The DOT FY2012 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was released to the public on October 11, 2011, with proposal submission deadline of December 12. PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Research Program has 3 topics (pages 27-30): Focus area 1 12.1-PH1 Seal Sensor Network for Point-of-Source Leak Detection Focus area 2 12.1-PH2 Pipeline Systems with Integrated Health…
November 2011
NAPSR Compendium of State Pipeline Safety Requirements
The National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (the state pipeline regulators) has recently released a “Compendium of State Pipeline Safety Requirements & Initiatives Providing Increased Public Safety Levels compared to the Code of Federal Regulation” 1st Edition 2011. This document provides a state-by-state breakdown of any requirements that go above and beyond PHMSA requirements. This…
California Pipeline Safety Laws
On October 7, 2011, California Governor, Jerry Brown, signed new pipeline safety laws that were written in response to the San Bruno incident. “We learned very important lessons from the tragic explosion in San Bruno,” Brown said. “These bills protect California’s communities by setting new standards for emergency preparedness, placing automatic shutoff valves in vulnerable…
CGA DIRT 2010 Analysis & Recommendations Released October, 2011
The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has released the DIRT Report: Analysis & Recommendations for Calendar Year 2010, Volume VII. The Damage Information Report Tool (DIRT) Report identifies the importance of calling 811 as most critical to safety. When an excavator notifies a one call center before digging, damage occurs less than 1 percent of the…
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Proposes Changes to State Rules on Pipeline Safety and Damage Prevention
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) has proposed to amend its existing rules regarding Pipeline Safety General Provisions and Pipeline Safety Excavation Damage Prevention that are currently codified in the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC). The Staff has submitted nine (9) proposed changes to 18.60.2 and eighteen (18) proposed changes to 18.60.5 NMAC. Changes…
PHMSA Emergency Response Workshop
PHMSA’s December 9th Pipeline Emergency Response Forum will take place at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Co-sponsors for this event are the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The purpose of the forum is to convene a…
Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act 2011 Senate Bill 275
On October 17, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation and to provide for enhanced reliability in the transportation of the Nation’s energy products by pipeline. This legislation was initiated in response to recent pipeline incidents of gas…