DID YOU KNOW? Natural gas and the nation’s natural gas infrastructure is essential for a thriving agriculture sector in the United States, benefiting farmers and consumers alike. From the fertilizer used in fields and the fuel used to run equipment, to the energy to process, store and transport our nation’s food supply to feed 330…
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The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In February 2023, PHMSA issued 3 NOAs, 1 NOPSO, 4 NOPVs, and 11 WLs accompanied by $76,100 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following…
April | National Safe Digging Month
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is excited to launch several new tools and graphics to support your outreach this April – including their new Excavator Toolkit and 2023 National Safe Digging Month (NSDM) press release. Visit CGA’s new Excavator Toolkit page to download a range of resources that you can use to meet the “50…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators, interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: Must centrifugal pumps injecting liquids into a pipeline have high pressure shutdown devices? A: It depends on the “dead head” pressure of…
Gas Gathering / Type R (Reporting Regulated) Annual Report Training
The Pipeline Safety Institute has developed an e-Learning course designed to give gas gathering operators a comprehensive understanding of how to report asset data required for the Type R Gas Gathering Annual Report form (Form F7100.2-3), which is submitted in the PHMSA portal. This course is Ideal for gas-gathering operators that are new to the…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators, regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: If PHMSA’s maps show a liquid HCA, such as a drinking water source, in a certain location, must liquid operators assume…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In January 2023, PHMSA issued 4 NOAs, 7 NOPVs, and 4 WLs accompanied by $788,608 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
Did you know?
DID YOU KNOW? About the gas cooking safety…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshops (In Person)
Our training events are now available at a new location! PSI Training Courses are now hosted at the RCP Offices or at the PRCI Technology Development Center, both located in Houston. Be sure to join us this April 25-27, 2023 at the PRCI Technology Development Center to participate in our informative & interactive DOT Pipeline…
TRRC Notice to Oil & Gas and Pipeline Operators: Updates to Form CI-D and Form CI-X Online Filing System
Effective January 31, 2023, the Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) will launch updates to the online system used to file the Form CI-D, Acknowledgement of Critical Customer/Critical Gas Supplier Designation, and Form CI-X, Critical Designation Exception Application. The updates to the online filing system provide a more efficient process when submitting the required forms. Reminder:…
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Proposed Amendments
Office of Conservation – Pipeline Division Title 43 The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Office of Conservation is proposing to amend LAC 43: XIII. The proposed changes will reorganize the affected sections, combine the carbon dioxide rules in Title 43 with those in Title 33, and amend the regulations in Title 43. Additionally, the damage…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients, or discussions we have with regulators, regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: We have a gas pipeline adjacent to a refining / chemical facility. How should I count the buildings in the facility…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In December 2022, PHMSA issued 1 WL, 4 NOAs, 1 CAO, 1 NOPSO, and 8 NOPVs accompanied by $492,200 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to…
Did you know?
The Solution is Here. America has the energy resources, innovation, and skilled workforce to meet energy needs while continuing to reduce emissions. But we need the policies to make it happen. API has a plan to protect America from energy challenges together. It’s a plan in three parts – to Make, Move, and Improve American…
RIN2 Compliance Enforcement Discretion
In relation to its final rulemaking entitled “Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments,” PHMSA is providing notice that it will exercise regulatory enforcement discretion against operators of existing onshore gas transmission pipelines in service as of the publication date of…
PHMSA Pipeline Safety: CY 2023 D&A Random Rate and MIS Reporting
[Docket No. PHMSA-2022-0137] PHMSA announced that it has determined that the minimum random drug testing rate for covered employees will be reduced to 25 percent during calendar year 2023 (effective January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023). Operators are reminded that drug and alcohol testing information must be submitted for contractors who are performing or…
California State Fire Marshall Amends Enforcement Proceedings
The California State Fire Marshall has updated their hazardous liquid regulations associated with enforcement proceedings. Several new sections have been added to State Fire Marshall code under Chapter 14 – Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety, Article 6. Enforcement Proceedings. These new and amended regulations address how hazardous liquid pipeline operators and the State Fire Marshall address…
Texas Railroad Commission 2023 Pipeline Mileage Fee Due April 1
Pipeline operators need to prepare for the 2023 pipeline mileage fee that is due on April 1. The annual mileage fee is calculated using pipeline permit mapping information supplied by the operator. The miles in each permit of Group A and Group B pipelines are added together and rounded up to the nearest mile. The…
Texas Railroad Commission Notice to Pipeline Operators: Gathering Line Mileage Fee and Permit Clarification
On November 15, 2021, PHMSA published a final rule titled “Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting Requirements, Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments.” The final rule makes changes to the federal pipeline safety regulations to improve the safety of onshore gas gathering pipelines. Operators of certain Type C…
Arkansas Gas Pipeline Regulations Update
[Docket No. 22-020-R] Arkansas updated its gas pipeline regulations to harmonize them to the federal gas pipeline regulations. Arkansas, in general, republished the federal requirements into the state regulations. However, there are exceptions. In some of these exceptions, Arkansas did not adopt the federal rules as written in 49 CFR 191 and 192 and instead…