PHMSA Announces NEW NPRM in Regards to Pipelines

No Warp Pipe Here

On February 6, 2020, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced a critical safety proposal for energy pipelines. In doing so, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations applicable to newly constructed and entirely replaced on shore natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines in an effort to mitigate ruptures. Furthermore, PHMSA is looking to improve regulations related to rupture detection to shorten pipeline segment isolation times.

Per Chao, “This rule will improve critical safety requirements for the next generation of energy pipelines as U.S. energy production continues to grow.”

Specifically, this NPRM would require remote-control or automatic shutoff valves be installed on new or replaced pipelines greater than 6 inches in diameter. It would also require the leak detection system to be capable of closing valves to isolate ruptured pipeline segments within 40 minutes or less.

This recommended rule aims to fulfill mandates set forth in the Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 and includes recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). If you want to submit comments on the NPRM, it must be done so on or before April 6, 2020. When doing so, your comments can be identified by docket number PHMSA-2013-0255.

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