PHMSA Postpones Technical Advisory Committee Meetings

Because of a lapse in funding, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a postponement of the meetings of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) that had been scheduled for January 8-10.  When the meetings are convened, the GPAC will consider the gathering line component of the notice of proposed rulemaking PHMSA issued in April 2016 to significantly revise PHMSA’s Part 192 regulations applicable to gas transmission and gathering pipelines.  The American Petroleum Institute and GPA Midstream Association have submitted a position paper and comments regarding PHMSA’s proposal.  The Pipeline Safety Trust has submitted a response.  Those documents can be found here.  Meeting presentation materials are here. 

In addition, the GPAC and LPAC will meet to discuss relevant policy issues and topics, including public awareness, updates on regulatory initiatives, the voluntary information sharing system working group, and research and development projects.

PHMSA Rulemakings Update.  The tables below summarize the status of the PHMSA’s pending pipeline safety rulemaking initiatives as reflected in the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) November Significant Rulemaking Report and the Office of Management & Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Fall 2018 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.  The Unified Regulatory Agenda appears in two principal parts, Current Agenda Agency Regulatory Entries for Active Actions and Current Long Term Actions.  In addition, PHMSA recently updated its Chart of PHMSA Regulations that are required by the 2016 Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act. 

Note that many of the estimated publication dates have passed.

Pending Final Rules

Pending Notices of Proposed Rulemakings

Pending Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemakings

OTHER PHMSA UPDATES

PHMSA requests comments on proposed revisions to Operator Assignment (OPID) Request and National Registry Notification forms and instructions.  On December 18, 2018, PHMSA issued a notice requesting comments on an information collection that will be sent to OMB requesting changes to the existing OPID Assignment Request (PHMSA F 1000.1) and National Registry Notification (PHMSA F 1000.2) forms and instructions.  PHMSA previously issued a notice requesting comments on the information collection on August 9, 2018.  PHMSA received one comment noting that the reporting instructions could be more detailed.  Comments to OMB are due January 17, 2019.

UPDATES FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES

BSEE requests information on decommissioning in place certain offshore pipeline facilities.  On December 28, 2018, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued a notice requesting information from the public regarding issues related to the decommissioning-in-place of pipeline valves and fittings and other pipeline-related infrastructure in deepwater (i.e., depths of at least 600 feet) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  The comments will help BSEE to develop a consistent and reasonable approach to considering requests to allow the decommissioning-in-place of these types of pipeline facilities.  Comments are due February 26.

UPDATES FROM INDUSTRY

The CEPA Foundation and INGAA Foundation release “The Practical Guide for Facility Inspectors.”  The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) Foundation and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation released “The Practical Guide for Facility Inspectors,” designed to provide guidance to personnel who inspect a company’s construction of facilities.