PHMSA plans to host meetings of the gas and liquid pipeline advisory committees on December 11 – 13. The agenda will include briefings on the notices of proposed rulemakings for Damage Prevention Programs and Administrative Procedures; Updates and Technical Corrections, along with any comments received, followed by a committee vote. The tentative meeting schedule will…
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Florida Gas Pipeline Regulation Updates
On October 18, 2012 the Florida Department of Public Service updated their gas pipeline regulations to adopt the 2011 versions of 49 CFR 191,192 and 199 by reference from the 2008 and 2009 versions. In addition, Section 25-12.052 was retitled and rearranged for better flow. The requirement for cathodic protection survey procedure qualification including a…
New Mexico Pipeline Regulations Updates
On October 29, 2012 the pipelines regulations governing intrastate pipelines in New Mexico were revised to include the following: Adoption of the definitions found in 49 CFR 193 and 194. Requiring hazardous liquid operators to make telephonic notices to the pipeline safety bureau in accordance with 49 CFR Section 195.50 for accidents. Requiring intrastate gas…
Gas Pipeline DIMP Regulations in New York – Proposed Rule Making
[I.D No. PSC-42-12-00006-P] The New York Public Service Commission has proposed a consensus rule making to revise Chapter III, Gas Utilities, Subchapter C, Safety, Part 255, Transmission and Distribution of Gas; by adding Sections 255.1001, 255.1003, 255.1005, 255.1007, 255.1009, 255.1011, 255.1013 and 255.1015. The proposed rule will identify, and take measures to reduce, integrity risks…
PHMSA Soliciting New Pipeline Safety Research
[RA# DTPH56-13-RA-000001] October 10, 2012 – PHMSA announced its latest round of solicited research topics that are targeting a wide range of challenges identified from the July 2012 R&D Forum. These topics are covering technology development and the generation of new knowledge in the areas of Threat Prevention, Leak Detection, Anomaly Detection/Characterization, Anomaly Repair and…
PHMSA ADB 2012-09 Pipeline Safety: Communication During Emergency Situations
[Docket No. PHMSA–2012–0201] PHMSA issued Advisory Bulletin ADB 2012-09 to remind operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities that operators should immediately and directly notify the Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) that serves the communities and jurisdictions in which those pipelines are located when there are indications of a pipeline facility…
Underwater Inspection Procedures & Inspection Interval Risk Model Updates
Now that Hurricane season is almost over, this is a reminder to those that have UIP and IIRM plans that you may want to review them soon. RCP’s latest Inspection Interval Risk Model (IIRM) has been improved to include additional inspection trigger results for hazardous liquid pipelines that cross navigable waterways within Inlets of the…
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
The DOT FY2012 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was released to the public on October 11, 2011, with proposal submission deadline of December 12. PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Research Program has 3 topics (pages 27-30): Focus area 1 12.1-PH1 Seal Sensor Network for Point-of-Source Leak Detection Focus area 2 12.1-PH2 Pipeline Systems with Integrated Health…
NAPSR Compendium of State Pipeline Safety Requirements
The National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (the state pipeline regulators) has recently released a “Compendium of State Pipeline Safety Requirements & Initiatives Providing Increased Public Safety Levels compared to the Code of Federal Regulation” 1st Edition 2011. This document provides a state-by-state breakdown of any requirements that go above and beyond PHMSA requirements. This…
California Pipeline Safety Laws
On October 7, 2011, California Governor, Jerry Brown, signed new pipeline safety laws that were written in response to the San Bruno incident. “We learned very important lessons from the tragic explosion in San Bruno,” Brown said. “These bills protect California’s communities by setting new standards for emergency preparedness, placing automatic shutoff valves in vulnerable…
CGA DIRT 2010 Analysis & Recommendations Released October, 2011
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has released the DIRT Report: Analysis & Recommendations for Calendar Year 2010, Volume VII. The Damage Information Report Tool (DIRT) Report identifies the importance of calling 811 as most critical to safety. When an excavator notifies a one call center before digging, damage occurs less than 1 percent of the…
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Proposes Changes to State Rules on Pipeline Safety and Damage Prevention
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) has proposed to amend its existing rules regarding Pipeline Safety General Provisions and Pipeline Safety Excavation Damage Prevention that are currently codified in the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC). The Staff has submitted nine (9) proposed changes to 18.60.2 and eighteen (18) proposed changes to 18.60.5 NMAC. Changes…
PHMSA Emergency Response Workshop
PHMSA’s December 9th Pipeline Emergency Response Forum will take place at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Co-sponsors for this event are the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The purpose of the forum is to convene a…
Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act 2011 Senate Bill 275
On October 17, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation and to provide for enhanced reliability in the transportation of the Nation’s energy products by pipeline. This legislation was initiated in response to recent pipeline incidents of gas…
Maine – Proposed Changes to Gas Pipelines; LNG Facilities; and Propane Gas System Regulations
In a Maine Public Rulemaking Notice on 10/13/2010, the State of Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) reopened their rulemaking for consideration of a revised draft rule to repeal and replace Ch. 420 which is Maine’s Rule setting forth safety standards for natural gas transmission and distribution systems and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities (number 65-407…
Texas Railroad Commission Chapter 8 Pipeline Safety Regulations
The comment period for the Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) proposed new §8.209 (relating to Distribution Facilities Replacements) ended on October 12, 2010. Comments are now available for review on the TRRC Website.
SPCC Compliance Date Amendment
EPA-HQ-OPA-2009-0880; FRL-9213-8; RIN 2050-AG59 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided an additional year for certain facilities to comply with the new Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule. This action allows additional time for those affected in the regulated community to understand the revisions to the SPCC rule finalized in December 2008 and…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – January 17-19, 2011
Join us January 17 – 19 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…
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Onshore Liquid Pipeline Regulations
[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0229]; RIN 2137-AE66 PHMSA has published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to get public comment on potential changes to their regulations covering hazardous liquid onshore pipelines. PHMSA is seeking public comment on six specific topic areas: whether it should extend regulation to certain pipelines currently exempt from regulation; whether other areas…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin ADB–10–08 Emergency Preparedness Communications
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued ADB-10-08 on October 28, 2010 to remind gas and liquid pipeline operators that they are required to maintain an informed relationship with emergency responders in their jurisdiction, and in particular, the need to share the operator’s emergency response plans with emergency responders. PHMSA recommends that…