In 2001 it was recognized that the existing Operator Qualification (OQ) Rule did not cover performing an ILI or ILI data analysis as “covered tasks”. Both industry and the regulators agreed that the criticality of ILI qualified personnel for Integrity Management is necessary. ASNT agreed to aid in the development of a standard for “ILI…
Uncategorized
EPA Issues Final NPDES General Permit for New and Existing Sources and New Dischargers in the Offshore Subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Category for the Western Portion of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico
Region 6 of the EPA has issued a final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit for the western portion of the outer continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico (No. GMG290000). This permit authorizes discharges from new sources, existing sources, and new dischargers in the offshore subcategory of the Oil and Gas Extraction Point…
OPS Issues Draft Stress Corrosion Cracking Study
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a known integrity threat to the safe operation of the nation’s critical pipeline infrastructure. This threat has been studied and examined in the past, but the phenomenon generally is not well understood. As part of its many efforts to foster safe pipeline operations, OPS commissioned a study of SCC issues…
Operator Qualification Rulemaking Update
The long awaited ASME B31Q standard for operator qualification will not be ready before the deadline to comply with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requirements. RCP understands that the ASME B31Q committee will meet again in July, 2005. This will likely prompt the OPS to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would…
Standards for Direct Assessment of Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
The DOT has proposed regulations that would require pipeline operators to meet certain standards if they use direct assessment to evaluate the threat of corrosion on regulated onshore gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines. The standards, which are already in effect for gas transmission lines in high-consequence areas, involve processes of data collection, indirect…
RCP Services Spotlight – Security Regulatory Assistance
RCP partners with companies on providing requirements for the United States Coast Guard Security Plan, DOT Hazardous Materials, and Pipeline security regulatory requirements in a prompt and cost effective manner. RCP has completed training and the requisite security plans for pipeline, barge, petrochemical, refinery, truck transport, and other facility locations. Independent Audits to meet USCG…
Army Corps of Engineers Proposes Amendments to Nationwide Permit Regulations
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to amend its nationwide permit regulations so that district engineers can issue nationwide permit verification letters that expire on the same date the nationwide permit expires. This amendment will allow district engineers to issue that nationwide permit verifications are valid throughout the period of time the nationwide…
RSPA Decides Immediate and Written Incident/Accident Notification Requirements for Louisiana
The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) decided that the Louisiana state requirement for immediate telephone notification of pipeline incidents/accidents to the Louisiana State Police in La. R.S. 32:1510A is not preempted by the federal hazardous material transportation law. RSPA also decided the federal hazardous material transportation law does preempt the written requirement for notification…
Railroad Commission of Texas Adopts New Rules and Amendments
On November 4, 2004 the Railroad Commission of Texas signed and placed their seal to repeal §§7.70 – 7.74, and 7.80 – 7.87. The Commission adopted the repeals in order to move the pipeline safety rules into Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 8 (29 TexReg 10659). This was completed to collect all the pipeline…
Pending Audits?
Has the DOT notified you of a pending audit? RCP can provide confidential internal auditing to help ensure that your facilities are up to the agency’s latest standards. Click Here.
DOT/OPS Issues Advisory Bulletin Regarding Operator Qualification
RSPA’s Office of Pipeline Safety (RSPA/OPS) has issued an advisory bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline systems concerning the minimum requirements for operator qualification (OQ) programs for personnel performing covered tasks on a pipeline facility. The bulletin reminds system owners and operators that the deadline for modifying their OQ…
The Texas Railroad Commission Modifies Pipeline Integrity Regulations
The Texas Railroad Commission published in the Texas Register in November final modifications to §8.101.Pipeline Integrity Assessment and Management Plans for Natural Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines (and other pipeline safety regulations, see article later in this newsletter.) The new regulation states that “Natural gas pipeline operators using the risk-based plan shall complete at least…
Congress Creates New Office – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
On Tuesday, November 30, 2004, the President signed into law H.R. 5163, the “Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act,” which reorganizes the Department of Transportation’s pipeline safety, hazardous materials transportation safety, and research activities. Titled the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, the measure reorganizes the existing Research and…
Proposed Arizona Intrastate Pipeline Amendments
The Arizona Corporation Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division has proposed rules aimed at making natural-gas and gasoline pipelines safer and their operators more accountable. These regulations include amendments to transportation rules R14-5-202, R14-5-203, R14-5-204 and R14-5-205. The amendments will update the rules to incorporate the most recent amendments to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title…
EPA Publishes Report on Effectiveness of Dispersants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted a technical report entitled “Characteristics of Spilled Oils, Fuels, and Petroleum Products: 2a. Dispersant Effectiveness Data for a Suite of Environmental Conditions – The Effects of Temperature, Volatilization, and Energy” on the agency web site. For a copy of this document or more information contact Jessica Roger…
Coast Guard Requests Comments for Marine Liquefied Natural Gas Spills; Thermal and Vapor Dispersion Exclusion Zones
The Coast Guard is seeking public comments on a petition for rulemaking from the City of Fall River, Massachusetts. The petition requests regulations be promulgated that would establish thermal and vapor dispersion exclusion zones for marine spills of liquefied natural gas similar to those established by the Secretary of Transportation for spills of LNG on…
Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee Discusses NPRM Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines
The Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) met June 25 – 26 to discuss the third part of the proposed gas mega-rule, Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines. The GPAC voted on various proposals made by PHMSA in response to comments submitted to the docket for the original NPRM Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines. These…
DOE Notice of Request for Information on Energy Infrastructure Resilience
Many oil and natural gas companies, pipeline operators, fuel distribution and delivery firms, and other owners and operators of oil and natural gas infrastructure, as well as the government agencies that regulate them in some respect, are seeking cost-effective ways to make these infrastructure systems more resilient against cyber and physical threats as well as…
Texas to Remove Cast Iron Natural Gas Pipes by 2021
[House Bill 866] The State of Texas, House Bill 866, was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and will take effect immediately. HB866 requires natural gas pipeline operators to remove all cast-iron pipes from their systems by December 31, 2021, and prohibits the future use of cast iron, wrought iron or bare steel pipeline in the…
Louisiana 811 Dig Law
[LA Senate Bill No. 82] Louisiana has passed Senate Bill No. 82, which affects the Louisiana 811 Dig Law. These updates become effective August 1, 2019. This Bill updates Louisiana Statute 40:1749.13(B)(5), 1749.14(C)(1)(b)(iii) and (3) to allow Operators and Excavators to mutually agree on an extended time to mark pipelines located on or in water.…