On February 12th, PHMSA published a final rule to amend its minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities (UNGSFs). On December 19, 2016, PHMSA issued another final rule establishing regulations in response to the 2015 Aliso Canyon incident and the subsequent mandate in section 12 of the PIPES Act of 2016. The rule…
February 2020
Changes to the PHMSA Incident forms for Gas Distribution, Gas Transmission & Gathering, and Liquified Natural Gas Reports
Several changes to the required incident forms for Gas Distribution, Transmission, and LNG unintentional releases will occur shortly. This article focuses on the Gas Transmission and Gathering incident form changes, though these changes will appear in each incident report. The changes include: Question and answer choices focusing on the chronological event log and operator actions.…
PHMSA Houston-area Meetings February 25-27
Marriott Hotel in sugar land, Texas PHMSA is holding 3 days of Operator and public meetings at the Marriott Hotel in Sugar Land, Texas on February 25-27. If you wish to attend the Operator meeting, please RSVP no later than February 12, 2020. Registration, agenda and hotel information can be found on the PHMSA meetings webpage.…
PHMSA NPRM Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards
[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0255] PHMSA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), “Amendments to Parts 192 and 195 to Require Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards” is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on February 6th. PHMSA is proposing to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations applicable to newly constructed and entirely replaced onshore natural gas…
Gas Transmission & Hazardous Liquid Draft FAQs Posted
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0225] PHMSA has released draft frequently asked questions (Gas FAQs and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline FAQs) with draft answers to guide implementation of both final rules issued on October 1, 2019. PHMSA requests comments on the drafts by February 11, 2020 to facilitate discussion at the meetings on pipeline safety issues scheduled on February…
OMB Public Comments on Improving / Reforming Regulatory Enforcement
[Docket No. OMB–2019–0006] Have an opinion about regulatory enforcement, with supporting examples? Here’s your chance to tell inspectors and regulators what you think! The Office of Management Budget (OMB) wants to hear from you. Interested parties should submit comments identified by Docket No. OMB–2019–0006, to www.regulations.gov. Comments are open until March 16. For a list…
TRRC Pipeline Mileage Fees Due April 1
The Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) is reminding pipeline operators that their 2020 pipeline mileage fees are due April 1, 2020. Operators will use the number of miles they have permitted as of December 31, 2019 to calculate their 2020 pipeline mileage fee. This year’s mileage charts and other information on the fees can be found…
National Pipeline Mapping System Revisions
Every operator of a pipeline facility (except distribution lines and gas gathering lines) must provide PHMSA geospatial data, attributes, metadata, contact information and a transmittal letter appropriate for use in the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). Operators submit this information each year on or before March 15 for gas transmission and LNG plant operators, or…
Pipeline Research & Development Forum
February 19-20, 2020 The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will hold their next Pipeline R&D Forum on February 19-20, 2020 in Arlington, VA from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. On-site registration will begin at 7:00 a.m. on both days. The forum allows public, government and industry pipeline stakeholders to develop recommendations on the…
2020 Industry Conference Schedule
Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will be attending the following conferences. We hope to see you there! Pipeline Pigging and Integrity Management (PPIM) ConferenceFebruary 17-21, 2020George R. Brown Convention Center; Houston, TXRCP Booth #412 / Be our Guest and Click Here for a Free Exhibition Pass. PPIM is…
What can TaskOp™ do for you? Webinar
february 17, 2020 New Regulations have you Stressed Out…Don’t Panic…TaskOp™ has your back This webinar will demonstrate how TaskOp™ can be used to track all of the complex activities associated with the new gas transmission and hazardous liquid regulations. Manage inventory of all segments with non-TVC records through the lifespan of MAOP reconfirmation and material…