[Docket No. PHMSA-2008-0334] PHMSA has issued a direct final rule to incorporate by reference the most recent editions of API Specification 5L “Specification for Line Pipe” and API 1104 “Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities.” The purpose of this update is to enable pipeline operators to utilize current technology, materials, and practices to help maintain…
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Join RCP’s MS150 Team from Houston to Austin April 12 – 13
RCP hosts a small but enthusiastic team of riders in MS150 bike rides, including the upcoming BP MS150 on April 12-13 from Houston to Austin. Your humble newsletter editor is happy to suffer a bit for a good cause, but he has his limits. The RCP team rents a ranch outside LaGrange for the overnight…
Spring Conference Schedule March – May 2014
Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP and RCP Integrity Services will be attending. We hope to see you there! NACE Corrosion 2014 Conference & Expo March 9-13, 2014 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center; San Antonio, Texas RCP Integrity Services is a proud sponsor of Corrosion 2014. Click on the…
RCP Integrity Services www.rcpIS.com
Looking for more pipeline integrity and corrosion control services? Check out the new website for RCP Integrity Services at www.rcpIS.com. We have a new look that is also mobile friendly. RCP Integrity Services (RCPIS) supports RCP’s pipeline integrity and corrosion control services including Operational Reliability Assessments and Integrity Management Programs. RCP Integrity Services, along with…
ASME Training Week – Denver April 14 – 18
Check out the pipeline training programs offered by ASME in Denver the week of April 14-18, 2014. Subject Matter Experts from RCP will provide training on the first day regarding pipeline pressure testing. Other courses are offered on ASME B31.4 (liquid transmission) and ASME B31.8 (gas transmission), as well as Composite Repairs, Defect Assessment, Inline…
Safety Management Systems Meeting
PHMSA hosted a workshop on the pending API Recommended Practice 1173 on Pipeline Safety Management System Requirements. The agenda and presentations from the workshop are available here. The draft document can be accessed here. Public comments on the draft will be accepted until April 11, 2014. Comments must be submitted online at http://ballots.api.org/login.aspx. The ballot…
NPMS Data Submission
As a reminder, gas transmission operators are requested to submit their NPMS data (or notification of no changes) by March 15, 2014. The data should reflect assets as of 12/31/13. Hazardous liquid operators are requested to submit their NPMS data (or notification of no changes) by June 15, 2014. The data should reflect assets as…
PHMSA Advisory Committee Meetings
As mentioned in our last newsletter, PHMSA held a day and a half of joint gas and liquid advisory committee meetings in the DC area on February 25-26. Only one official vote was taken, regarding the use of re-worked materials for plastic gas piping. The committee was unanimous that they did not support this option…
PHMSA Advisory Committee Meetings
As mentioned in our last newsletter, PHMSA held a day and a half of joint gas and liquid advisory committee meetings in the DC area on February 25-26. Only one official vote was taken, regarding the use of re-worked materials for plastic gas piping. The committee was unanimous that they did not support this option…
PHMSA Updates DIMP Enforcement Guidance
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) updated its Gas Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management Enforcement Guidance for 49 CFR Subpart P. The document is intended for internal use by the PHMSA pipeline safety enforcement staff – but is also available to the public and pipeline operators. This guidance document describes the practices used…
2012 Industry Conferences at a Glance
It’s not too early to make plans to attend these upcoming events. RCP will have representatives and/or presentations at each of these conferences. We hope to see you there! SGA Spring Gas Conference and Expo Charlotte, NC March 19 – 22 API 2012 Pipeline Conference Phoenix, AZ April 17 – 19 AGA Operations Conference San…
PHMSA Leak Detection and RCV Workshops March 27 & 28 – Washington, DC
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is conducting a 2-day workshop on “Improving Pipeline Leak Detection System Effectiveness and Understanding the Application of Automatic/Remote Control Valves.” This event is to provide an open forum for exchanging information on leak detection systems and Automatic/Remote Control Valves for hazardous liquids and natural gas pipelines.…
Misc. Changes to New York State PL Regulations
The PSC in New York has recently made numerous changes to their pipeline safety regulations. The State of New York has chosen to re-codify the pipeline safety regulations into the NY regulatory code (as opposed to simply adopting the federal pipeline regulations by reference, and then adopting specific changes). This approach makes it much more…
US Coast Guard PREP Guidelines Update Notice
[Docket No. USCG-2011-1178] The National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) is designed to facilitate the periodic testing of oil spill response plans of certain vessels and facilities. The Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental…
PHMSA ADB 2012-03 Driscopipe® 8000 High Density Polyethylene Pipe Potential Material Degradation
[Docket No. PHMSA–2012–0044] The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Advisory Bulletin ADB 2012-03 to alert operators using Driscopipe® 8000 High Density Polyethylene Pipe (Drisco8000) of the potential for material degradation. Degradation has been identified on pipe between one-half inch to two inches in diameter that was installed between 1978 and 1999 in…
PHMSA ADB-2012-02 Pipeline Safety: Post Accident Drug & Alcohol Testing
[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0335] PHMSA issued Advisory Bulletin ADB-2012-02 to Operators of Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities. Operators and contractors are encouraged to review and update, where necessary, plans and procedures governing post-accident substance abuse/misuse testing and train all those involved with ensuring that such testing is performed promptly…
RCP Continues to Add More Firepower to its Staff
David White, who recently retired from BP Pipelines (North America) as a Regulatory Compliance Coordinator, has joined RCP as a Senior Advisor. Dave brings a wealth of pipeline industry knowledge and regulatory expertise, particularly in Control Room Management and Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). We are looking forward to his valuable contributions to RCP and…
National Safe Digging Month
April 2011 will once again be National Safe Digging Month (NSDM), the time of year when all Common Ground Alliance (CGA) stakeholders come together to communicate how important it is that professionals and homeowners alike call 811 and follow the safe digging process to help prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages. To assist damage…
CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo March 8 -10
The CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo will take place on March 8 – 10, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. Excavation safety and the protection of buried infrastructure is the shared responsibility of all stakeholder groups. This Conference brings together stakeholders from throughout the industry to share ideas, learn from the experts and gather information on…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – May 10-12, 2011
Join us May 10 – 12 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…