On Monday, August 10, 2020, APGA submitted comments jointly with AGA, INGAA, and API on the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) Gas Regulatory Reform Rulemaking. This proposed rule is in response to the President’s January 30, 2017, Executive Order (EO) “Reducing Regulation and Controlling Costs” and the two 2017 Department of Transportation requests for public comment on regulations that (1) are obstacles to transportation infrastructure projects or (2) could be repealed, replaced, suspended or modified without compromising safety.
The trades made seven key recommendations to PHMSA in their comments:
In the fourth recommendation, concerning Atmospheric Corrosion monitoring intervals, the industry’s comments suggest that PHMSA includes a prescriptive remediation requirement for Atmospheric Corrosion that allows operators to continue using a 5-year inspection cycle.
After PHMSA has reviewed the comments, they will convene a Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting. The GPAC then provides recommendations to PHMSA on the contents of the Final Rule. The GPAC has a tentative meeting scheduled for November 2020, but we understand that PHMSA may try to hold the meeting sooner to expedite the finalization of this rule.
If you have any questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA’s staff by phone at (202) 905-2904 or by email at ekurilla@apga.org.
Search our site to find relevant webpages, discussions, and resources!
201 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Suite C-4Washington, DC 20002
Tel: 202-464-2742
Fax : 202-464-0246
Copyright © 2024 American Public Gas Association. All rights reserved.
Site by eConverse Media