On September 30, 2013, PHMSA announced $46 million in pipeline safety grants for 2013, authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60107, to be divided among 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Continue Reading $46 Million in PHMSA Pipeline Safety Grants to Support State Pipeline Safety Programs
September 2013
PHMSA Promulgates Final Rule Regarding Agency Enforcement Procedures
PHMSA has issued a final rule making several significant changes to the Agency’s enforcement procedures. See attached Federal Register pre-publication release of PHMSA Final Rule (Sept. 24, 2013). While this rule purports to comply with various Congressional mandates set forth in the 2012 amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act, it effectively increases and establishes some new Agency enforcement tools. …
Continue Reading PHMSA Promulgates Final Rule Regarding Agency Enforcement Procedures
PHMSA Responds to Comments on Revised Reporting Forms for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
As previously reported, on April 23, 2013, PHMSA proposed changes to the hazardous liquid operators’ accident report (Form 7000-1) to require additional detail regarding “low consequence” releases (releases between 5 gallons and 5 barrels) and to revise instructions regarding spill and recovery volumes, time sequence, and NRC instructions.
Continue Reading PHMSA Responds to Comments on Revised Reporting Forms for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
PHMSA Revises IVP And Extends Comment Period on Proposed Integrity Verification Process
To comply with Pipeline Safety Act requirements to confirm the operating pressure limits of certain natural gas transmission pipelines, PHMSA held a public workshop on its proposed ‘Integrity Verification Process’ (IVP) on August 7, 2013. In response to feedback from stakeholders received after the workshop, the Agency announced on September 12, 2013 a revised IVP…
PHMSA Contemplates New Rail Safety Rules for Crude Shipments
PHMSA’s focus on shale activities extends beyond gathering and transmission lines; the Agency also regulates the transportation of hazardous materials, including crude, by rail. In response to an unfortunate fatality derailment of a parked rail car containing Bakken crude oil that occurred over the summer in Quebec, and subsequent NTSB recommendations and industry petitions,…
Trends and Issues in Non-Traditional Ownership of Pipeline Systems
Over the past decade, and further spurred by the recent recession, the energy sector has experienced a notable uptick in private equity investment and other forms of non-traditional ownership. This trend is particularly prevalent in the pipeline industry. The goal is often to only hold the assets for a relatively brief time, then sell them…