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APGA submitted comments on January 12, to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) proposed pipeline safety rulemaking. The proposed, state-specific, requirements would largely be duplicative of many of the pending requirements that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is drafting for their Safety of Gas Distribution Pipelines rule. APGA also supported the Northeast Gas Association’s (NGA) technical comments on the MA DPU rule.

The similar PHMSA rulemaking aims to meet mandates from the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 and addresses some of the same areas in pipeline safety regulations including, overpressure protection, meter and regulator station design, qualifications for natural gas operators, and reliable pressure records for gas distribution operators. PHMSA hopes to publish the proposed rule in May 2023. APGA will participate in all opportunities for public input for that rule.

If your state pipeline safety office has proposed new state-specific pipeline safety requirements and you believe APGA can be of assistance in your advocacy efforts, please contact Erin Kurilla for potential support from APGA.

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.