December 2010

PHMSA Migrates NPMS Database to PODS

PHMSA has completed the migration of the 510,917-mile National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Database to PODS (Pipeline Open Data Standard). This large dataset is visible to the general public via the Public View \ application on www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. By utilizing the PODS Data Model, PHMSA is now able to track attributes in a pipe-centric, rather than…

Pipeline Safety: Technical Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee Meeting

[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0203] The Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet via conference call on Monday, December 13, 2010, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The committee will consider and vote on a proposed rule titled: “Pipeline Safety: Applying Safety Regulation to All Rural Onshore Hazardous Liquid Low-Stress Lines” published on June…

Pipeline Safety: UIP Information Collection Activities

[Docket No. PHMSA–2010–0355] The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137–0618, titled ‘‘Pipeline Safety: Periodic Underwater Inspection.’’ PHMSA is preparing to request approval from OMB for a renewal of the current information collection. Submit comments on or before February…

Pipeline Safety: Information Collection Activities for Safety Related Conditions on Pipelines and LNG Facilities

[Docket No. PHMSA–2010–0354] The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137–0578, titled ‘‘Reporting Safety- Related Conditions on Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines and Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities.’’ PHMSA is preparing to request approval from OMB for a…

Final Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems

EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0923; FRL-9226-1; RIN 2060-AP99 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgated a regulation (SubPart W of 40 CFR Part 98) to require monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. This action adds this source category to the list of source categories already required to report greenhouse gas emissions. This…

Online Reporting Now Available for Low Consequence Liquid Pipeline Incidents

Cheryl Trench of Allegro Energy Consulting has informed us that PHMSA’s online system for filing a Form PHMSA F 7000-1 for low consequence accidents from liquids pipelines will be available for data entry on November 19. This shortened release report is analogous to the “one-page” report that existed from 2002-2009. The system will not allow…

Pipeline Safety: Control Room Management/Human Factors PHMSA-2007-27954

On September 17, 2010, PHMSA published a Control Room Management/Human Factors notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to expedite the program implementation deadlines to August 1, 2011, for most of the requirements, except for certain provisions regarding adequate information and alarm management, which would have a program implementation deadline of August 1, 2012. PHMSA has…

PHMSA Final Rule on Updates to Pipeline and LNG Reporting Requirements

Docket No. PHMSA–2008–0291; Amdt. Nos. 191–21; 192–115; 193–23; and 195–95] RIN 2137–AE33 The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Final Rule revising the Pipeline Safety Regulations with updates to natural gas and hazardous liquid Pipelines, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities reporting requirements. (See related article in the July 2009 edition of…