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
Gathering
EPA Issues New Oil Tank Emission Standards and Deadlines
EPA has established new deadlines and caps on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from storage tanks used in oil and natural gas production and transmission that have the potential to emit more than 6 tons of VOCs per year. The pre-publication version of the new rule, to be codified as amendments to 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart 0000, can be accessed here, and will be effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. The rule generally applies to tanks involved in temporary storage along the oil and natural gas production and transmission process, before the liquids are moved to a pipeline, sold or disposed.
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PHMSA Extends Deadline for 2012 Gas Transmission and Gathering Annual Reports
Due to the significant changes to the gas transmission and gathering annual report, recently approved by the Office of Management and Budget, PHMSA extended the filing deadline for calendar year 2012 data from March 5, 2013 to June 15, 2013. 78 Fed. Reg. 5866 (Jan. 28, 2013). PHMSA also reminds operators to validate their…
GAO issues report finding that data collection and information sharing with regard to unregulated gathering pipelines could enhance safety
In a report issued on March 22, 2012, GAO found that gathering pipelines could present an increased safety risk based on encroaching development due to land use changes and the development of new gathering lines for shale deposit extraction, some of which are larger in diameter and operate at a higher pressure than older pipelines.…