On August 24, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a new final rule—the Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments Rule. This rule represents the items that were in the original gas transmission notice of proposed rulemaking from 2016 but were unrelated to congressional mandates. Operators will have until May 24, 2023 to comply with the new requirements.
The following sections within 49 CFR 192 were impacted:
• Definitions (new and revised)
• Expansion of the Management of Change Process
• Corrosion Control requirements
• Inspections of pipelines following extreme weather events
• Transmission integrity management assessment requirements
• Repair criteria for transmission pipelines in high-consequence areas; and
• Introduction of repair criteria for transmission pipelines in non-high consequence areas.
The largest impacts for APGA members are the introduction of a definition for “Distribution center” and a change to the definition of “Transmission line”. PHMSA now defines Distribution center as “the initial point where gas enters piping used primarily to deliver gas to customers who purchase it for consumption, as opposed to customers who purchase it for resale, for example: at a metering location; a pressure reduction location; or, where there is a reduction in the volume of gas, such as a lateral off a transmission line.” This definition was broadly supported by all sectors of the pipeline industry. By clarifying this definition, many operators will be able to have further conversations with their state regulators about the jurisdiction of their pipelines.
The definition of Transmission line has also been altered. Traditionally the second part of the definition stated that it, “operates at a hoop stress of 20 percent or more of SMYS”. That has now been changed to “has an MAOP of 20 percent or more of SMYS.” Operators of distribution pipelines operating near 20 percent SMYS should review their records to verify the jurisdiction of those pipelines.
To learn more about this rule and the changes impacting transmission pipelines, please contact Erin Kurilla to be added to a distribution list for APGA member transmission operators.
View the Federal Register Notice here.
For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
ekurilla@apga.org.