[Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470] The Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet on Monday, February 12, 2007, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST by telephone conference call to vote on a proposed rule to extend pipeline safety regulation to rural onshore hazardous liquid gathering lines and low stress lines. Discussion will include…
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Government / Industry Pipeline Research & Development Forum
PHMSA is conducting their research and development forum for government and industry stakeholders in New Orleans, February 7-8, 2007. The purpose of this forum is to: Develop a consensus agenda of technical gaps & challenges for future R&D; Identify both short and long term research objectives for liquid/gas and transmission and gas distribution pipelines; Conduct…
Comments Due for Texas Railroad Commission Proposed Excavation Near Pipeline Regulations
Comments are due by February 20, 2007 for the Railroad Commission of Texas proposed new regulations in Chapter 18 of the TAC entitled Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention relating to Scope, Applicability, and General Provisions; Definitions; Excavator Notice to Notification Center; Excavator Obligation to Avoid Damage to Underground Pipelines; Operator and Excavator Obligations with Respect to…
Texas Railroad Commission Issues Final Regulations
The Railroad Commission of Texas has adopted amendments to §3.95, relating to Underground Storage of Liquid or Liquefied Hydrocarbons in Salt Formations, and §3.97, relating to Underground Storage of Gas in Salt Formations, with changes to the versions published in the July 21, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 5723). The Commission adopted…
Extension of Comment Period for EPA Proposed NESHAP Amendment
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0406 EPA has announced that the comment period on the proposed rule amendments for the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories: Gasoline Distribution Bulk Terminals, Bulk Plants, Pipeline Facilities, and Gasoline Dispensing Facilities, published on November 9, 2006, is being extended until February 8, 2007, rather than January…
Need A Security Plan or Audit?
We have the expertise to develop a security plan and perform risk assessments for pipeline and terminal facilities to meet recent DOT Hazmat Transportation & Pipeline regulations. We can also assist you in USCG security plans for dock facilities and vessels. Please contact Jessica Roger for more information.
Department of Homeland Security Issues Proposed Interim Rule for Chemical Facilities Including Pipelines Connecting to Chemical Facilities
Thanks and credit to AOPL for this information. Last year, Congress granted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the regulatory authority to establish and require implementation of risk-based performance standards for the security of the nation’s high-risk chemical facilities. The DHS now intends to implement an appropriate regulatory program focusing its resources first on those…
MMS issues Notice to Lessees for Shallow Water Surveys
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued a Notice to Lessees and Operators and Pipeline Right of Way Holders (2007-G01 effective February 15, 2007) which describes the surveys, reports, analyses, and mitigation that will ensure that the objectives of the shallow hazards program are met. The Shallow Hazards Assessments and Analyses include provisions for the…
Gas Integrity Management FAQ Update
PHMSA has updated the Gas IMP FAQ’s with the following: FAQ-237: Effect on piping installed after effective date Question: When must the baseline assessment be completed for piping installed after the effective date of the rule? Answer: Any newly-constructed gas transmission pipeline placed into service after the effective date of the integrity management rule, February…
PHMSA Issues Update of Regulatory References to Technical Standards
PHMSA is amending a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2006, which updated the pipeline safety regulations to incorporate by reference all or parts of new editions of voluntary consensus technical standards to enable pipeline operators to utilize current technology, materials, and practices. Several omissions and editorial corrections have been identified…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – March 29, 2007
RCP will be hosting our very popular workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance on March 29 in Houston, TX. Join us for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance. This workshop has been attended by hundreds of pipeline personnel, with excellent feedback. The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations, and…
API RP 1162 Seminar Offered by Paradigm
Paradigm® is offering a seminar designed to inform and educate members of the oil and gas industry on the recently enacted public education requirement, RP 1162. The seminar will be held in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, March 15, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Holiday Inn Denver City Center, 1450 Glenarm Place. An overview…
API RP 1165 – Recommended Practice for Pipeline SCADA Displays – now published
In 2005, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that operators of hazardous liquid pipelines be required to follow the American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice 1165 for the use of graphics on the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) screens (see our December, 2005 newsletter). At the time of NTSB’s recommendation, RP 1165 had not…
USCG Issues Guidance on Vessel and Facility Response Plans
The US Coast Guard has issued Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC 01-07) which provides guidance on vessel and facility response planning in relation to oil spill removal organizations (OSRO) resource movements during significant pollution events. The purpose of the NVIC is to provide guidance to Coast Guard units, vessel and facility plan holders, OSRO’s,…
PHMSA Publishes R&D; Forum Presentations
The Government/Industry Pipeline R&D; Forum was held in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 7-8, 2007. The 2 day event included approximately 250 representatives from Federal, State and international government agencies, public representatives, research funding organizations, standards organizations, and pipeline operators from the U.S. and overseas. Forum documents, including presentations from each Technical Track, are available…
Has the new Gas Gathering definition affected your pipelines?
RCP can conduct a detailed analysis of your gas pipelines to determine end points of production and gathering based upon the recently finalized definition of gas gathering pipelines. The analysis will also determine whether your gathering pipelines are regulated and whether they are classified as Type A or B regulated gas gathering. For more information,…
Texas Drafts Proposal to Incorporate Production Facilities Into Pipeline Regulations
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is considering amending the pipeline safety regulations as they relate to thedefinition of gathering pipelines. In March 2006, PHMSA adopted new regulations defining production/flow, gathering, incidental gathering, and the associated endpoints with these potential pipeline types. The RRC participated in two meetings/workshops in 2006, in Dallas and Houston, in…
DOT Special Permits
The federal pipeline safety laws allow a pipeline operator to request PHMSA to waive compliance with any part of the federal pipeline safety regulations. The DOT has published a notice to provide a list of requests they have received from pipeline operators seeking relief from compliance with certain pipeline safety regulations. Included with the list…
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. Please contact Jessica Roger for more information.
PHMSA Administrator promoted and Deputy Administrator of PHMSA Announced
PHMSA Administrator Barrett has been designated by the President as Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation. While serving as Acting Deputy Secretary Barrett will also officially retain title of PHMSA Administrator. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced that Krista L. Edwards has been appointed the Deputy Administrator of the Pipeline…