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In This Issue

  1. GPAC Summary – Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering NPRM
  2. MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements Rule
  3. April is National Safe Digging Month
  4. DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop
  5. Colorado Flowline Rulemaking
  6. Georgia Proposed Amendments to Petroleum Pipeline Permit Procedures
  7. Kentucky Pipeline Safety Measure
  8. Final Integrity Management Requirements Expected Soon
  9. TRRC Accepting Comments on New Proposed Pipeline Safety Fees
  10. Utah Regulations R307-505
  11. California OSFM Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Seminar
  12. Pressure Testing Webinar – Advantages of Using TestOp®
  13. 2018 Industry Conference Schedule

GPAC Summary – Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering NPRM

The Gas Pipeline Advisor Committee (GPAC) met for the 4th and 5th time in March to discuss the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines. In addition to reviewing public and committee comments, PHMSA announced they will be splitting this NPRM into three separate final rulemakings.

The first final rule expected to be published will address the legislative mandates from the 2011 Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Jobs Creation Act. The final rule will be called the Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments and will address the following items:

  • 6-month grace period for 7 calendar-year reassessment intervals
  • Seismicity threats related to integrity management
  • MAOP exceedance reporting
  • Material verification, MAOP reconfirmation, & amendments related to §192.619
  • Non-HCA assessments and MCA definition
  • Related record provisions

The second final rule will be called the Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments and will cover all remaining elements of the NPRM (except for gas gathering):

  • Repair criteria (HCA and non-HCA)
  • Inspections following extreme events
  • Safety features on ILI launchers and receivers
  • Management of change
  • Corrosion control
  • Integrity management clarifications
  • Strengthened assessment requirements

The third final rule will be called the Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines and will address the following items for gas gathering:

  • Reporting requirements
  • Appropriate safety regulations for gas gathering lines in Class 1 locations
  • Definitions related to gas gathering

The GPAC has met five times since January 2017 to review public comments and make recommendations to PHMSA. The GPAC completed their review of the NPRM on March 28th, except for gas gathering. The next GPAC meeting, scheduled for September, will focus on gas gathering. A significant number of recommendations have been made to PHMSA to improve the NPRM. PHMSA has posted their slide presentations and GPAC voting slides at the following locations:

For more information, including a consolidated file with all of the GPAC voting slides, please contact Jessica Foley.