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In This Issue

  1. PHMSA Issues 21 Notices
  2. PHMSA Adopts Version 2 of API RP 1170 and 1171, Underground Gas Storage
  3. Featured Service
  4. The Enforcement Corner
  5. Did You Know?
  6. Pipeline Safety Institute

PHMSA Issues 21 Notices

On October 2nd, PHMSA has issued twenty-one notices related to a prior set of notices that were issued on July 1, 2025.  Most of these are either withdrawals of Direct Final Rules or are confirming effective dates of recent industry standards to be incorporated by reference into Parts 192 and 195.  There is also a public meeting announcement for pending LNG regulations.

  1. Adjust Annual Report Filing Timelines (Withdrawal of DFR)
    Due to the receipt of adverse comment(s), PHMSA is withdrawing the Direct Final Rule (DFR) titled “Adjust Annual Report Filing Timelines,” which published on July 1, 2025.  Effective October 2, 2025, PHMSA withdraws the DFR published at 90 FR 28047 on July 1, 2025.  The original DFR extended the deadline for submitting annual reports for operators of gas distribution pipelines, gas transmission pipelines, regulated gas gathering pipelines, Type R gas gathering lines, underground natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities to June 15th.  The annual reporting deadline for these pipelines will revert back to March 15th for the previous calendar year.
  1. Integration of Innovative Remote Sensing Technologies for Right-of-Way Patrols on Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines (Withdrawal of DFR)
    Due to the receipt of adverse comment, PHMSA is withdrawing the DFR titled “Integration of Innovative Remote Sensing Technologies for Right-of Way Patrols on Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines,” which published on July 1, 2025.  Effective October 2, 2025, PHMSA withdraws the DFR published at 90 FR 28105 on July 1, 2025.  That DFR clarified that PHMSA’s right-of-way patrol requirements were technology neutral, and that remote sensing technologies, such as unmanned aerial systems and satellites, could be used for compliance purposes.
  1. Property Damage Definition for Incident Reporting on Gas Pipelines and Accidents on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines (Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule)
    Due to the receipt of adverse comment, PHMSA is withdrawing the DFR titled “Property Damage Definition for Incident Reporting on Gas Pipelines and Accidents on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines,” which published on July 1, 2025 (90 FR 28050). PHMSA may incorporate the adverse comment into a subsequent DFR or may publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). An NPRM would provide an opportunity for public comment.  In the original DFR, PHMSA amended the definition of an incident on a gas pipeline, the calculation of property damage to exclude the costs associated with removing and replacing pavement and certain other inconsequential costs.  PHMSA also updated the monetary damages threshold for accident reporting on hazardous liquid pipelines to align with an inflation-adjusted formula specified in its regulations governing gas pipeline incident reporting.
  1. Rationalize Calculation of Regulatory Filing and Compliance Deadlines (DFR; confirmation of effective date)
    PHMSA is amending pipeline safety regulations to introduce a clarification that filing and compliance deadlines falling on weekends and Federal holidays will be adjusted automatically to the following business day.  The effective date of the DFR published July 1, 2025 (90 FR 28044), is updated from October 9, 2025, to November 3, 2025.
  1. PHMSA issues DFR confirming effective dates of January 1, 2026 for the following industry standards to be incorporated by reference into Parts 192 and 195.
  • API RP 1170 and API RP 1171, 2nd edition
  • API Specification 6D, Specification for Valves to the 25th edition (issued in November 1, 2021)
  • API Standard 620, “Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks” to the 12th edition, October 2013, including Addendum 1 through 4 (November 2014 through February 2025) and Errata 1 (March 2025), (collectively, API STD 620)
  • ASTM A381/A381M, “Standard Specification for Metal-Arc-Welded Carbon or High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Pipe for Use with High-Pressure Transmission System”, 2023 edition
  • ASTM A578/A578M, “Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applications”, 2017 edition (reapproved 2023)
  • ASTM F1973, “Standard Specification for Factory Assembled Anodeless Risers and Transition Fittings in Polyethylene (PE) and Polyamide 11 (PA11) and Polyamide 12 (PA12) Fuel Gas Distribution Systems”, 2021 edition
  • ASTM F2145, “Standard Specification for Polyamide 11 (PA 11) and Polyamide 12 (PA12) Mechanical Fittings for Use on Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide 11 and Polyamide 12 Pipe and Tubing”, 2023 edition
  • ASTM F2600, “Standard Specification for Electrofusion Type Polyamide-11 Fittings for Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide-11 Pipe and Tubing”, 2023 edition
  • ASTM F2767, “Specification for Electrofusion Type Polyamide-12 Fittings for Outside Diameter Controlled Polyamide-12 Pipe and Tubing for Gas Distribution”, 2023 edition
  • ASTM F2817, “Standard Specification for Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Gas Pressure Pipe and Fittings for Maintenance or Repair”, 2023 edition
  • ASTM F2945, “Standard Specification for Polyamide 11 Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings”, 2023 edition
  • NFPA 70, “National Electrical Code (NEC)”, 2023 edition
  • PPI TR-4, “PPI HSB Listing of Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB), Hydrostatic Design Stress (HDS), Strength Design Basis (SDS), Pressure Design Basis (PDB) and Minimum Required Strength (MRS) Ratings For Thermoplastic Piping Materials or Pipe”, 2024 edition
  • PPI TR-3, “Policies and Procedures for Developing Hydrostatic Design Basis (HDB), Hydrostatic Design Stresses (HDS), Pressure Design Basis (PDB), Strength Design Basis (SDB), Minimum Required Strength (MRS) Ratings, and Categorized Required Strength (CRS) for Thermoplastic Piping Materials or Pipe”, 2024 edition
  • API RP 2026, “Safe Access/Egress Involving Floating Roofs of Storage Tanks in Petroleum Service”, 4th edition
  • ASTM A53/A53M, “Standard Specification for Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless”, 2022 edition
  1. Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities Public Meeting 2025
    PHMSA will conduct a virtual public meeting on October 22, 2025 to discuss pending proposed rulemaking for LNG facilities, regulated under Part 193.  The meeting agenda and instructions on how to attend virtually will be published once they are finalized on the public meeting web page at: https://primis-meetings.phmsa.dot.gov/.