New PHMSA Rules Ease Burdens, Maintains Safety

摘要

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) re-examination of the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations should ease regulatory burdens on the construction, maintenance and operation of gas transmission, distribution and gathering pipeline systems, according to the final rule in the Federal Register. Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform was set forth by PHMSA, which is under the U.S. Department of Transportation, and became effective March 12. The rules will adjust the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations to require fewer reports regarding leaks and incidents, especially those that are low-consequence or no-consequence. Revisions include clarifying that operators may remotely inspect rectifier stations for external corrosion, update the monetary threshold for incident reporting to account for inflation and align standards regarding governing plastic pipe and welding process requirements, among others. The amendments should reduce regulatory burdens, increase flexibility, improve efficiency and add clarity to existing rules, according to the cost and benefits section. The rules should save about $129.8 million to $132.5 million annually, the rule states.