CP’s Compliance Management System (CMS) is an invaluable tool for managing all aspects of regulatory workflow. Some examples of how our clients are using the CMS include: O&M Scheduling and Data Acquisition; Cathodic Protection Inspection and Data Management; One-Call Screening and Ticket Management; Repair / Replacement Programs; Operator Qualification Administration and Workflow Integration; Leak Life…
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TRRC Proposed Rulemaking 16 TAC Chapter 5-Carbon Dioxide
The Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) proposes new Chapter 5, relating to Carbon Dioxide, to implement Senate Bill (SB) 1387, which was effective September 1, 2009. SB 1387 amended the Texas Water Code and the Texas Natural Resources Code to provide for the implementation of projects involving the capture, injection, sequestration, or geologic storage of…
State of Virginia Approves Rule Change to Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act
HB 1230, recently passed by the State of Virginia, addresses the parties responsible for marking sewer laterals on private property. Specifically, it establishes a set of requirements for the protection of sewer system laterals and private sewer laterals that are unique from the general requirements of the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. In addition, it…
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 Final Rule on HazMat Security Regulation Changes
[Docket No. PHMSA–06–25885 (HM–232F)] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Final Rule on 49 CFR Part 172 Hazardous Materials: Risk-Based Adjustment of Transportation Security Plan Requirements. PHMSA, in consultation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is modifying current security plan requirements applicable to the commercial transportation of hazardous materials by…
PHMSA Webinar on Incident Reporting for Distribution Operators
PHMSA has scheduled a webinar for distribution operators to review the functionality associated with its new web-based form to be used for reporting Gas Distribution Incidents to PHMSA. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 13 starting at 11:00 AM Eastern. Click here to register.
Gas Distribution Construction Workshop – April 20, 2010
[Docket ID PHMSA-2010-0084] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is conducting a workshop on April 20, 2010, on new distribution pipeline construction. Natural gas distribution pipelines are subject to a unique subset of construction-related risks and issues, as compared to transmission and other pipelines. Poor construction quality has led to short and…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop June 8 & 9, 2010 / Houston, TX
RCP invites you to attend one of our remaining quarterly workshops on DOT Pipeline Compliance. These informative, interactive and lively workshops have been attended by hundreds of pipeline personnel with excellent feedback. They are designed to provide an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations, and are appropriate for people who are new to pipeline regulations,…
PHMSA Cased Pipe Workshop – April 28, 2010 Baltimore, MD
PHMSA is holding a workshop on the integrity assessment of cased pipe at the Sheraton Inner Harbor, 300 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD on April 28, 2010. The workshop will be for pipeline operators, trade associations and the public to address ideas and concerns with using External Corrosion Direct Assessment integrity evaluation methods and use…
PHMSA Cased Crossing Guidelines
The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published “Guidelines for Integrity Assessment of Cased Pipe for Gas Transmission Pipelines in HCAs” as well as the FAQs for this document on March 1, 2010. PHMSA worked with a group of state regulators, representatives from industry, trade associations, and other stakeholders to develop guidelines for…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin ADB 10-03 Girth Weld Quality Issues
[Docket No. PHMSA-2010-0078] The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Advisory Bulletin ADB 10-03 to notify owners and operators of recently constructed large diameter natural gas pipeline and hazardous liquid pipeline systems of the potential for girth weld failures due to welding quality issues. Misalignment during welding of large diameter line pipe…
Upcoming RCP Seminars
RCP will repeat our 2 day workshop on Pipeline Integrity Management on February 27 and 28th in Houston. This workshop presents a detailed analysis of the recent federal Pipeline Integrity Management regulation and the management programs / elements that it requires. We will also review recent state initiatives / proposed rules on pipeline integrity management.…
High Consequence Areas for Gas Transmission Pipelines – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The DOT has issued their proposed rule to define areas of high consequence where the potential consequences of a gas pipeline accident may be significant or may do considerable harm to people and their property. This proposed rule is the first step in a two step process to address the integrity management programs for gas…
DOT Mail Processing Notice
After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, overnight shippers, e.g., FEDEX, advised the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) offices that they faced delivery delays because the airlines had been grounded. In addition, DOT requested that, beginning October 16, 2001, the United States Postal Service (USPS) halt most mail deliveries until it could put in place…
Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas – Repair Criteria
The DOT / OPS has issued the final rule concerning the repair provisions for hazardous liquid pipelines under the Pipeline Integrity Management Program. These provisions were initially proposed in the previous rulemaking action which addressed requirements for pipeline integrity management programs in high consequence areas for operators owning or operating 500 or more miles of…
Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators With Less Than 500 Miles of Pipelines)
The DOT has extended the Pipeline Integrity Management regulations (previously applicable only to operators of more than 500 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines) to operators with less than 500 miles of regulated pipelines. The DOT has taken this action because safety recommendations, statutory mandates, and accident analyses indicate that coordinated risk control measures are needed…
Small Liquid Pipeline Integrity Management – Typo
Editor’s note: We have clarified with the DOT that the date for small liquid pipeline operators (Category 2 pipelines) to use prior assessments is not in fact December 18, 2006, but should be 5 years PRIOR to the publication date of the rule, less one month. If I can do the math correctly, that makes…
Pipeline Drug Testing; Random Testing Rate – 2002
Each year, a minimum percentage of covered pipeline employees must be randomly tested for prohibited drugs. The percentage, either 50 percent or 25 percent, depends on the positive rate of random testing reported to RSPA in the previous year. In accordance with applicable standards, RSPA has determined that the positive rate of random testing reported…
Issuance of Nationwide Permits; Notice
The Corps of Engineers is reissuing all the existing Nationwide Permits (NWPs), General Conditions, and definitions with some modifications, and one new General Condition. The Corps has made a number of changes to the proposed NWPs and General Conditions that are designed to further clarify the permits and strengthen environmental protection. These changes are discussed…
Old Mapping Docket Item Removed from Regulatory Agenda
On January 25, 2002, the DOT / RSPA removed Docket No. RSPA-97-2426 (RIN 2137-AB48) from their regulatory agenda. This docket item dealt with mapping standards for gas and liquid pipelines, and was initiated in 1997. The docket item is being removed from DOT’s regulatory agenda because it has been superceded by the National Pipeline Mapping…