November 2015

New Pipeline Safety Management System RP Exceeds NTSB Recommendation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed out a recommendation that it made after the Enbridge oil spill in Marshall, Michigan, concerning safety management systems. In response to NTSB’s recommendation, API developed Recommended Practice 1173 which addressed the NTSB recommendation as well as other topics including safety culture. The NTSB’s press release on this…

API RP 1166: Excavation Monitoring and Observation, Second Edition

API has published a new edition of Recommended Practice (RP) 1166 on monitoring and observation of excavations near energy pipelines. This RP provides a consistently applied decision making process for monitoring and observing of excavation and other activities on or near pipeline rights-of-way for “hazardous liquid” and “natural and other gas” transmission pipelines. The goal…

Underwater Inspection Procedures & Inspection Interval Risk Model Updates

Now that Hurricane season is almost over, this is a reminder to those that have UIP and IIRM plans that you may want to review them soon. RCP’s latest Inspection Interval Risk Model (IIRM) has been improved to include additional inspection trigger results for hazardous liquid pipelines that cross navigable waterways within Inlets of the…

Panel on Cost-Benefit Analysis at the Pipeline Safety Trust Conference

November 19-20, 2016 – New Orleans Your humble newsletter editor will participate in a panel discussion at the upcoming Pipeline Safety Trust (PLST) Conference in New Orleans on November 19-20 concerning cost-benefit analysis during the rulemaking process. Registration information, agenda and hotel information is available on the Pipeline Safety Trust website. Be sure to be…

National Pipeline Mapping System; Extension of Comment Period and Notice of Operator Workshop

[Docket ID PHMSA-2014-0092] PHMSA is sponsoring a one-day National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) operator technical workshop on November 18, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Key Bridge, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss and understand existing and future NPMS submission technical issues such…

Oklahoma Enforces State Damage Prevention Act

[OK 165:20-17] The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) published a new Subchapter to Oklahoma Regulation Title 165, Chapter 20: Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety. Subchapter 17: Obligations Under The Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act Subject To Commission Enforcement gives the OCC the enforcement authority for the state’s Damage Prevention Act. The Commission previously had…

API RP1173 Assessment Services

API recently published a new Recommended Practice (RP) concerning safety management systems for pipelines. API RP 1173 provides pipeline operators with a comprehensive way to make safe operations and continuous safety improvement a constant focus of their operations. The first step for most pipeline operators will be to assess their current safety management system maturity…

Save the Dates!

RCP Workshop Schedule for 2017 DOT Gas & Liquid Pipeline Workshop: March 21-23 (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) Fundamentals of Pipeline Operations Workshop: May 24-25 (Wednesday & Thursday) Pressure Test Workshop: June 20-21 (Tuesday & Wednesday) Visit our training website for updates, registration, and hotel information.