PHMSA Extends Deadline for Submitting 2016 Annual Reports for Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities

On July 14, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced an extension of the deadline for operators of underground natural gas storage facilities to submit annual reports for calendar year 2016.  PHMSA established the reporting requirement in its interim final rule adopting safety regulations for such storage facilities, and required that the first annual report be submitted July 18, 2017.  PHMSA is extending the deadline because the Office of Management and Budget has not approved PHMSA’s request to collect the information from storage operators.  PHMSA will establish a new filing date after OMB approves PHMSA’s information collection request. 

DOT’s Office of Inspector General Initiates Audit of PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Research and Development Program

On July 12, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced that it has initiated an audit of PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) Program to assess the program’s effectiveness.  OIG will examine PHMSA’s processes for coordinating with stakeholders, mitigating selection panel members’ conflicts of interest, identifying and using outcomes of research conducted by others, and measuring the benefits of R&D outcomes.  The audit is required under section 22 of the Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016. 

PHMSA Requests Proposals for Pipeline Safety R&D Program Research Awards

On July 17, PHMSA announced that its Pipeline Safety R&D program is accepting proposals for awards for research focused on preventing pipeline threats, leak detection, anomaly detection and characterization, underground natural gas storage, and liquefied natural gas.  Eligible applicants include academic institutions, individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, states, U.S. territories and possessions, American Indian tribes, and local governments.  Applications are due August 8, 2017.  Additional information on PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety R&D program is here.

PHMSA Releases Smartphone App for Pipeline Safety Regulations

On July 6, DOT and PHMSA announced the release of the oCFR mobile application, which provides mobile access to the pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR Parts 190-199, as well as the hazardous materials regulations in 49 CFR Parts 100-180.  The free oCFR app is available in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store for use on iOS and Android devices.

PHMSA Rulemakings Update.  We have temporarily discontinued our PHMSA Rulemakings Update until DOT resumes releasing its Significant Rulemaking Reports or OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) updates the Unified Regulatory Agenda.  

UPDATES FROM CANADA

CEPA releases pipeline industry performance report.  On June 28, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) released its third annual Transmission Pipeline Industry Performance Report.  The report provides data regarding the association’s members in the areas of safety, the environment and socio-economic contributions.

UPDATES FROM OTHER AGENCIES

TSA requests extension for information collection regarding facility information of the top 100 most critical pipelines.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a notice seeking public comment on a requested extension from OMB for a currently approved information collection request to continue collecting critical facility security information from the top 100 most critical pipelines using the Critical Facility Security Review form.  Comments on the request are due September 5.