On December 5, 2006, the Texas Railroad Commission will review a new proposed rule for pipeline damage prevention. The proposed rule will be found in new Chapter 18, entitled Underground Pipeline Damage Prevention, relating to: Scope, Applicability, and General Provisions; Definitions; Excavator Notice to Notification Center; Excavator Obligation to Avoid Damage to Underground Pipelines; Operator…
December 2006
Pipeline Safety Trust Presentations Available
The Pipeline Safety Trust held a unique conference in November that provided a forum for various stakeholders to share their views on the current state of pipeline safety. Participants included members of the Pipeline Safety Trust, general public, regulatory agencies, and pipeline industry leaders. Topics discussed included land use, data management, technology, communications, damage prevention,…
NTSB Comments on NPRM for Low Stress Pipelines
Several comments have been submitted to PHMSA in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Protecting Unusually Sensitive Areas from Rural Onshore Hazardous Liquid Gathering Lines and Low Stress Lines. Of particular significance is the comments submitted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB has indicated that they believe the NPRM does…
PHMSA Issues Second Advisory Bulletin of 2006 on Excavation Practices
PHMSA has recently issued an advisory bulletin to pipeline operators in response to recent excavation incidents in Texas, Wyoming, California, and Virginia. This comes on the heels of another Advisory Bulletin (ADB 06-01, published in the Federal Register on January 17,2006 (71 FR 2613)) issued to pipeline operators affirming the DOT’s expectations for excavation tasks…
EPA Proposes Emissions Rule for Gasoline Terminals, Pipeline Farms
EPA has proposed a rule that would set air emission standards for bulk gasoline terminals, pipeline facilities, and bulk gasoline plants. An alternative would also apply to gasoline dispensing facilities. EPA said it will regulate them under sections 112(c)(3) and 112(d)(5) of the Clean Air Act rather than section 112(c)(6) and expects the proposed standards…
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – December 8, 2006
RCP will be hosting our very popular workshops on DOT Pipeline Compliance on December 8 in Park City, Utah. Join us for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance. This workshop has been attended by hundreds of pipeline personnel, with excellent feedback. The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations,…