6008. This bill would: require companies to report any oil, gas, or other hazardous liquid spill to authorities no later than one hour after the discovery of the spill increase civil penalties from…
Proposed Pipeline Safety Legislation 111th Congress (2009-2010) S.3824
At least four bills have been proposed as part of PHMSA Reauthorization to provide for enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation; and for enhanced reliability in the transportation of the nation’s energy products by pipeline. One bill has been passed by the House, but it seems unlikely that reauthorization will occur until 2011…
Special Speakers for DOT Workshop
Bill Byrd, President, RCP: Bill Byrd serves on the Executive Committee of the ASME Safety Engineering and Risk Assessment Division (SERAD), is treasurer of the ASME Pipeline Systems Division, and is the technical chair for the Safety Engineering, Risk Assessment, and Reliability Methods track at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exhibition. He is the…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – October 19 – 21, 2010
Attention All Workshop Attendees: This is your opportunity to win a new iPod Nano from RCP. Each day of the workshop we will be giving away an iPod Nano in conjunction with testing out our new interactive workshop participation system. Test out your skills and see how much you really know about pipeline compliance! Join…
ASME Conference November 18, 2009
Attend the International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exhibition for the Safety Engineering, Risk Analysis and Reliability Methods (SERAD) presentations track, co-chaired by our president Bill Byrd, on November 18, 2009. At the conference, you will get unique insights into engineering’s cutting-edge research and development and how it will determine the evolution of technology worldwide. You…
Pipeline Safety Trust Conference November 5 & 6, 2009 in New Orleans
Meet us at the Pipeline Safety Trust Conference in New Orleans on November 5th and 6th at the Hotel Monteleone. The Pipeline Safety Trust brings together a unique mix of experience from the affected public, local government, the pipeline industry, and pipeline regulators to discuss the hard issues and create greater understanding to move pipeline…
Pipeline Leak Detection and Monitoring Conference October 28, 2009 in Houston
Attend the Pipeline Leak Detection and Monitoring Conference (PLDM) in Houston on October 28 to hear RCP’s President Bill Byrd present methods for compliance with the pipeline leak detection requirements. The 2nd annual Pipeline Leak Detection & Monitoring Conference is the leading forum where newcomers, seasoned professionals and regulatory officials network together for the common…
TRRC Proposed Amendments to LP Gas Safety Rules
The Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) has proposed amendments to §9.3 and §9.41 that would: change the testing method of LP-gas systems in school facilities from pressure testing to leakage testing, require school districts to retain testing documentation for five years, and allows the Commission to review that documentation. The proposed conforming amendments to §9.3…
TRRC Approves Pipeline Safety Program Fee Increase
The Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) has approved adoption of amendments to §8.201, relating to Pipeline Safety Program fees, without changes to the version published in the July 3, 2009 issue of the Texas register which increases the maximum annual natural gas pipeline safety inspection fee from $.50 per service line to $1.00 per service…
API Updates Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Guide
The American Petroleum Institute has published a new edition of its guide for estimating greenhouse-gas emissions, the “Compendium of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Methodologies for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry.” The compendium provides standardized methods for estimating carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions from all common sources throughout the oil and natural gas value chain.…
EPA Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule
EPA signed the final Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Rule on September 22, 2009. It should be published in the Federal Register in the next month. The rule requires that facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions submit annual reports to the EPA. In 2010, the primary reporting…