[Docket No. PHMSA-2011-0023]

The industry trade associations filed joint comments to the “congressional mandates” rulemaking to amend the federal safety regulations applicable to gas transmission and gathering pipelines. (See related article in the April 2018 Edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance Newsletter.) Their comments and the GPAC Slide Presentation on the Gas Rule are posted on the regulations.gov website.

PHMSA plans to break-up the mega-rule into three smaller rulemakings. This first rulemaking is associated with the 2011 congressional mandates, including: MAOP reconfirmation, pipeline integrity for non-HCA’s and O&M. Most believe it will be published in the federal register as a final rule before the end of the year.

The second rulemaking will deal with the remaining mega-rule proposals, minus gas gathering. And, the third rulemaking will deal with new regulations applicable to gas gathering pipelines. These rulemakings are expected sometime in 2019.

RCP has been closely following this rulemaking since its inception and published a Special Edition Newsletter devoted entirely to this mega-rule.

JUNE 5 – 7, 2018

Join RCP on June 5-7, 2018 in Houston at our corporate 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, 196, 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, 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 PIPES Act of 2016; recent Advisory Bulletins from PHMSA; and new, pending and proposed rulemakings.

Each attendee will receive the presentation as well as applicable handouts in a hardcopy notebook, 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.

To register for our workshop, click here.

[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0128]

PHMSA has announced a public meeting of the Voluntary Information-sharing System (VIS) Working Group on June 20, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET at a location yet to be determined in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. The VIS Working Group will convene to discuss and identify recommendations to establish a voluntary information-sharing system. The VIS Working Group agenda will include briefings on topics such as mandate requirements, integrity management, data types and tools, in-line inspection repair and other direct assessment methods, geographic information system implementation, subcommittee considerations, lessons learned, examples of existing information-sharing systems, safety management systems, and more. As part of its work, the committee will ultimately provide recommendations to the Secretary, as required and specifically outlined in Section 10 of Public Law 114-183, addressing:

• The need for, and the identification of, a system to ensure that dig verification data are shared with in-line inspection operators to the extent consistent with the need to maintain proprietary and security-sensitive data in a confidential manner to improve pipeline safety and inspection technology;
• Ways to encourage the exchange of pipeline inspection information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
• Opportunities to share data, including dig verification data between operators of pipeline facilities and in-line inspector vendors to expand knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of in-line inspection technology and methodologies;
• Options to create a secure system that protects proprietary data while encouraging the exchange of pipeline inspection information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
• Means and best practices for the protection of safety and security-sensitive information and proprietary information; and
• Regulatory, funding, and legal barriers to sharing the information described in paragraphs (a) through (d).

The Secretary will publish the VIS Working Group’s recommendations on a publicly available DOT website and in the docket. The VIS Working Group will fulfill its purpose once its recommendations are published online.

Additional information can be found on PHMSA’s meeting website.

REV. MARCH 2018

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released an updated version of its “Pipeline Security Guidelines” which outlines the measures that should be taken to protect pipeline cyber assets. These Guidelines had not been updated since 2011. TSA has oversight over more than 2.6 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. While the Guidelines are not mandatory, the threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy sector, has increased in volume, sophistication, and magnitude over the last seven years. The updated Guidelines can be found on the TSA website.

Check out the updated website and resources for Pipeline Safety Management System development, implementation, and evaluation at www.pipelinesms.org. This refreshed website includes the recently released tool and associated guidance document for Pipeline SMS evaluation. Come back often for news and updates about Pipeline SMS events and resources.

807 KAR 5:026 Gas Service; Gathering Systems

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has proposed amendments to KRS Chapter 278, 49 CFR 192 changing the engineering specifications of piping to conform with current industry standards. For a copy of the proposed changes, contact Jessica Foley.