[EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0923; FRL-9131-1]; RIN 2060-AP99 EPA is proposing a supplemental rule to require reporting of fugitive and vented greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems, including: Onshore petroleum and natural gas production, Offshore petroleum and natural gas production, Natural gas processing, Natural gas transmission compressor stations, Underground natural gas storage, Liquefied natural gas…
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Advisory Bulletin (ADB-10-04) – Electronic Reporting System is Live
On February 3, 2010 (75 FR 5460), PHMSA published Advisory Bulletin ADB-10-01 in the Federal Register to notify operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities of newly revised incident/accident report forms and instructions. (See related article in the February 2010 edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance News.) In ADB-10-01, PHMSA announced that the revised…
DOT Final Rule Revisions to Civil Penalty Amounts
[RIN No. 2105-AE80] In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015, this final rule provides the 2019 inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations. PHMSA’s 2019 civil penalty adjustments are summarized in the chart below (49 CFR Part 190 Administrative practice and…
PIPES Act of 2019
On Wednesday July 31, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation cleared the PIPES Act of 2019 (S. 2299) bill to be voted on by the full Senate. The legislation will reauthorize the DOT’s Pipeline Safety Program and provide industry with the means to enhance the safety and reliability of the nation’s pipeline…
Kentucky Proposed Regulation Amendments for Gathering Line Operation and Drilling or Plugging Wells in the Vicinity of Gas Storage Reservoirs
[805 KAR 1:080 Gas Storage Reservoirs and 1:190 Gathering Line] Updated forms are now available for operators of gathering lines installed under permits issued after March 18, 2004. New operator license and renewal applications shall now be submitted with completed and notarized “Application for Gathering Line Operator’s License” Form OG-2 along with associated fees on…
TRRC Underground Pipeline Damage Penalty Adjustments Ending after Sept. 1, 2019
The Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) will no longer offer penalty adjustments for Stipulation, Agreed Settlement and Consent Orders issued after Sept. 1, 2019 for violating Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention rules. Penalty amounts will be determined by TRRC in accordance with applicable guidelines, prior to sending an initial notice of violation. Violations are subject to…
TRRC Begins Rulemaking for Pipeline Safety Enhancements
TRRC sought informal comments on rule amendments related to Class 1 and rural gathering lines, implementation of House Bills 866 and 864 requirements, reductions to late fees for certain pipeline operators, and other various updates to TRRC’s Pipeline Safety Regulations found in Chapter 8. HB 866 prohibits pipeline distribution operators from installing cast iron, wrought…
2019 Industry Conference Schedule
Western Regional Gas ConferenceAugust 20-21, 2019Tempe Mission Palms Hotel | Tempe, Arizona RCP’s Director of Integrity Services, Sheri Baucom, will be giving a presentation on “Pipeline Pressure Testing Objectives and Acceptance Criteria” on August 20th. The Western Regional Gas Conference provides a forum for the free exchange of information between natural gas companies and their…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop
September 24-26, 2019 Join us September 24-26, 2019 in Houston at our corporate office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics. The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations…
April National Safe Digging Month
With the top cause of pipeline accidents in Texas due to third-party damage or people digging into or near underground pipelines, the state’s pipeline safety regulators—the Texas Railroad Commissioners—remind homeowners and anyone with spring digging projects to call 811 before digging. The Common Ground Alliance, a group of public safety stakeholders including the Railroad Commission,…
GIS for Oil and Gas Conference
Join us in Houston at the Marriott Westchase Hotel for the Geospatial Information and Technology Association’s GIS for Oil and Gas Conference, September 13-17, 2009. Our president, Bill Byrd, will make a presentation on September 14, 2009, about regulatory requirements for gathering, transmission, and distribution pipelines.
RCP Web-Based Tracking Systems
We’ve developed two (extremely handy) web-based applications that will organize your compliance information. RCP’s Compliance Management System manages all of your permit requirements, inspections, procedures and data requirements. The Compliance Management System’s email reminders and document links provide you with the information that you need to stay in compliance with the hundreds of regulatory tasks.…
RCP Presentations at the API Pipeline Conference
The 60th annual API Pipeline Conference was held April 21 – 22, in Ft. Worth, Texas. RCP made the following presentations: Bill Byrd gave a presentation on “Best Practices in Damage Prevention for Parallel Construction Projects” at the session on Damage Prevention – Aerial Patrols, ROW Monitoring, Markers. (Request a copy) During the session for…
API Pipeline Conference Awards & Recognitions
The 2009 API Pipeline Conference was held on April 21 & 22 in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrating their 60th Anniversary! One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the API Pipeline Environmental and Safety Awards and Recognitions for 2008. These companies and individuals are an inspiration to all and a reminder that…
PHMSA Workshop on New Pipeline Construction
PHMSA hosted a new pipeline construction workshop in Ft. Worth, Texas on April 23rd. PHMSA made several presentations regarding problems that have been identified during field inspections over the past year during increased transmission pipeline construction activity. Based upon the observations made in 2008, PHMSA expects to increase inspections of new construction projects in the…
AGA Operations Conference May 19 – 21, 2009
Meet us at the 2009 AGA Operations Conference and Biennial Exhibition at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The Operations Conference is AGA’s largest forum with nearly 500 operations management in attendance, including 80 speakers, and over 100 technical presentations that run the gamut of topics, such as gas measurement, operations advocacy,…
PHMSA Inspection Protocols Updated
PHMSA has posted recently updated versions of their inspection, evaluation and qualification protocol documents at PHMSA Forms Library. These inspection protocols reflect changes that have been made to pipeline regulations up to January 16, 2009. PHMSA has not posted their Pilot Integrated Inspection Protocols on this site yet. If you are interested in these protocols,…
Mechanical Damage Report Released
This report reviews and summarizes the current state of knowledge and practice related to mechanical damage in natural gas and hazardous liquid steel pipelines, with particular focus on transmission pipelines. The report addresses several issues associated with mechanical damage including: understanding mechanical damage in pipelines prevention detection, identification and characterization assessment mitigation techniques pipeline industry…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – June 2 & 3, 2009
RCP will be hosting our very popular 2-day workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance on June 2 & 3, 2009, in Houston, TX. Join us for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance. PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Day 1 (June 2): Gas Pipeline Regulations (49CFR192) Day 2 (June 3): Liquid Pipeline Regulations (49CFR195) Each day…
Georgia Public Service Commission Regulation on Distribution Public Awareness Programs
The Georgia Public Service Commission developed a new regulation to address the roles and responsibilities for pipeline public awareness program implementation in cases where the billing to the Retail Customers of the Electing Distribution Company is provided, in whole or in part, by Marketers or Poolers providing commodity sales service or distribution services on the…