Western Regional Gas Conference 2022August 23-24 | Scottsdale, AZ WRGC welcomes you back to an in-person conference! Be sure to check the agenda and plan to attend DeWitt Burdeaux’s presentation on RIN2. RCP’s SME, Nhan “Barney” Pham, will be speaking at the Methane tracking and reporting for gas pipeline facilities presentation where you can learn…
June 2021
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshops (In Person)
Join us October 18th – October 20th, 2022 in Houston at our corporate office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics. Topics to be addressed in the workshop include: An overview of DOT/OPS pipeline compliance requirements State and Federal agency roles for pipeline safety PHMSA Jurisdiction…
PHMSA Advisory Bulletin: Eliminating Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas from Pipeline Facilities
PHMSA has issued a new Advisory Bulletin (ADB 2021-01) reminding operators of the statutory mandate from the PIPES Act of 2020, which contains self-executing provisions requiring pipeline facility operators to update their inspection and maintenance plans to address the elimination of hazardous leaks and minimization of releases of natural gas (including, and not limited to,…
PHMSA Max Civil Penalty Adjustment Final Rule
[RIN 2105-AE99] DOT issued a final rule increasing the maximum civil penalties that PHMSA may assess for violations of the federal Pipeline Safety Laws (49 CFR Part 190 – Pipeline Safety Enforcement and Regulatory Procedures) to reflect the 2021 inflation adjustment. Effective May 3, the maximum civil penalty for each pipeline safety violation increased from…
PHMSA Notice: Terminates Stay of Enforcement Related to COVID-19
On May 19, 2021, PHMSA will suspend its March 20, 2020 Stay of Enforcement and Notice of Enforcement Discretion as of May 26, 2021. The March 20, 2020 Stay laid out a course of notification that pipeline operators and natural gas storage operators could use to avoid enforcement due to ‘…limited personnel resources and the…
PHMSA Notice Pipeline Safety Information Collection Activities
[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0172] PHMSA will modify the instructions for Part G, Part F, and Part L to clarify that operators are only required to report baseline and reassessment data for moderate consequence area (MCA) segments subject to 49 CFR 192.710. PHMSA is withdrawing its proposal to move reporting of relief valve & ESD events from…
TSA Security Directive “Enhancing Pipeline Cybersecurity”
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Security Directive (2021-01), effective May 28, 2021, titled Enhancing Pipeline Cybersecurity. This Directive was sent to the specific pipeline operators who were identified by the TSA as operating critical pipeline systems or facilities. The Directive has three requirements: Report cybersecurity incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency…
TSA Pipeline Security Guideline
[March 2018 Edition with Change 1 (April 2021)] The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has updated its Pipeline Security Guidelines manual. This update was published in April 2021. The Criticality Section has been replaced in the new manual. Where the old manual treated all pipelines equally, the new manual breaks down the guidance into gas distribution,…
Indiana Pipeline Safety Regulation Amendments
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission provided notice that they intend to amend pipeline safety regulations, including the following items. Amends 170 IAC 5-3-0.5, 70 IAC 5-3-0.6, 170 IAC 5-3-1, 170 IAC 5-3-2, 170 IAC 5-3-3, 170 IAC 5-3-4, and 170 IAC 5-3-5 to make various updates, incorporate new federal regulations through July 1, 2021. Specify…
Dura-Line Pauses NGD Polyethylene Pipe Orders
On April 20, 2021, Dura-Line announced a pause in the shipping and sale for any small diameter natural gas distribution polyethylene pipe as they look into inconsistencies in quality. The specific products affected are NGD pipe of 1.5-inch diameter or smaller (specifically, the NGD pipe sizes of 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4, and 1 1/2…