The Office of Compliance (OC), within EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), announces the availability of and invites comments on its new Web site, Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), which contains searchable, facility-level enforcement and compliance information. The Web site is available at www.epa.gov/echo. ECHO provides integrated compliance and enforcement information for…
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Operator Qualification Pipeline Industry Forum January 21 and January 23, 2003
Several industry associations and interest groups are partnering to co-sponsor a Forum on Operator Qualification at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk – San Antonio, Texas, on January 21 and 23, 2003, in conjunction with the OPS OQ meeting on January 22, 2003. The sponsors have organized this Forum to provide pipeline operating professionals the opportunity to…
API Releases New Edition Of Pipeline Monitoring Standard
API has released the second edition of its Standard 1130 covering computational pipeline monitoring systems (CPMs) for liquid pipelines. The publication covers the design, implementation, testing and operation of CPM systems, whose primary function is to assist the pipeline operator in detecting releases. This early warning then allows the operator to undertake an immediate investigation,…
Misc Proposed Rules – Gas Pipelines
RSPA is proposing to change some of the safety standards for gas pipelines. The changes are based on recommendations by the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and a review of the recommendations by the State Industry Regulatory Review Committee (SIRRC). The changes will improve the clarity and effectiveness of the present standards. Persons…
PIPELINE101 Website
The Association of Oil Pipe Lines and American Petroleum Institute have launched a new web site called “Pipeline 101” that is designed to provide basic information on the nation’s pipeline system. This site provides information and facts about the industry, it’s history, how to detect and report leaks, right of way issues, pipeline economics, and…
PE Certification of SPCC Plans
With the recent revisions to the SPCC plan regulations (see our August, 2002 newsletter), there has been a lot of discussion concerning the best way to review and update existing plans. Some people have asked if they can prepare the plan, and have us just provide the PE certification. The following information is from guidance…
Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans – OSHA Final Rule
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is revising its standards for means of egress. The purpose of this revision is to rewrite the existing requirements in clearer language so they will be easier to understand by employers, employees, and others who use them. The revisions reorganize the text, remove inconsistencies among sections, and eliminate duplicative…
Decision That Nonconforming 1999 Ferrari F355 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
Editor’s favorite Federal Register trivia of the day: You will be pleased to know that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that 1999 Ferrari F355 passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United States [Docket No. NHTSA-2001-10526; Notice…
USCG/EPA Region VI Regional Response Team (RRT) 2003 Winter Meeting, January 29-30
The USCG / EPA Region VI Regional Response Team (RRT) will hold its 2003 winter meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on January 29-30, 2003. The meeting will be held at the Radisson Hotel Downtown Market Square, 502 West Durago. There are thirteen Regional Response Teams (RRTs) in the United States, each representing a particular geographic…
New Edition of API Primary Measurement Property Standard
API has released the second edition of Chapter 9, Section 3 of the Manual of Petroleum Measurement covering the standard test method for determining API gravity by thermo-hydrometer for crude oil and finished products. API gravity (also known as relative density) is one of the basic measures of liquid hydrocarbons and is used worldwide for…
API Training and Development Conference
The American Petroleum Institute will hold their 2003 Spring Training and Development Conference on March 5-7, 2003, at the Baton Rouge Marriott. The agenda for this conference will be posted at the end of January. For additional information, or to register on-line, go to: www.cvent.com/I.asp?code=dvtlbibitqdiketlkhbirodiilzliz6946.
Pipeline Communications Meeting
RSPA/OPS invites the public to a meeting on January 29, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on pipeline communications, including current RSPA initiatives, the development of American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 1162, integrity management communications, and pipeline performance metrics (docket number RSPA-02-14079). This meeting is a continuation of a meeting held on February 12-14,…
NPDES Permit Deadline Extension for Storm Water Discharges for Oil and Gas Construction Activity That Disturbs One to Five Acres of Land
EPA proposes to postpone until March 10, 2005, the permit authorization deadline for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water permits for oil and gas construction activity that disturbs one to five acres of land. On December 8, 1999 (64 FR 68722), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule expanding the…
MMS Workshop International Offshore Pipeline Workshop February 26-28, 2003 New Orleans, Louisiana
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) will hold the International Offshore Pipeline Workshop on February 26-28, 2003 at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, U.S.A. The workshop will start at 8 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. on the first two days. The third day will be a half day…
Pipeline Drug Testing; Random Testing Rate
Each year pipeline operators randomly select employees to test for prohibited drugs. The number of selections may not be less than the minimum annual percentage rate determined by OPS, either 50 percent or 25 percent of covered employees, based on the industry’s positive rate of random tests. Using the MIS reports received this year for…
RRT VI Semi-Annual Meeting
The EPA / USCG Region VI Regional Response Team (RRT) will have its’ next meeting on January 29-30 at the Radisson Market Square hotel in San Antonio, TX. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Radisson Market Square Hotel, 502 West Durango, (210) 224-7155. Government rate (single rate $91.00, Double occupancy rate ($101.00), State rate…
Biological and Chemical Information Charts
Those of you who are involved in site security and contingency planning (or those who are simply curious) should check out the biological and chemical charts produced by the Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The available charts include the Chemical Terrorism Wall Chart,…
Self Disclosure Pays Off
How do you turn a $1,914,965 fine into a $31,741 fine? Conduct a due-diligence audit, and turn yourself in. ADT Security Services, Inc. disclosed, pursuant to the EPA “Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosures, Correction and Prevention of Violations” (“Audit Policy”), 65 FR 19618 (April 11, 2000), that they failed to prepare SPCC plans for eight…
Notification of the Susceptibility to Premature Brittle-Like Cracking of Older Plastic Pipe – correction.
In the Federal Register of November 26, 2002, ( 67 FR 70806 ) the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) published a notice document issuing an advisory bulletin on the susceptibility to premature brittle-like cracking of older plastic pipe (ADB-02-7). RSPA has submitted a correction notice to reflect minor wording changes and include a website…
SPCC Plan Extension in the works
EPA has announced its intention to extend the deadlines for compliance with the recently published Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan regulation (see our August, 2002 newsletter). The original deadline to have plan revisions completed was February 17, 2003. Facility modifications were required by 8/18/03. EPA has stated to API that they will publish…