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ANPRM: Expanding the Use of Excess Flow Valves in Gas Distribution Systems to Applications Other Than Single-Family Residences

Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0009 The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made a safety recommendation to PHMSA that excess flow valves be installed in all new and renewed gas service lines, regardless of a customer’s classification, when the operating conditions are compatible with readily available valves. In response to that recommendation, PHMSA is seeking public comment…

ANPRM Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines (Extension of Comments)

Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0023 On August 25, 2011, (76 FR 53086) PHMSA published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) titled: “Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines” seeking comments on the need for changes to the regulations covering gas transmission pipelines. (See related story in the September 2011 edition of the DOT Pipeline…

PHMSA Pipeline Safety – NPRM Misc. Changes

Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0026 The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for parts of 49 CFR 191, 192, 195 and 198. PHMSA is proposing to make miscellaneous changes to the pipeline safety regulations to correct errors, address inconsistencies, and respond to rulemaking petitions. Some highlights include: Prohibits…

PHMSA Migrates NPMS Database to PODS

PHMSA has completed the migration of the 510,917-mile National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Database to PODS (Pipeline Open Data Standard). This large dataset is visible to the general public via the Public View \ application on www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. By utilizing the PODS Data Model, PHMSA is now able to track attributes in a pipe-centric, rather than…

Pipeline Safety: Technical Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee Meeting

[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0203] The Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet via conference call on Monday, December 13, 2010, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The committee will consider and vote on a proposed rule titled: “Pipeline Safety: Applying Safety Regulation to All Rural Onshore Hazardous Liquid Low-Stress Lines” published on June…

Pipeline Safety: UIP Information Collection Activities

[Docket No. PHMSA–2010–0355] The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137–0618, titled ‘‘Pipeline Safety: Periodic Underwater Inspection.’’ PHMSA is preparing to request approval from OMB for a renewal of the current information collection. Submit comments on or before February…

Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities for Safety Related Conditions on Pipelines and LNG Facilities

[Docket No. PHMSA–2010–0354] The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137–0578, titled ‘‘Reporting Safety- Related Conditions on Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.’’ PHMSA is preparing to request approval from OMB for a…

Final Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0923; FRL-9226-1; RIN 2060-AP99 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgated a regulation (SubPart W of 40 CFR Part 98) to require monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. This action adds this source category to the list of source categories already required to report greenhouse gas emissions. This…

Online Reporting Now Available for Low Consequence Liquid Pipeline Incidents

Cheryl Trench of Allegro Energy Consulting has informed us that PHMSA’s online system for filing a Form PHMSA F 7000-1 for low consequence accidents from liquids pipelines will be available for data entry on November 19. This shortened release report is analogous to the “one-page” report that existed from 2002-2009. The system will not allow…

Pipeline Safety: Control Room Management/Human Factors PHMSA-2007-27954

On September 17, 2010, PHMSA published a Control Room Management/Human Factors notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to expedite the program implementation deadlines to August 1, 2011, for most of the requirements, except for certain provisions regarding adequate information and alarm management, which would have a program implementation deadline of August 1, 2012. PHMSA has…

PHMSA Final Rule on Updates to Pipeline and LNG Reporting Requirements

Docket No. PHMSA–2008–0291; Amdt. Nos. 191–21; 192–115; 193–23; and 195–95] RIN 2137–AE33 The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Final Rule revising the Pipeline Safety Regulations with updates to natural gas and hazardous liquid Pipelines, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities reporting requirements. (See related article in the July 2009 edition of…

Pressure Test Certification

RCP is an industry leader when it comes to ensuring that pipeline pressure tests are professionally executed. We consistently provide convincing, time tested arguments that a line can be safely operated as defined by CFR 49 Parts 192 and 195. RCP owns and utilizes a proprietary pressure test model that evaluates test pressure, temperature and…

Send us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of Pipeline Samples, yearning to breathe free.

Is your pipeline company merging? Divesting? Moving? Are old hands retiring, and clearing out their offices? No matter the reason, if you have interesting pipeline samples that need a new home, please let us know. We do training frequently, and would like to have physical pipe samples of corrosion, cracking, welding defects, seam defects, etc.…

Damage Prevention Online Workshop – FREE September 24, 2014

Please join the API/AOPL Damage Prevention Team for a 2-hour online workshop to be held on September 24, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Eastern). The workshop is appropriate for pipeline operator, damage prevention, and public awareness professionals. Topics of discussion will include: The latest incident data for pipeline strikes and near misses. Legislative…

PHMSA Public Webinar on Implementation of Gas DIMP – September 4

[Docket ID PHMSA–RSPA–2004–19854] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice that a public webinar on gas pipeline distribution integrity management programs will be held on September 4, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT. Gas distribution pipeline operators were required to have prepared and implemented distribution integrity management programs…