[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0161] Subpart B of 49 CFR part 190 (190.201-190.239) provides an opportunity for a pipeline operator to submit a written answer and/or request a hearing prior to the issuance of any order that makes a finding of violation, assesses a civil penalty, or requires corrective measures to be taken. Hearings in pipeline safety…
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California Decision on MAOP Determination Methodology
This is somewhat old news to some, but not everyone, so we decided to include a brief article on a recent decision (June 16, 2011) the California PUC made in regards to intrastate gas transmission operators who have relied upon the pre-1970 grandfather clause for establishing MAOP. It requires all intrastate gas transmission operators in…
PHMSA updates Distribution Integrity Management FAQ’s
PHMSA has updated the Gas Distribution Integrity Management FAQ’s. We have included a few of the more interesting FAQ’s, but you can see all of them by clicking here. B.4.3 Will my plan be in compliance if I use SHRIMP? The American Public Gas Association’s (APGA) Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF) developed the Simple Handy…
PHMSA adds new Gas IM FAQ-275: Requirements for reassessments using ILI
Question: For reassessments using ILI, are verification digs required if the ILI tool does not show any defects/anomalies? The baseline assessment and/or previous reassessment was completed and anomalies were repaired, as needed. Answer: When using in-line inspection tools for conducting integrity management baseline assessments, § 192.921(a)requires the operator to follow ASME/ANSI B31.8S, section 6.2 for…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin ADB-11-04 Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding
[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0177] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Advisory Bulletin ADB-11-04 to all owners and operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines regarding the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by severe flooding. This advisory includes actions that operators should consider taking to ensure the integrity of pipelines in…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – August 9 – 11, 2011
Join us August 9 – 11 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…
WRGC Regional Gas Conference August 24 & 25, 2010 Tempe, AZ
Join us at the 2010 Western Regional Gas Conference at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center in Tempe, Arizona. RCP representatives will be attending the conference and look forward to meeting you. Chris Foley (RCP Vice President) will be giving a presentation on “Effective Compliance Assessment Methods & Successful Agency Audit Strategies Forum”…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – October 19 – 21, 2010
Join us October 19 – 21 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…
Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention Workshop August 18, 2010 – Austin, Texas
The Texas Railroad Commission is planning a Regulatory Workshop on Title 16 – Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 18 – Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention rule provisions that relate to prevention of damage to pipeline facilities resulting from movement of earth, including safety standards and best practices. The public and industry are invited to attend and provide…
Misc. Ohio Pipeline Safety Regulation Changes
The Ohio Public Utilities Commission has made several miscellaneous changes to their gas pipeline safety regulations, such as revising the definition of Master Meter System; updating the date of incorporated federal regulations; modifying their leak classification and repair requirements; and giving the commission the right to waive any requirement of their regulations with good cause.
Maine Safety & Operation Standards for LPG Distribution Systems
Adopted Rule Number: 2010-219 The State of Maine, Public Utilities Commission adopts this rulemaking of a new Chapter 421, Safety and Operation Standards for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Distribution Systems, that sets forth safety and operation standards specifically for jurisdictional liquid propane gas transmission and distribution systems. Additionally, the new Chapter 421 expands and clarifies…
SPCC Extension Proposed for some Facilities
[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPA-2009-0880] The EPA has proposed to amend the dates in 40 CFR §112.3(a), (b) and (c) by which the owners/operators of facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC Plans, and implement those Plans, to November 10, 2011, which is one year from the current SPCC compliance date of November 10, 2010. This…
PHMSA Updates DIMP FAQ’s August 2, 2010
PHMSA has posted Frequently Asked Questions for the recently finalized Distribution Integrity Management Program regulation. We have inserted a few noteworthy FAQ’s below. To view the entire list of FAQ’s, click here. A.8 The regulation exempts the installation of EFVs on services which do not operate at a pressure of 10 psig or greater throughout…
Standard Operating Procedure Updates
RCP has developed standard operating procedures for hundreds of pipeline operators ranging from gas transmission, hazardous liquids, gas distribution, reservoir and salt dome gas storage facilities, oil terminals, regulated onshore gathering and offshore oil & gas facilities. Our procedure development process goes well beyond the typical cookie-cutter generic templates that you can buy off the…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin ADB–10–06 Personal Electronic Device (PED) Related Distractions
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued ADB-10-06 on July 27, 2010 to gas and liquid pipeline operators regarding the use of PEDs by pipeline employees who are performing operations and maintenance activities. PHMSA reminds owners and operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that there may be increased risks…
Technical Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee Teleconference Meetings
[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0203] The Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (TPSSC) and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet via teleconference on Thursday, August 19, 2010, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The purpose of the meeting is to keep the members updated on current safety concerns, proposed rules, and future…
Class Location Studies
The RCP Class Location Model is an advanced geospatial model with easy-to-use results, making it ideal for all sizes and lengths of natural gas pipelines. RCP is capable of providing an efficient, repeatable, and thoroughly documented class location study. The RCP Class Location Model works equally well with five or five thousand miles of pipe,…
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…
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.…
PHMSA Class Location Methodology Public Workshop – April 16 Hilton Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is holding a public workshop along with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives to present perspectives and seek comment on whether applying the gas pipeline integrity management requirements beyond high consequence areas would mitigate the need for class location requirements. This event is just one action…