On June 5 the Pipeline And Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an bulletin urging gas utilities to install excess flow valves (EFVs) on all new and replaced single residential service line if the line operates continuously at or above 10 psig. In December, 2006 Congress ordered the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to amend its regulations to require such installation of EFVs however PHMSA will not have its rules in effect for some time. Both PHMSA and APGA are encouraging utilities to install EFVs beginning June 1 despite the delay in issuing the rule. Each system will have to modify its service line construction standards to include EFV specifications and acquire a supply of EFVs. In addition, service line installers will have to be trained how to purge air from a service containing an EFV, since the traditional method of purging as fast as possible will cause the EFV to close.

The PHMSA advisory was faxed to all APGA members on June 5, along with a survey intended to gather information about interest in discounted purchases of EFVs for APGA members. If you have not yet completed this survey, please do so and fax it to 202-464-0246. We will keep you informed of the progress of the discounted purchasing program. A copy of the survey can be downloaded and faxed here and the PHMSA advisory can be downloaded at here.


For further information contact John Erickson, APGA Vice President, Operations (202-464-0834 or jerickson@apga.org).

 
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