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In This Issue

  1. Pipeline Safety Regulation Workshops – Federal, Texas, and Louisiana
  2. RCP Partners with Paradigm and Celeritas for Complete Turnkey Public Awareness Support
  3. Need to update your Public Awareness Program?
  4. Pipeline & Gas Journal features RCP Integrity Management Success Guide
  5. OCS Inspections for Damage Caused by Hurricane Ivan (Part 3)
  6. Texas Coastal Coordination Council proposes amendments to 31 TAC 501.26
  7. Acquiring a pipeline?
  8. 49 CFR 40 – Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs Modified – Interim Final Rule
  9. Need A Security Plan or Audit?
  10. Coast Guard Requests Comments for Marine Liquefied Natural Gas Spills; Thermal and Vapor Dispersion Exclusion Zones
  11. EPA Publishes Report on Effectiveness of Dispersants
  12. Proposed Arizona Intrastate Pipeline Amendments
  13. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  14. Congress Creates New Office – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
  15. The Texas Railroad Commission Modifies Pipeline Integrity Regulations
  16. Integrity Management Plan Up-to-Date?
  17. DOT/OPS Issues Advisory Bulletin Regarding Operator Qualification
  18. Pending Audits?
  19. Railroad Commission of Texas Adopts New Rules and Amendments
  20. Air Permit Needs?
  21. RSPA Decides Immediate and Written Incident/Accident Notification Requirements for Louisiana
  22. Are Your Response Plans Current?
  23. Army Corps of Engineers Proposes Amendments to Nationwide Permit Regulations
  24. RCP’s Fantastic 1-Page Version of New SPCC Regulation
  25. RCP Services Spotlight – Security Regulatory Assistance

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 Special Programs Administration into two new entities: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Research and Innovative Transportation Administration (RITA).
PHMSA’s mission will be to focus on pipeline safety and hazardous materials safety oversight and regulation. The new PHMSA administrator will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The existing Office of Pipeline Safety will be part of the new organization.

RITA will focus on improving the coordination and efficiency of the research activities previously undertaken by the Research and Special Programs Administration, plus any other research projects assigned by the Secretary of Transportation.