The Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Map in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area is on file and available for information only, in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, Louisiana. In accordance with Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, this map is the basic record for the description of mineral and oil…
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DOT Makes Off-Shore Pipeline Report Available
The DOT has this week posted a 1998 report on burial, inspection and risk to off-shore pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico. This Texas Transportation Institute study examined burial depths, various sub-sea inspection techniques and the effects of weather and erosion on pipelines, as well as other risk factors. Given the current interest in off-shore…
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting the Precision Strike Weapon (PSW) Testing and Training by Eglin Air Force Base in the Gulf of Mexico
Editor’s note: The following article doesn’t have anything to do with our newsletter purpose, other than to point out that, in the United States, you need a permit, by golly, before dropping any bombs near our marine mammals!!! National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has received a request from Eglin…
Proposed Rule Re: Movement of Oil and Gas as Required by the OCS Lands Act
The MMS requests comments and any suggestions to assist in potentially amending the regulations regarding how the Department of the Interior (DOI) should ensure that pipelines transporting oil or gas under permits, licenses, easements, or rights-of-way on or across the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) “provide open and non-discriminatory access to both owner and non-owner shippers”…
Notice of Workshop on Gas Pipeline Integrity Management
The Research and Special Programs Administration’s (RSPA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) will cosponsor a workshop on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 12, 2004, from 8 a.m. to Noon to discuss the Gas Pipeline Integrity Management final rule…
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Announces Updated Form PI-1G – Grandfathered Facility Permit Application
All NSR (New Source Review) application and registration forms and instructions are undergoing major updates due to policy and legislative changes. Specifically, Form PI-1G – Grandfathered Facility Permit Application and Instructions has been updated. Applicants should use the most recent instructions and submit the most recent forms available. The new and updated forms can be…
RCP Services Spotlight – SPCC & Response Planning Capabilities
RCP has developed or revised OPA-90 plans and SPCC plans for both large and small facilities throughout the US in order to meet the August 17, 2004 deadline. Our previous experience with contingency plans enables us to be very efficient in the development of these plans. We are very familiar with the necessary cross-references, indices,…
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Announces Updated Form PI-1G – Grandfathered Facility Permit Application
All NSR (New Source Review) application and registration forms and instructions are undergoing major updates due to policy and legislative changes. Specifically, Form PI-1G – Grandfathered Facility Permit Application and Instructions has been updated. Applicants should use the most recent instructions and submit the most recent forms available. The new and updated forms can be…
OPS Issues Direct final Rule Regarding Pressure Limiting and Regulating Stations
In the Federal Register of September 15, 2003, RSPA published a final rule concerning the operation and capacity of existing pressure limiting and regulating stations on gas pipelines. The rule inadvertently established a pressure limit that could require a reduction in the operating pressure of some pipelines and be impracticable for others to meet. This…
Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) Issues Proposed Changes to Pipeline Safety Regulations
In May the TRRC published in the Texas Register proposed changes to Title 16, Chapter 8. The Commission has proposed to move pipeline safety rules from Title 16, Chapter 7 of the Texas Administration Code into newly created sections in Chapter 8. In addition to moving the current rules, the TRRC also proposes to create…
ASME B31Q Update – III – July 2, 2004
The Southern Gas Association and others will host an audio teleconference on July 2, 2004; 9:30–10:30 am Central Standard Time (10:30-11:30 am ET), to discuss the progress of the ASME B31Q Standard Committee. The draft document is nearly complete and more specifics can now be discussed. The SGA contact is Mike Grubb (mgrubb@southerngas.org; 972-620-4022). For…
Louisiana Hazardous Pipeline Rule Updates
The Louisiana Office of Pipeline Safety has recently updated their Hazardous Liquid rules. These changes include an additional requirement for sending a faxed notification of proposed pipeline construction at least seven days prior to commencement of the construction. Also included are numerous miscellaneous changes to the pipeline integrity requirements. For more information contact Laura Wager…
Minerals Management Service (MMS) Issues Correction to Final Rule Titled “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Revision of Requirements Governing Outer Continental Shelf Rights-of-Use and Easement and Pipeline Rights-of-Way”
This document makes a correction to the final rule titled “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Revision of Requirements Governing Outer Continental Shelf Rights-of-Use and Easement and Pipeline Rights-of-Way” that was published December 12, 2003 ( 68 FR 69308 ). Incorrect cross-references are changed and the term “will” is employed in…
Office of Pipeline Safety Issues Correction to Final Gas Integrity Rule
On May 26, 2004, the Office of Pipeline Safety issued a correction document to its Subpart O of §192 as issued on December 15, 2003 and initially corrected on April 6, 2004. These corrections included amending the definition of “high consequence area”, revision to Section 192.925 which addresses External Corrosion Direct Assessment, revision to Section…
New Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Drug Testing Procedures
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is issuing a notice to call to the attention of employers, employees, testing service agents, and other interested persons in its transportation industry drug testing program a notice proposing important new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) drug testing procedures. Because of the close relationship between HHS and DOT…
Latest Information from EPA Regarding SPCC Issues
EPA issued a Notice on May 25th regarding SPCC interpretations and associated negotiations as a follow-up to their March 31, 2004 SPCC Stakeholder meeting in Washington DC. Although this information is basically repeating what RCP and EPA has already told you, it does provide more detail. The notice provides some clarifications developed by the Agency…
RCP Services Spotlight – Pipeline Direct Assessment Services
RCP can provide written direct assessment procedures to comply with DOT 195 and 192 Regulatory requirements for stress corrosion cracking, internal corrosion and external corrosion threats. The procedures are custom written to meet the individual client needs, threats and operating philosophy in accordance to NACE RP 502, ASME B31.8S and other NACE recommended practices that…
Development of Class Location Change Waiver Criteria
OPS has announced the criteria that they will use in considering waiver applications submitted by operators of natural gas pipeline segments that have experienced a change in class location. A class location change results from new construction in the vicinity of a pipeline segment and, in the absence of a waiver, triggers a requirement that…
ISPS Code Compliance Deadline, July 1, 2004
Ports and shipping lines must meet a July 1st deadline for compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The ISPS Code is a comprehensive, mandatory security regime for international shipping and port operations. To comply with the regulations, all ships will be subject to a verification and certification audit. This includes ship security assessments, ship[…
Regulation Updates to 49 CFR Parts 191, 192, 195, and 199
As part of an effort to periodically update the pipeline safety regulations RSPA has issued a final rule to incorporate most of the recent editions of the voluntary consensus standards and specifications referenced in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. These changes allow pipeline operators to utilize the most current technology, materials, and industry practices in…