The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued Advisory Bulletin ADB-2012-11 to inform owners and operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the fifth day following the date on which the exceedance occurs. If the pipeline is subject to the regulatory authority of one of PHMSA’s State Pipeline Safety Partners, the exceedance must also be reported to the applicable state agency.

These reports must be submitted within five days of the occurrence using one of the reporting methods described in § 191.25(a). PHMSA is poised to issue a final rule modifying this regulation to include electronic mail (email) as an acceptable reporting method for SRCR. PHMSA encourages gas transmission owners and operators to report MAOP plus build-up exceedances by emailing information to InformationResourcesManager@dot.gov Reports may also be submitted by fax to (202) 366-7128.

For a copy of ADB-2012-11 on MAOP Exceedance Reporting, contact Jessica Roger.

49 CFR 192 – Subpart P

The Department of Transportation/Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently posted the “Gas Distribution Pipeline Integrity Management Enforcement Guidance.” The materials contained in this document consist of guidance, techniques, procedures and other information for internal use by the PHMSA pipeline safety enforcement staff. This guidance document describes the practices used by PHMSA pipeline safety investigators and other enforcement personnel in undertaking their compliance, inspection, and enforcement activities. This document is not a regulation and creates no new legal obligations. The regulation is controlling. The materials in this document are explanatory in nature and reflect PHMSA’s current application of the regulations in effect at the time of the issuance of the guidance. Alternative approaches are not precluded if they satisfy the requirements of the applicable regulation(s).

Also, the PHMSA Glossary of Terms was just posted.

For a copy of the DIMP Enforcement Guidance, contact Jessica Roger.

The Louisiana Pipeline Safety Regulations in Title 43 Part XIII Subpart 3 were updated to include a new Chapter 35 for gas distribution pipeline integrity management requirements. These requirements are an exact mirror of the PHMSA requirements found in 49 CFR Part 192 Subpart P. This update was promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 38:123 in January 2012.

For a copy of these regulations, contact Jessica Roger.

The National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA) has developed a service that is now active that will enable pipeline operators to contact the appropriate local emergency access point. The primary goal of the Registry is to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and efficiency of the information that is passed among Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs), private call centers and other stakeholders in emergency situations. Because of the sensitive nature of the contact information that is contained within the NENA PSAP Registry, online access to the Registry is secure and password-protected. After your initial registration and verification is complete, you will be able to begin using the Registry immediately.

PHMSA recently issued ADB 2012-09 on Pipeline Safety and Communication During Emergency Situations to remind operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities that operators should immediately and directly notify the Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) that serves the communities and jurisdictions in which those pipelines are located when there are indications of a pipeline facility emergency. NENA’s PSAP Registry is a practical option for large or midsized pipeline operators to efficiently contact those PSAPs.

Additional information regarding NENA’s PSAP registry can be found on the NENA website.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission recently amended Rule 18.60.5.10 of the New Mexico Administrative Code concerning Pipeline Safety Excavation Damage Prevention. Part of these amendments requires excavator white lining before requesting an excavation locate from the one-call notification system. The white lining of proposed excavation routes or sites should be in accordance with the Common Ground Alliance Best Practice resources (Version 9.0 or updates): Practice Statement 5-2 White Lining and Appendix B Guidelines for Excavation Delineations.

In addition, white marking tape /flagging on existing structures or foliage is acceptable. Pipeline excavation may use existing surveyed centerline markings with construction zone boundaries marked in white at 4′ to 50′ stations.

For a copy of the Guidelines for Excavation Delineation, contact Jessica Roger.

January 29, 2013 – Houston, TX

The API/AOPL Data Mining Team (DMT) will host the bi-annual Pipeline Performance Tracking System (PPTS) workshop on January 29, 2013 in Houston, TX. The workshop will be hosted at the RCP offices in Houston, TX and also via Live-Meeting. The PPTS workshop is open to all current and prospective PPTS participants. Covered topics include: what is reportable to PPTS, how to report to PPTS, benefit of reporting to PPTS, how does PPTS relate to PHMSA report data, and how the data is used for industry purposes. Registration information will be sent out as the event approaches. For further information, please contact Bukky Adefemi at adefemia@api.org

Join us March 5-7, 2013 in Houston at our new office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics . The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations and engineering concepts. It is appropriate for people who are new to pipeline regulations, who could use a refresher, or anyone who needs to know the latest developments in these areas. This workshop will be a combined format (unlike our previous workshops), addressing both gas and liquid pipeline topics in parallel. This will eliminate some redundancy of materials, and will allow more time for in-depth discussions for each topic.

Topics to be addressed in the workshop include:

• An overview of DOT/OPS pipeline compliance requirements
• State and Federal agency roles for pipeline safety
• PHMSA Jurisdiction
• PHMSA Inspections and Enforcement Processes
• Engineering Concepts and Stress – Strain Relationships; %SMYS
• Design Requirements
• Construction Requirements
• Corrosion Control Concepts and Requirements
• Operations and Maintenance Requirements
• Emergency Response Requirements (including spill response planning requirements for liquid pipelines)
• Damage Prevention Programs
• Operator Qualification Programs
• Drug and Alcohol Programs
• Public Awareness Programs
• Integrity Management (gas and liquid) Programs
• Control Room Management Programs

We will also discuss the recently enacted Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (pipeline reauthorization bill), recent Advisory Bulletins from PHMSA, and new, pending and proposed rulemakings.

Each attendee will receive speaker’s PowerPoint presentation handouts in hard copy, and electronic copies of the applicable regulations and voluminous reference materials including rulemakings, letters of interpretation, and other guidance documents. The workshop will adjourn at 2 p.m. on the third day, for those who need to fly out Thursday evening.