PHMSA has issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) for low stress hazardous liquid pipelines located in rural locations. This follows the original Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued on September 6, 2006 that addressed new regulatory requirements for Regulated Rural Gathering Lines and Regulated Low Stress Lines (reference RCP’s October 2006 Newsletter). In…
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TRRC Proposed Rulemaking – Re-adopt Chapter 8, Pipeline Safety Regulations
The Railroad Commission of Texas filed a notice of intention to review and re-adopt 16 TAC Chapter 8 relating to Pipeline Safety Regulations. This review is being conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code §2001.039. The agency’s reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist. The comment period ended on June 25, 2007. The status…
2007 International Pipeline Security Forum
The 2007 International Pipeline Security Forum will be held on October 24 & 25, 2007 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The agenda is currently being developed. Additional information on the Forum, registering procedures, and agenda will be posted on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website as it becomes available.
New York State — Pipeline Security Legislation
The New York State legislature passed a bill adding a new §715 that will provide authority to the state Department of Homeland Security to conduct a review and inspect aviation fuel tanks and pipelines and make any appropriate recommendations to strengthen those facilities. The legislation also provides authority for the state Public Service Commission to…
TRRC Issues Final Rule: Chapter 18 – Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention
The Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) adopted Chapter 18, Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention, as part of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and was published in the Texas Register on June 15, 2007. The new rule is effective September 1, 2007. TRRC adopted §§18.1 – 18.12 of the new Chapter 18, entitled Underground Pipeline Damage prevention (with…
PST 2007 Conference – November 15 & 16
The Pipeline Safety Trust will be hosting another pipeline safety conference: Increasing Pipeline Safety through Shared Planning; A conference for all stakeholders. The agenda is under development but will include topics such as: The need for land use policies affecting the siting, width, and other characteristics of new pipeline corridors. Setbacks and other measures that…
PHMSA 2007 R&D; Forum – Request for White Papers
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) held a Government and Industry Pipeline R&D; Forum on February 7-8, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a result of this forum, PHMSA is seeking white papers on individual projects or on consolidated programs that address pipeline safety program areas: Pipeline Damage…
New 2007 API RP 753 – Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Portable Buildings
The American Petroleum Institute has issued the 1st edition, “Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Portable Buildings.” Developed for refineries, petrochemical and chemical operations, natural gas liquids extraction plants, and other facilities such as those covered by the OSHA Process Safety Management Standard, 29 CFR 1910.119. API RP 753 provides guidance for…
THLPSS Teleconference on Low-Stress and Rural Liquid Pipeline Regulations [Docket No. PHMSA-98-4470]
The Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet on Tuesday, July 24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST by telephone conference call to vote on a proposal to extend pipeline safety regulations to certain unregulated hazardous liquid gathering lines and low-stress pipelines and on a supplemental proposal addressing new requirements for…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – September 25 & 26
RCP will be hosting our very popular workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance on September 25 and 26 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…
RCP Services Spotlight Integrity Management 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…
PHMSA Revised Inspection Protocols
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued revised Gas Integrity Management Protocols, effective July 1, 2007. Minor changes were made to the following Protocols: Protocol Area B. Baseline Assessment Plan B.01.a NEW — Added to emphasize connection of assessment methods to threats. B.05.a UPDATED to reflect that review of the operator’s program to…
PHMSA Issues Guidelines for Emergency Special Permits
Under the 2006 pipeline safety bill, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has new authority to grant special permits in emergency situations. Emergency special permits will be granted under the following conditions: If it is in the public interest, is not inconsistent with pipeline safety, and is necessary to address an emergency caused…
PHMSA Issues Final Rule on Integrity Management Program Modifications and Clarifications (49 CFR Parts 192 & 195)
The Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT / PHMSA) issued a final rule modifying the integrity management regulations for hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission pipelines. The modifications include. Adding an eight-month window to the period for reassessing hazardous liquid pipelines; Modifying notification requirements for operators of hazardous liquid and natural…
PHMSA Associate Administrator Announcement
Our warmest congratulations go to Jeff Wiese, who was recently selected as PHMSA’s Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. Mr. Wiese has been the acting Associate Administrator since January 2007 and served as Acting Deputy Associate Administrator from August to December 2006. During this time he led the implementation of the newly enacted Pipeline, Inspection, Protection,…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – September 25 & 26
RCP will be hosting our very popular workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance on September 25 and 26 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…
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Editor’s Quote of the Month
“Training means learning the rules. Experience means learning the exceptions.”
China Bans Reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas
August 4, 2007Beijing, ChinaThe Times of London reports that the China has issued a new ban designed to prevent Tibetans from recognizing reincarnations of the living Buddha without the approval of the Chinese government. The edict, which will enter into force on September 1st, states that the “so-called reincarnated living Buddha” is “illegal and invalid”…
TSA Issues Pipeline Security Awareness Training and Brochures
The Transportation Security Administration has made available to pipeline operators and their subsidiaries a employee training program on security awareness. TSA’s Pipeline Security Division determined that improved security awareness training for pipeline company employees would be useful. To increase the security awareness levels across the pipeline industry, TSA developed compact disc-based security awareness training titled…