[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0203] The Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), also known as the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), also known as the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, will meet in joint sessions on Tuesday, February, 25, 2014, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday,…
Uncategorized
PHMSA Pipeline Safety Notice & Request for Comments
[Docket No. PHMSA–2014–0005] In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on certain information collections that will be expiring in summer of 2014. This Notice identifies several information collection requests that PHMSA will submit to OMB for renewal, including: Reporting Safety-Related Conditions on Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin ADB-2014-01: Improvements in Preparing Oil Spill Facility Response Plans
[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0226] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an Advisory Bulletin concerning oil spill response planning for onshore oil pipelines. While the ADB covers several basic and well-known requirements, and mentions specific issues related to the Marshall, Michigan pipeline accident, the following items are of note (in your humble newsletter…
RCP Integrity Services
RCP Integrity Services, Inc. (RCP IS) was formed January 1, 2013 to provide a full range of field services related to planning and implementation of pipeline integrity activities including direct assessment, In Line Inspection analysis, internal corrosion control, and external corrosion control including High Voltage AC influence on buried pipelines analysis, Close-Interval-Surveys, Voltage Gradient surveys,…
Meet me at the Conference
Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will have representatives and Exhibits at NACE, API and AGA. We hope to see you there! NACE Corrosion 2013 Conference & Expo March 17 – 21 (Orlando, FL) Booth #930 AGA Transmission Pipeline Workshop March 19-20 (Chicago, IL) API Pipeline Conference April 16…
PHMSA Online Inventory of High-risk Pipeline Infrastructure
PHMSA has created a website that provides data and information on cast and wrought iron gas distribution pipelines. The website includes an annually-updated online inventory that lists this “high-risk” pipeline infrastructure mileage by state. Click here for more information.
PHMSA State One-Call Exemptions Forum March 14 – West Palm Beach, FL
PHMSA will convene a forum for damage prevention stakeholders to discuss exemptions from state one-call programs. The forum will occur in West Palm Beach, Florida, immediately following the Common Ground Alliance 811 Excavation Safety Conference and Expo. PHMSA intends to webcast the meeting. To register or view the agenda, click here for more information.
TRRC Excavation Damage Prevention Regulations – Proposed Changes
16 TAC Chapter 18 The Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) has prepared Draft amendments to 16 TAC Chapter 18, relating to Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/ch18-draft-amdmts-inf-comment-Dec2012.pdf. The proposed changes address many different aspects of the excavation damage prevention process, including ticket life, communication requirements, locating requirements (including qualification of locators, and marking deadlines), and damage reporting.…
PHMSA Posts Record Enforcement Numbers in 2012
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is holding operators accountable for compliance with safety rules. In its push to ensure the nation’s pipeline companies continue to enhance the safety of their systems by investing in necessary improvements, PHMSA issued 116 enforcement orders to pipeline operators in 2012, its second highest year, for…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – March 5 – 7, 2013
Join us March 5-7, 2013 in Houston at our new 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, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations and engineering concepts.…
PHMSA ADB 2013-01 Accident and Incident Notification Time Limit
[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0015] PHMSA issued Advisory Bulletin ADB-2013-01 to advise owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquids pipeline systems and LNG facilities that they should contact the NRC within one hour of discovery of a pipeline incident and should also file additional telephonic reports if there are significant changes in the number of fatalities…
PHMSA Extends Deadline for Filing Gas Transmission & Gathering 2012 Annual Reports
[Docket ID PHMSA-2012-0319] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an updated report form and extended the deadline for filing the 2012 gas transmission and gathering annual reports from March 15, 2013 to June 15, 2013. Online submission via the PHMSA Portal is required unless an alternative reporting method is granted by…
Random Federal Register Notice That Has Nothing To Do With Pipelines
Your humble newsletter editor reviews a digest of the Federal Register on a daily basis. Some titles just grab my attention. For example, this notice on January 27, 2012 at 77 FR 4398 (Vol. 77, No. 18): Safety Advisory Notice: Return of Radioactively Contaminated Tissue Holders Purchased From Bed Bath and Beyond I hope my…
PHMSA Leak Detection Workshop 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.…
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…
TRRC Proposed Rule Changes 16 TAC 8 & 18
The Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) has proposed rule changes to Chapter 8 and 18 that would align all penalty guidelines with existing Pipeline Safety penalty guidelines, creating consistency and transparency agency-wide. 16 TAC Chapter 8 – Pipeline Safety Regulations TRRC proposes to amend §8.135, relating to Penalty Guidelines for Pipeline Safety Violations. The proposed amendments…
Pennsylvania Pipeline Safety Act 127 Tentative Implementation Order
Docket M-2012-2282031 The Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act (also known as “the Pipeline Act” or Act 127 of 2011) was signed by Governor Corbett on Dec. 22, 2011 and goes into effect on Feb. 20, 2012. This law expands the Commission’s authority to enforce federal pipeline safety laws as they relate to gas and…
PHMSA Excess Flow Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than Single-Family Residences – Extension for Comments
Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0009 On November 25, 2011, PHMSA published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), titled: “Pipeline Safety: Expanding the Use of Excess Flow Valves (EFVs) in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than Single-Family Residences.” (See related story in the December Edition of the DOT Compliance News.) The ANPRM…
PHMSA Misc. Changes to Pipeline Safety Regulations – Extension for Comments
Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0026 On November 29, 2011, PHMSA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled: “Miscellaneous Changes to Pipeline Safety Regulations” seeking comments on the need for changes to the regulations covering pipeline safety regulations. (See related story in the December Edition of the DOT Compliance News.) The Committee on Pipe…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin (ADB–2012–01) Nat’l Pipeline Registry
[Docket No. PHMSA–2012–0001] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Advisory Bulletin ADB-2012-01 regarding the Implementation of the National Registry of Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Operators which became effective on January 1, 2012. PHMSA has issued this advisory bulletin to clarify the implementation of the national pipeline operator registry. PHMSA published…