PHMSA Advisories Target Distribution Pipeline Meters and Overpressure Protection

Flower Branch apartment complex in Silver Spring, Maryland, site of a deadly 2016 gas explosion. Photo: Jabin Botsford/Washington Post October 7, 2020 By Catherine D. Little, Annie M. Cook & Viktoriia De Las Casas in PIPELAWS.com The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued two Advisory Bulletins directed to natural gas distribution pipeline owners and operators. PHMSAContinue reading “PHMSA Advisories Target Distribution Pipeline Meters and Overpressure Protection”

U.S. Government Accountability Office Issues Report on LNG Exports

GAO Report on Natural Gas Exports: Updated Guidance and Regulations Could Improve Facility Permitting Processes In 2019, about 39% of U.S. natural gas exports went through export facilities—in which the gas is liquefied and loaded onto ships for transport. Multiple federal agencies regulate export facility design. Federal guidance says that agencies should review regulations everyContinue reading “U.S. Government Accountability Office Issues Report on LNG Exports”

NEWS ALERT: PHMSA Announces Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Thursday, May 28, 2020Contact: Ben Kochman, DOT/PHMSA202-366-4831 PHMSA is proposing a number of amendments to modernize federal pipeline safety regulations that would reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens consistent with E.O. 13771, 13777, and 13783. PHMSA considered public comments on DOT notices on regulatory reform, petitions for rulemaking, and PHMSA’s own review of existing regulations to identify areas whereContinue reading “NEWS ALERT: PHMSA Announces Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform Notice of Proposed Rulemaking”

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases New Guidance Document for Boards of Directors and Executives Focused on High Hazard Accident Prevention in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Photo: Kris Krug Washington, D.C. – May 14, 2020 The CSB has released a new guidance document entitled, “CSB Best Practice Guidance for Corporate Boards of Directors and Executives in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry for Major Accident Prevention.” The new seven-page document is focused on the importance of the role of boards of directors and executivesContinue reading “U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases New Guidance Document for Boards of Directors and Executives Focused on High Hazard Accident Prevention in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry”

Natural Gas Infrastructure Threatens Shareholder Value, Contributes to Climate Breakdown

Photo: greentechmedia.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Stefanie Spear, sspear@asyousow.org, 216-387-1609 BERKELEY, CA—MARCH 4, 2020—Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow and nonpartisan policy think-tank Energy Innovation today released Natural Gas: A Bridge to Climate Breakdown, a report addressing the opportunities presented by the clean energy transition and the risk of overreliance on natural gas forContinue reading “Natural Gas Infrastructure Threatens Shareholder Value, Contributes to Climate Breakdown”

API Issues Technical Standards for Only Larger-Sized Rural Gas Gathering Lines

Photo: Camp Viejo gas plant and gathering system/StakeholderMidstream.com Mike Soraghan, E&E News reporterPublished: Thursday, April 2, 2020 https://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1062753911 An oil and gas industry group has issued new guidelines for large gathering lines, which carry natural gas from well sites to processing facilities. But the new industry standard excludes gathering lines less than 12 inches in diameter, disappointing pipelineContinue reading “API Issues Technical Standards for Only Larger-Sized Rural Gas Gathering Lines”

Virus Leads Pipeline Agency to Ease Job Qualification Rules

Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Liaison https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/virus-leads-pipeline-agency-to-ease-some-operator-requirements By Sylvia Carignan, Bloomberg Environment, March 23, 2020 A federal safety agency is helping hazardous material transporters and pipeline operators prepare for the spread of Covid-19 by easing staff training and qualifications requirements. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a stay on enforcement March 20, applicable only to requirements forContinue reading “Virus Leads Pipeline Agency to Ease Job Qualification Rules”

Implementing the Recently Published Gas Transmission and Hazardous Liquid Final Rules- Documents Now Available

On February 26 & 27, 2020 PHMSA held public meetings for Pipeline Safety officials to discuss with pipeline safety stakeholders the implementation of the gas transmission and the hazardous liquid pipeline final rules published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2019. PHMSA made available for comment draft frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers forContinue reading “Implementing the Recently Published Gas Transmission and Hazardous Liquid Final Rules- Documents Now Available”

On this day in 1973: Staten Island liquefied natural gas explosion kills 40 workers

Feb 10, 2020 By Steve Zaffarano | zaffarano@siadvance.com https://www.silive.com/news/j66j-2020/02/7bf286f7952863/on-this-day-in-1973-staten-island-liquefied-natural-gas-explosion-in-kills-40-workers.html

2020: A Year of Pipeline Court Fights, with One Lawsuit Headed to the Supreme Court

Sections of steel pipe are staged near a private residence for construction of the ETP-Sunoco Mariner East 2 pipeline in Exton, Pennsylvania on June 5, 2019. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images) https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03012020/pipeline-lawsuits-2020-supreme-court-appalachian-trail-eminent-domain-natural-gas by Phil McKenna, January 3, 2020