September 2020 Issue
In This Issue
- PHMSA’s NPRM Offers Pipeline Operators New Alternatives to Addressing Changes in Population Density Near Natural Gas Pipelines
- Changes to PHMSA Portal, OMS Functions, OPID Contact Management
- DOT Revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form
- Senate Passes Bill S.2299 to Reauthorize Pipeline Safety Act
- TRRC Notice to Pipeline Operators: Recent Amendments 16 TAC §3.70 and Updates to the Pipeline Online Permitting System
- LDNR Notice to Adopt Federal Regulations as State Regulations
- Texas Pipeline Mapping System Updates Publication
- GPAC Virtual Public Meeting Notice
- Pipeline Safety Trust Announces New Executive Director
- PHMSA Grants to Enhance Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
- Job Posting
- RCP’s 25th Anniversary
PHMSA’s NPRM Offers Pipeline Operators New Alternatives to Addressing Changes in Population Density Near Natural Gas Pipelines
On September 3, 2020, PHMSA transmitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to the Federal Register. The NPRM seeks public comment on proposed revisions to safety regulations pertaining to class location requirements for natural gas transmission pipelines. The proposals would provide new options for required actions following a change in class location due to population changes.
“Class locations are assigned to a given area based on population density and can change over time as local populations grow. This has been a mainstay of pipeline safety regulations since their inception 50 years ago. We also recognize that technology and methods to assess these pipelines have improved over this same time,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Drue Pearce.
The NPRM proposes to allow operators to perform integrity management measures on pipelines that experience class location changes following population growth as an equally safe, but less costly alternative to reducing pressure or replacing pipe. The NPRM would also exclude certain pipeline segments that are known to have certain risk factors from the new alternative, and would impose additional requirements beyond the integrity management measures that apply to pipeline segments in high-consequence areas. Cost savings estimates range from $55 to $86 million annually, depending on the total pipeline mileage affected by the rule.
The proposed rule has been transmitted to the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted for 60 days following publication of the NPRM.
Changes to PHMSA Portal, OMS Functions, OPID Contact Management
Over the past six years, pipeline operators have had the ability to update contacts for an OPID in the PHMSA Portal for the following:
- Compliance Officers
- Compliance Assistants
- Inspections
- Emergency Situations
- Senior Executive Official
- NPMS Submissions
- Drug & Alcohol
- User Fee
Some OPID have consistently updated contacts as they change while others have not. Also, PHMSA has identified the need for operators to provide a President/CEO contact to receive certain types of enforcement letters.
Effective August 28, 2020, operator staff have the ability to create and edit a President/CEO contact. Also, certain PHMSA staff now have edit rights to operator contacts so PHMSA can update contacts when operators have not.
If you have any questions about these changes to OPID Contact Management, please email InformationResourcesManager@dot.gov or call the Pipeline Operator Hotline at 202-366-8075.
DOT Revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form
The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that their revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In the ‘terms of clearance’, OMB is authorizing the use of the ‘old’ CCF until August 30, 2021. To learn more about what this means for DOT drug testing, visit the DOT webpage.
Senate Passes Bill S.2299 to Reauthorize Pipeline Safety Act
The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020, reauthorizing pipeline safety programs through FY 2023, passed in the U.S. Senate on August 6, 2020 and goes to the House next for consideration. The House bill would need to be reconciled with the Senate bill before legislation can be signed by the President and become law. Some key factors of Senate bill S.2299:
- requires fees for compliance reviews of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities;
- authorizes the establishment of limited safety-enhancing testing programs to evaluate innovative technologies and operational practices testing the safe operation of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities;
- sets forth requirements for idled natural or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines;
- updates the standards for LNG facilities;
- establishes the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety and Training to include a repository of information on best practices relating to LNG operations;
- requires each distribution integrity plan developed by an operator of a gas distribution pipeline to include the risks from the presence of cast iron pipes and mains and risks that may result from the operation of a low-pressure distribution system;
- directs operators to establish protocols for communicating with fire, police, and other relevant public officials after a disaster that includes fires, explosions, or one or more fatalities; and
- requires procedural manuals for operations, maintenance, and emergencies to include certain written procedures.
For a copy of Senate Bill S.2299, contact Jessica Foley.
TRRC Notice to Pipeline Operators: Recent Amendments 16 TAC §3.70 and Updates to the Pipeline Online Permitting System
On September 1, 2020, the Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) will require pipeline operators to file for the renewal of their pipeline permits by the last day of their designated month. This is in accordance with amendments to 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.70 which were adopted by TRRC on January 6, 2020 and take effect on September 1, 2020.
By changing the renewal dates, TRRC has made it more efficient to track and submit renewals for pipeline operators. Every permit must be renewed annually online using the Pipeline Online Permitting System (POPS) available in the TRRC Online System. The month that renewal is due is determined by the first letter of the operator’s name. To view the renewal schedule, visit the Texas Secretary of State website.
In addition, the amended rule outlines that late charges for mileage fees due in 2021 or later are reduced for companies who operate less than 50 total miles of permitted pipelines. The updated late charges are $125 for less than 30 days late, $250 for more than 30 but less than 60 days late, and $350 for more than 60 days late.
