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RCP Houston Has Moved!

RCP recently moved to our newly constructed offices located on the 2nd floor of 801 Louisiana in downtown Houston. The move to the 12,000 square foot office space was good timing as we have grown considerably over the last few years. The space will allow RCP to continue its upward growth and provide even more…

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Low Stress Rural Pipelines

[Docket PHMSA-2008-0186] RIN 2137-AE36 PHMSA is proposing to amend its pipeline safety regulations to apply safety regulations to rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines that are not covered by safety regulations in 49 CFR Part 195. The Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act), requires PHMSA to “issue regulations subjecting low-stress hazardous…

Pipeline System Operator Security Information (TSA Notice) OMB Control Number: 1652-0055

Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) (Pub. L. 107-71, 115 Stat. 597 (November 19, 2001) and delegated authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has broad responsibility and authority for “security in all modes of transportation, including security responsibilities, over modes of transportation that are exercised by the…

RCP Receives 3 Patents for MAOP Software

RCP has received 3 patents (#8,548,756; #8,548,757; and #8,548,758) for our industry-leading MaxOp* software. RCP is the unquestioned market leader providing MAOP Validation Services, including over 100,000 miles of gas and liquid pipeline analysis and support. Not only does RCP bring a wealth of experienced professional engineers and support staff, we have brought the most…

Ohio Updates Gas Regulations

On December 19, 2013 the Ohio Public Utilities Commission published updates to their regulations in 4901.1.16. Substantial changes in that update include: Added definitions for “gas gathering pipeline”, “gas gathering / processing plant pipeline operator”, “Gas processing plant”, “horizontal well”, “MAOP”, “Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act”, “processing plant gas stub pipeline”, “raw natural gas”, and…

Summary of Pending PHMSA Regulations

A summary of pending PHMSA rulemakings is given below, based on PHMSA’s presentation at the December 17, 2013 Technical Advisory Committee teleconference. Rulemakings “In Process” Integrity Verification Process: This rulemaking would define testing and materials verification requirements to ensure the integrity of grandfathered and vintage pipelines. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) – in PHMSA Gas…

Texas Damage Prevention Summit San Marcos, TX – February 6 -8, 2012

The Texas Damage Prevention Summit will be held on February 6-8, 2012 in San Marcos, Texas at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center. This Summit is for all those interested in keeping Texas a safer place to live and work. Last year’s attendees included stakeholders ranging from gas and pipeline representatives, professional excavators and…

TAC, Title 16, Chapter 18 Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention TRRC Stakeholder Regulatory Workshop Report

In December 2011, the Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) held workshops in Austin, Texas to open discussions within the various stakeholder audiences regarding clarifications as well as edits to the current regulations. Below is a brief synopsis of some of the issues discussed at TRRC’s Damage Prevention Workshop on December 6th. If you feel the need…

Pennsylvania New Pipeline Safety Law

Docket No. M-2011-2271982 / HB 344 On December 22, 2011, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill giving Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission regulatory oversight of the commonwealth’s natural gas pipelines. (See related story in the December Edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance News.) The new law (Gas & Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Act) which takes effect in…

PHMSA DIMP Implementation Webinar

January 25, 2012 – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST Distribution pipeline operators were required to have prepared and implemented distribution integrity management plans (DIMP) by August 2, 2011. Federal and state regulators have begun inspecting those plans and their implementation. This webinar will be the first opportunity for the regulators to share their findings…

Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 Becomes Law H.R. 2845

New Pipeline Safety Act The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 (see related story in the November edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance News.) The bill reauthorizes the federal pipeline safety programs…

PIPA Report Published

PHMSA officially released the Pipelines & Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) report. A press release was posted to the PHMSA web site. The PIPA Report is available in its entirety on the Land Use Planning page within PHMSA’s Stakeholder Communications website; or, you can access these pages more directly by visiting pipelineinformedplanning.com. PIPA was sponsored by…