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In This Issue

  1. DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – October 17, 2006
  2. New Safety Requirements for Rural Low-Stress and Gathering Pipelines in Unusually Sensitive Areas
  3. Will the Proposed Safety Requirements for Rural Low-Stress and Gathering Pipelines in Unusually Sensitive Areas affect your pipeline operations?
  4. FERC Damage Reporting Revision
  5. New Assessment Appeal Process Proposed by TRRC
  6. Changes to the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest – Effective 9/5/2006
  7. Need to make sure your Public Awareness Program meets API RP 1162 standards?
  8. Minor Modifications to Texas Integrity Management Rule
  9. Has the new Gas Gathering definition affected your pipelines?
  10. Reminder about pending deadline to submit Public Awareness Programs to PHMSA
  11. Texas Railroad Commission Reschedules Workshop

New Safety Requirements for Rural Low-Stress and Gathering Pipelines in Unusually Sensitive Areas

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed new legislation that may have a profound effect on certain liquid pipeline operators. Current regulations exempt onshore liquid gathering lines and low-stress lines in rural areas from all or portions of the Part 195 regulatory requirements.

This new proposal extends pipeline safety regulations to those rural gathering lines with the following characteristics (aka Regulated Rural Gathering Line):

  • Onshore rural gathering pipelines with a nominal diameter between 6 5/8″ and 8 5/8″;
  • Operates at a maximum operating pressure corresponding to a stress level greater than 20% of SMYS or, if the stress level is unknown or the pipeline is not constructed of steel, at a pressure greater than 125 psig; and
  • Is located in or within 1/4-mile of an unusually sensitive area.

This new proposal also extends pipeline safety regulations to those rural pipelines with the following characteristics (aka Regulated Low-Stress Line in a Rural Area):

  • Onshore rural pipelines with a nominal outside diameter of 8 5/8″ or more;
  • Is located in or within 1/4-mile of an unusually sensitive area.
  • Operates at a maximum operating pressure corresponding to a stress level equal to or less than 20% of SMYS or, if the stress level is unknown or the pipeline is not constructed of steel, at a pressure greater than 125 psig;

The new requirements for these pipelines will include:

  • Identify all regulated rural gathering segments, regulated low-stress lines in rural areas, and monitor for new unusually sensitive areas
  • Design, installation, construction, initial inspection, and initial testing
  • Reporting and recordkeeping
  • Establishment of maximum operating pressure
  • Installation and maintenance of line markers
  • Establish and apply public education and damage prevention programs
  • Corrosion control and remediation
  • Operator qualification program

Additional requirements for Regulated Low-Stress Lines in Rural Areas include:

  • Integrity management program
  • Leak detection

PHMSA is accepting written comments until November 6, 2006 on the proposed rule. For more information, click here.