Amendments to 16 TAC Chapter 8 were also adopted by TRRC on January 6, 2020. The term lease line was removed as a qualifier to determine if a pipeline needs a (T-4) permit to operate in Texas. TRRC has clarified the definition of a gathering line for permitting purposes. The changes outlined in 16 TAC Chapter 8 and §3.70 together determine which pipelines need a permit.
For questions, contact the Pipeline Permitting Section of TRRC’s Oversight and Safety Division at POPS@rrc.texas.gov or 512-463-6802 for assistance. To view the original notice, visit the TRRC website.
RCP has been providing HCA, Class Location, Mapping and Permitting services for our Texas clients since 1995. If you need help renewing, revising or filing for new T-4 permits in Texas, contact Jessica Foley at jfoley@rcp.com.
LDNR Notice to Adopt Federal Regulations as State Regulations
In the August 2020 Louisiana Register, LDNR published a Notice of Intent (NOI) for Pipeline Safety regulations to bring state regulations in line with federal regulations. LDNR is accepting public comment on these proposed regulations, which must be sent to the Office of Conservation by 4:00 PM on September 21, 2020. See full details on Page 50 of the NOI.
Texas Pipeline Mapping System Updates Publication
The Texas Railroad Commission’s Pipeline Mapping System (TPMS) has adopted a new name for its Attribute Definitions, Valid Codes and Digital Projection Requirements publication. It’s now known as A Guide to Shapefile Submissions.
The TPMS is a geographic information system database that requires pipeline attributes to be represented by certain codes. A Guide to Shapefile Submissions includes the required fields that pipeline operators must follow when submitting shapefiles to pass validations. This document defines the required attribute fields within the database and explains which codes are valid representations of those attributes. The revisions to the requirements, effective Sept. 1, are in response to amendments to 16 Texas Administrative Code §3.70.
New TPMS FAQs are now available. For questions, contact TRRC’s Pipeline Permitting Section at tpms@rrc.texas.gov or 512-463-7058.
Okay all of you really cool people, sit up and take notice that RCP is on the TRRC Software Vendor List for submitting digital data. The vendors on this list have represented that they offer software that allows digital submission (electronic filing) of digital map data. TRRC staff has reviewed and approved the products and services as they pertain to TRRC’s purpose for collecting data from each vendor on this list.
GPAC Virtual Public Meeting Notice
There will be a virtual public meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) to discuss the Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform NPRM that PHMSA published in the Federal Register on June 9, 2020 (85 FR 35240). GPAC will review the NPRM and its associated regulatory analysis. The meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. The agenda and any additional information, including information on how to participate in the meeting, will be published on the meeting website.
Pipeline Safety Trust Announces New Executive Director
The Pipeline Safety Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Caram as Executive Director. Caram comes to the Pipeline Safety Trust from the Deschutes River Conservancy in Bend, Oregon where he served the collaborative environmental organization as Director of Finance and Development. Caram envisions fostering a group of pipeline safety experts much broader than just industry engineers and government regulators, saying, “People should take an active interest in the pipelines in their communities and effectively advocate for their safe siting and operation. I hope to continue the Pipeline Safety Trust’s work in helping them do that.”
Carl Weimer, who served as Executive Director since 2004, will stay on staff as Special Projects Advisor. Weimer steps down from the role of Executive Director as a titan of pipeline safety. Over his 16 years at the Trust, Weimer served as a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association’s External Advisory Panel, and the governor-appointed Washington Citizen Committee on Pipeline Safety.
PHMSA Grants to Enhance Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
PHMSA announced that it is awarding over $97 million in grants through its pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. The awards will be distributed to states, local communities, tribal entities, universities, and non-profit organizations to support state pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. Award recipients will use the funds for projects such as training first responders, educating the public on local safety initiatives, and encouraging the development of new pipeline technologies.
The awards include $61 million in Pipeline State Base Formula Grants to 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to support their participation in the federal-state base pipeline safety program, as well as $20 million in Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants to all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and three federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations. Other grant awards include:
Pipeline Safety Grants
- $5.4 million in Underground Natural Gas Storage grants
- $2 million in Competitive Academic Agreement Program awards
- $1.25 million in State Damage Prevention Program grants
- $1.2 million in Technical Assistance grants
- $1.05 million in One Call grants
Hazardous Materials Safety Grants
- $3.4 million in Hazardous Materials Instructor Training grants
- $941,000 in Supplemental Public Sector Training grants
- $750,000 in Community Safety grants
For additional grant information and a detailed listing of states, territories, tribes, and organizations receiving today’s grants, click here.
Job Posting
RCP and our clients are always on the lookout for good technical and regulatory compliance personnel. If you know of someone who might be in need of a position, please have them send a resume to
RCP’s HR department.
RCP’s 25th Anniversary
This year marks a remarkable and very successful 25th anniversary for RCP. After our opening in 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we now have employees throughout the U.S. Our projects range from Maine to Hawaii, Florida to Alaska, Canada and overseas.
I want to sincerely thank our clients for the privilege of being your Professional Engineers, Regulatory Experts, and Trusted Partners, and our many talented employees who make it all happen. We could never have done it without your trust and support.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our services with you.
Sincerely,
W. R. (Bill) Byrd, PE
President
RCP Inc.