Following Governor Abbott’s recent proclamation of a state of disaster in Texas due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) have issued guidance for regulated entities relating to environmental compliance concerns as well as other useful information relative to agency operations during these
A new Advisory on deactivation of threats for gas transmission lines was issued by PHMSA on March 15, 2017 (to be published in the March 16, 2017 Federal Register). Amidst uncertainty about the fate of various proposed and final rules issued by PHMSA and other federal agencies under the new Administration due to the Regulatory Freeze Executive Memorandum of January 20, 2017 and other executive orders, PHMSA’s issuance of this clarifying guidance regarding minimum criteria for deactivation of integrity threats is notable.
Continue Reading Advisory on Deactivation of Integrity Management Threats
PHMSA issued an advisory to operators regarding the applicability of its safety regulations to idled, inactive and abandoned pipe. Congress directed PHMSA to issue such an advisory in the recent PIPES Act of 2016, in response to several high profile incidents involving idled pipe.
Continue Reading Pipe Subject to Safety Regulations Until Formally Abandoned: PHMSA Advisory
PHMSA announced that it will extend the comment period on its proposed gas rule by only 30 days, with comments due on or before July 7, 2016. Due to the scope and complexity of the proposal, numerous parties requested a 60 day extension of the comment period. In granting the 30 day extension, PHMSA noted
PHMSA’s expansive Natural Gas Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, April 8, 2016.
Continue Reading PHMSA Publishes Gas NPRM; Comments Due on or Before June 7, 2016
PHMSA has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM or Notice) to substantially revise that Agency’s rules (at 49 CFR Part 192) for construction, operation and maintenance of natural gas pipeline systems.
Continue Reading Expansive Proposed Rulemaking Issued by PHMSA for Natural Gas Pipelines
PHMSA has issued a pre-publication copy of its much-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning hazardous liquid pipeline safety issues.
Continue Reading Extensive New Rules for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines Proposed by PHMSA
In response to comments and concerns from industry stakeholders, PHMSA recently revised its National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) information collection proposal that was issued over a year ago.
Continue Reading Revised NPMS Proposal Responds to Industry Comments But Issues Remain
The American Petroleum Institute (API) announced today the release of a new pipeline safety management system standard, ANSI/API Recommended Practice 1173.
Continue Reading Pipeline Safety Management Systems Standard (ANSI/API RP 1173) is Released
PHMSA has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing various changes to the natural gas pipeline safety regulations (49 C.F.R. Part 192) to address regulatory requirements involving plastic piping systems used in gas services.
Continue Reading PHMSA Proposes Amendments to Regulations to Address the Use of Plastic Pipe in Gas Service