DID YOU KNOW? Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) members work continuously to improve practices that minimize methane emissions from interstate natural gas transmission and storage operations in a prudent and environmentally responsible manner. INGAA’s 2021 Methane Emissions Commitments outline actions the membership take on a regular basis in order to continue to reduce…
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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, interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: Can a refined products pipeline be considered a liquid gathering line if it is 8” or less in diameter and starts at…
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 2023, PHMSA issued 4 NOAs, 7 NOPVs, and 4 WLs accompanied by $3,429,512 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
Pipeline Fines Trending Up… a lot?!
Mike Soraghan with “E&E News” noted in a recent Energywire article that PHMSA’s fines for pipeline safety violations have trended significantly higher in the past couple of years. Per the article: “Federal civil penalties for pipeline safety violations topped $10 million for the first time in 2021 and rose again last year to $11.6 million.…
PHMSA Announces 2023 Gas Property Damage Reporting Threshold
PHMSA is updating the property damage threshold used in the definition of a gas pipeline incident in §191.3 to $139,700. This new threshold is effective on July 1, 2023. On January 11, 2021, PHMSA published the final rule, “Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform.” This rule revised the threshold for reporting of gas incidents by…
PHMSA Technical Corrections to Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection
[Docket No. PHMSA-2013-0255, Amdt. Nos. 192-134, 195-106] PHMSA issued editorial and technical corrections clarifying the regulations in its April 8, 2022, final rule titled “Pipeline Safety: Requirement of Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards” for certain gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines. (See related article in the June 2022 edition of the “DOT…
Featured Service
Precision Under Pressure: Every Test. Every Time. TestApp is the first, and only, mobile app specifically designed for pressure testing. RCP created this new software to enable gas distribution operators to wirelessly record pressure test data and automatically generate final test reports, all through the convenience of their phone or tablet. Why are we so…
PHMSA Posts Voluntary PSMS Reporting Form
PHMSA has posted a report form for gas distribution pipeline operators to submit that describes their progress on implementation of API 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems. Submittal of this form is voluntary and not a regulatory requirement for gas distribution operators. PHMSA is required to collect this data to comply with Sec. 205. Pipeline safety…
PHMSA Gas Leak Detection and Repair Comment Extension
[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0039] The deadline to submit comments in response to PHMSA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair, which was published in the Federal Register Volume 88, Number 96, on Thursday May 18, 2023, must be filed by August 16, 2023 (See related article in the May 2023 Edition…
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Updates
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission filed several updates to their state pipeline regulations on May 24, 2023. More specifically, under Title 170, Article 5 Gas Utilities, Rule 3. Minimum Safety Standards for the Transportation of Gas, Hazardous Liquids, Carbon Dioxide Fluids, and Related Pipeline Facilities, the following items were addressed: If you are an operator…
Texas Railroad Commission Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Chapter 5 (CO2) Rules
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) will host a public comment hearing on the proposed amendments to Chapter 5, relating to Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which are part of the RRC’s ongoing application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for enforcement primacy of the Class VI Underground Injection Control Program. To view the proposed rules,…
Texas Railroad Commission O&G Monitoring and Enforcement Plan
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) commissioners approved the agency’s Oil and Gas Monitoring Plan for Fiscal Year 2024. The new plan includes goals to accurately demonstrate the Commission ’s oil and gas monitoring and enforcement activities and to strategically use the oil and gas monitoring and enforcement resources. It focuses on developing a framework…
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 May 2023, PHMSA issued 4 NOAs, 13 NOPVs, and 3 WLs accompanied by $2,680,792 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
Don’t Forget State Enforcement Actions!
Pipeline operators and excavators in Texas were fined $329,244 for violating the Texas Railroad Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention rules. Visit the RRC General Counsel webpage for more information on the violations and corresponding penalties.
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, including interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: I am replacing pipeline segments by installing new pipe in a pipe rack to allow for a major highway reconstruction. If…
Did you know?
DID YOU KNOW? About the Furnace Rule… The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed a rule, known as the Furnace Rule, that would ban the sale of non-condensing furnaces found in millions of American homes.
NPMS New Dataset Released May 2023
The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) and PHMSA have released new HIGH Population and OTHER Populated areas as a new dataset based on the 2020 census data. Click on Version: 5 (Derived from 2020 Census) for more information and link to Download. Click here to register for our free webinar: “Unpacking the New NPMS Attribute…
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Regulation Update for “Pipelines Transporting Carbon Dioxide”
On June 1, 2023, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (La DNR) published new regulations updating Title 33 Part V (LR 49:909 (May 2023)) pertaining to pipelines that transport carbon dioxide. These updates included adding Section 93 to Chapter 301 with additional requirements for these pipelines, including items for vents, sensing devices, fail-safe control, and sources…
Texas Railroad Commission’s New Construction Reports Online Filing Mandatory September 1st
Effective September 1, 2023, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) will no longer accept hard copy filings of Form PS-48, New Construction Report, by mail. Pipeline operators must submit New Construction Reports using RRC’s Pipeline, Inspection, Permitting and Evaluation System (RRC PIPES) available on the RRC website. Likewise, correspondence from RRC to pipeline operators on…
DOT Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance
On June 1, 2023, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance posted its updated Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) guidelines. The document has been updated regarding certain provisions addressed in the Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule published on May 2, 2023. A listing of the updates to the SAP guidelines can be found…