The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting a review of the Excavations Standard pursuant to Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Section 5 of Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review. The purpose of this review is to determine, while protecting worker safety, whether this standard should be maintained without…
October 2002
Natural Resource Damage Assessments – Final rule
In the event of a discharge or substantial threat of a discharge of oil (incident), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., provides that Federal, State, Indian tribal, and/or foreign natural resource trustees (trustees) assess natural resource damages and develop and implement a plan for the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, or…
Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs; Procedures for Non-Evidential Alcohol Screening Devices
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines which non-evidential alcohol screening devices (ASDs) are suitable for use within DOT regulated industry testing programs. NHTSA has approved an ASD device that operates differently from other ASDs, and the DOT had no Part 40 procedures for its use. This final rule establishes procedures for the use…
Texas Proposed Rule for Public Liaison and Public Awareness
The State of Texas has proposed new regulations concerning community liaison and public awareness for gas and liquid pipelines. Each operator of a gas or liquid pipeline or pipeline facilities or the operator’s designated representative would be required to communicate and conduct liaison activities with fire, police, and other appropriate public emergency response officials in…
Drug and Alcohol Management Information System Reporting Notice of proposed rulemaking
The Department of Transportation’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) proposes to revise the Management Information System (MIS) forms currently used within six U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) operating administrations (OA) for submission of annual drug and alcohol program data. These OAs are: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA); Federal Aviation Administration…
RSPA Results Newsletter
We have posted the latest edition of the Research and Special Program Administration’s (RSPA’s) newsletter RSPA Results here. It contains information about all of RSPA’s programs, including those in the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). Of special interest is the article on OPS enforcement activities and productivity targets.
Small Liquid Pipeline Integrity Management Deadlines
Just a reminder for those Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operators with less than 500 miles of pipelines. The initial compliance deadline for identifying segments that could effect HCA’s is only about 6 weeks away (November 18, 2002). The deadline to have the final written plan in place is February 18, 2003. OPS has given a lot…
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operator Annual Report Form NPRM: extension of comment period
RSPA has extended the period for public comment from September 24, 2002, to November 22, 2002, on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2002, requiring an annual report for hazardous liquid pipeline operators (proposed form RSPA F7000-1.1). (See our August, 2002 newsletter here.) On July 26, 2002,…
Revised SPCC Requirements and RCP SPCC Workshops
RCP has scheduled several 1-day workshops on the EPA’s revised Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan regulations (published July 17th, 2002, effective August 16th, 2002). If your facility stores more than 55 gallons of oil in a single container, these revisions could affect you! Click here to view a list of locations and find out…
Advisory Bulletin: Safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Distribution Systems
On September 5, 2002, the RSPA issued an advisory bulletin concerning the safety of LPG distribution systems. On September 1, 2002 a propane gas explosion leveled a house in Snow Hill, MD. An employee of the local gas distribution company was killed and 17 emergency responders and others were injured, four critically. The accident is…
Advisory Bulletin RE: Updated Notifications to National Response Center
The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has issued an advisory to owners and operators of gas distribution, gas transmission, and hazardous liquid pipeline systems, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Owners and operators should ensure that telephonic reports of incidents to the National Response Center (NRC) are both prompt and accurate and fully communicate the…
Misc. Recommendations To Change Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards
RSPA is proposing to change some of the safety standards for hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines. The changes are based on recommendations by the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR). The changes will improve the clarity and effectiveness of the present standards, such as: Specify a 6 month re-qualification requirement for welders; Specify…