On July 8, 2026, PHMSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize the federal repair criteria for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines. If adopted, these would be the first significant updates to the repair requirements in nearly 20 years. The proposal is intended to better align the regulations with current engineering…
July 2026
PHMSA Announces Summer Research & Development Public Debriefs
PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has announced a series of upcoming virtual events, including Pipeline Safety Research & Development (R&D) public debriefs and a joint meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (GPAC) and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (LPAC). Don’t Miss: The joint GPAC/LPAC advisory committee meeting on July…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin: Guidance for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Distribution Integrity Management Programs
PHMSA issued a new Advisory Bulletin (ADB 26-06) to remind owners and operators of gas distribution systems of the distribution integrity management program (DIMP) requirements under 49 CFR part 192, subpart P. The guidance is intended to improve implementation of DIMP risk evaluations by addressing factors such as high-risk infrastructure, interactive threats, and leak management…
PHMSA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Updates to Pipeline Reporting Forms
PHMSA has proposed revisions to several pipeline safety reporting forms used by gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipeline operators. The updates are intended to improve the quality, consistency, and usefulness of the information submitted to the agency, helping PHMSA better identify safety trends, evaluate risks, and prioritize oversight activities. Among the proposed changes are…
Updated D&A Testing Collection Procedures
DOT issued a minor update to its drug and alcohol testing rules to address a temporary gap related to oral fluid testing. While oral fluid testing was approved in a previous rule, it cannot yet be used because certified laboratories are not in place. This update ensures that in situations where oral fluid testing would…
Featured Service
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Regulatory Watch: Key Dates & Deadlines
Welcome to Regulatory Watch! In this monthly update, we’ll keep you informed on proposed rule comment periods, effective dates, and upcoming deadlines for various compliance requirements. Have questions about an upcoming deadline? Please reach out to Jessica Foley for assistance!
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In June 2026, PHMSA issued 1 CAO, 2 NOA, 0 NOPVs, and 3 WLs accompanied by $0 in proposed fines. Please note: RCP maintains a detailed database of…
Did You Know?
Many PHMSA enforcement cases stem from documentation deficiencies rather than physical pipeline defects. If an operator cannot demonstrate compliance through records, PHMSA may determine the requirement was not met. Click here to learn more.
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: When does PHMSA consider a pipeline to be “abandoned” rather than “out of service”? A: A pipeline that is temporarily out…
2026 Conference News
AGA Strengthening Contractor Partnerships in Gas Construction Ops WorkshopAugust 4-5, 2026 | GTI Energy Headquarters | Des Plaines, IL The AGA’s Strengthening Contractor Partnerships in Gas Construction Operations Workshop, hosted at GTI Energy, is a collaborative, in-person workshop designed to bring together natural gas utilities, construction contractors, and industry leaders to advance contractor performance, safety…
PSI Training Schedule
DATE COURSE FEE Aug. 4-6, 2026 DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop (49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195 & 199) $2,150 Sep. 22-24, 2026 Pipeline Safety Audit Training (Comprehensive training with technical and soft skills) $2,150 Nov. 17-19, 2026 DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop (49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195 & 199) $2,150 FREE LIVE WEBINAR ALERT!Unpacking the…