Over the past several years PHMSA has issued numerous Advisories and Guidance notices. In fact, the Agency has issued nine times more informal guidance documents than formal rulemakings on pipeline safety issues since January 2012.
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September 2014
GAO Recommends that DOT Address Risks from Unregulated Gathering Pipelines
In response to a request from Congress to study the impact of shale oil and gas development on transportation infrastructure and safety, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently published a report commenting on these developments and focusing on DOT’s response to address safety risks posed by rail and pipeline transportation. …
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PHMSA Releases Advisory and Guidance for Pipeline Flow Reversals, Product Changes and Conversion to Service
PHMSA has issued an Advisory Bulletin to alert hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline operators of the impacts associated with flow reversals, product changes, and conversions to service. The Advisory, issued in conjunction with newly-published Agency Guidance on these issues, recommends that operators consult existing conversion of service requirements for flow reversals and product…
The Pipeline Safety Management Standard (Draft API RP 1173): What It Means to Operators
In 2012, following a 2010 oil pipeline accident in Marshall, Michigan, NTSB recommended that API develop a pipeline Safety Management Standard (SMS). …
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PHMSA Advisory Regarding Construction Notification
As further indication of the Agency’s increased focus on pipeline construction activity, PHMSA will publish an Advisory Bulletin on September 12, 2014 intending to clarify pre-construction notification requirements. …
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Increased LNG Export Proposals Challenge Agency Review
Increased natural gas production from shale formations in the U.S. has led to a notable increase in applications for regulatory approvals of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and construction of LNG export facilities. …
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PHMSA Broadly Interprets Its Construction Oversight Authority
The authority of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish minimum safety standards for the design, installation, and construction of pipeline facilities is clearly set forth in the Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) (PSA or the Act), as is its authority to conduct design review of certain new facilities and new and novel technology by virtue of the 2012 amendments. …
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