Pipeline Safety Practice
Issue Alerts
PHMSA Incorporates New and Updated Consensus Standards into Pipeline Safety Regulations and Clarifies Certain Safety Regulations
Susan OlenchukAugust 16, 2010
On August 11, 2010, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a final rule incorporating by reference into the federal pipeline safety regulations new and updated voluntary consensus technical standards and making certain regulatory clarifications. The final rule affects operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas facilities.
PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletin Requiring Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operators to Review Oil Spill Response Plans by July 28, 2010
Susan Olenchuk, Emily PitlickJune 29, 2010
In response to the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the diversion of resources from across the Nation to the areas affected by the spill, on June 28, 2010, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued an Advisory Bulletin reminding operators of onshore hazardous liquid pipeline facilities of the requirement to review and update mandatory oil spill response plans to ensure the necessary response to a properly calculated “worst case discharge.”
PHMSA Proposes to Apply Pipeline Safety Requirements to Low-Stress Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
Susan Olenchuk, Harold BulgerJune 29, 2010
On June 22, 2010, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would amend existing pipeline safety regulations to make them applicable to all low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines.
PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletins Urging Pipeline Operators to Evaluate Recently Constructed Pipelines for Girth Weld Failures
Susan Olenchuk, Sean JamiesonApril 6, 2010
On March 24, 2010, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued an Advisory Bulletin urging owners and operators of large diameter, high strength natural gas and hazardous liquids pipeline systems to evaluate lines for potential girth weld failures caused by misalignment and other issues.
PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletins Regarding Leak Detection on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines and New Incident and Accident Report Forms
Susan Olenchuk, Sean JamiesonFebruary 12, 2010
The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration has recently issued two Advisory Bulletins affecting owners and operators of hazardous liquid pipelines and gas transmission, distribution and gathering systems.