[Docket No. PHMSA-2022-0125]
PHMSA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) with revisions to the Pipeline Safety Regulations to enhance safety standards and reporting requirements for gas- and liquid-phase carbon dioxide pipelines. Key changes include establishing an emergency planning zone for improved response and public communication, more prescriptive fracture control requirements, explicit inclusion of carbon dioxide in the definition of a highly volatile liquid, specific vapor dispersion modeling requirements, and updates to operations, maintenance, and emergency manuals. Additional measures apply to hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines, such as enhanced right-of-way inspections for geologic hazards, fixed vapor detection and alarm systems at specific facilities, and changes to conversion-to-service requirements.
RCP will release a special edition newsletter analyzing the revised NPRM. To request a copy of this NPRM, please message Jessica Foley.