RCP will repeat our 2 day workshop on Pipeline Integrity Management on February 27 and 28th in Houston. This workshop presents a detailed analysis of the recent federal Pipeline Integrity Management regulation and the management programs / elements that it requires. We will also review recent state initiatives / proposed rules on pipeline integrity management.…
February 2002
High Consequence Areas for Gas Transmission Pipelines – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The DOT has issued their proposed rule to define areas of high consequence where the potential consequences of a gas pipeline accident may be significant or may do considerable harm to people and their property. This proposed rule is the first step in a two step process to address the integrity management programs for gas…
DOT Mail Processing Notice
After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, overnight shippers, e.g., FEDEX, advised the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) offices that they faced delivery delays because the airlines had been grounded. In addition, DOT requested that, beginning October 16, 2001, the United States Postal Service (USPS) halt most mail deliveries until it could put in place…
Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas – Repair Criteria
The DOT / OPS has issued the final rule concerning the repair provisions for hazardous liquid pipelines under the Pipeline Integrity Management Program. These provisions were initially proposed in the previous rulemaking action which addressed requirements for pipeline integrity management programs in high consequence areas for operators owning or operating 500 or more miles of…
Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (Hazardous Liquid Operators With Less Than 500 Miles of Pipelines)
The DOT has extended the Pipeline Integrity Management regulations (previously applicable only to operators of more than 500 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines) to operators with less than 500 miles of regulated pipelines. The DOT has taken this action because safety recommendations, statutory mandates, and accident analyses indicate that coordinated risk control measures are needed…
Small Liquid Pipeline Integrity Management – Typo
Editor’s note: We have clarified with the DOT that the date for small liquid pipeline operators (Category 2 pipelines) to use prior assessments is not in fact December 18, 2006, but should be 5 years PRIOR to the publication date of the rule, less one month. If I can do the math correctly, that makes…
Pipeline Drug Testing; Random Testing Rate – 2002
Each year, a minimum percentage of covered pipeline employees must be randomly tested for prohibited drugs. The percentage, either 50 percent or 25 percent, depends on the positive rate of random testing reported to RSPA in the previous year. In accordance with applicable standards, RSPA has determined that the positive rate of random testing reported…
Issuance of Nationwide Permits; Notice
The Corps of Engineers is reissuing all the existing Nationwide Permits (NWPs), General Conditions, and definitions with some modifications, and one new General Condition. The Corps has made a number of changes to the proposed NWPs and General Conditions that are designed to further clarify the permits and strengthen environmental protection. These changes are discussed…
Old Mapping Docket Item Removed from Regulatory Agenda
On January 25, 2002, the DOT / RSPA removed Docket No. RSPA-97-2426 (RIN 2137-AB48) from their regulatory agenda. This docket item dealt with mapping standards for gas and liquid pipelines, and was initiated in 1997. The docket item is being removed from DOT’s regulatory agenda because it has been superceded by the National Pipeline Mapping…
2002 API Pipeline Conference and Cybernetics Symposium
The API Pipeline Conference and Cybernetics Symposium will be held April 9-11, 2002, in Dallas, TX at the Wyndham Anatole hotel. The brochure can be downloaded at http://api-ep.api.org/filelibrary/agr17500-2.PDF. To view other information about the conference, including on-line registration, go to http://api-ep.api.org/ and search for “cybernetics”. The early registration deadline is March 19, 2002. We hope…