Six public and trade associations have asked US Transportation Sec. Elaine Chao “to act expeditiously” to approve revisions to the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s federal natural gas pipeline safety regulations.
“PHMSA’s rule will advance gas transmission pipeline safety by defining specific requirements to facilitate the use of 21st-century pipeline safety technologies and processes,” the groups, which include the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the American Gas Association, said in their Feb. 7 letter.
For example, it will facilitate deployment of noninvasive tools that can evaluate a pipeline’s condition and identify sections needing repairs or replacement, they noted.
“The rule provides a foundation upon which PHMSA can better promote the utilization of modern pipeline inspection technologies, recognizing the safety, environmental, and consumer benefits that such technologies can provide,” the groups said.
It also sets out requirements for operators to test certain existing pipelines to ensure that they meet today’s safety standards, they said. “Thus, the rule provides a means for pipeline companies to continue advancing the safety initiatives identified by Congress in 2011.”
The organizations said they are represented on DOT’s gas pipeline advisory committees and that they provided PHMSA recommendations on the proposed rule’s technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and practicability during public meetings of the proposed rule throughout 2017 and 2018.
“While our organizations sometimes disagree about the specifics of pipeline safety regulations, in this case consensus was achieved on many important pipeline safety topics through the advisory committee process. The advisory committee ultimately provided PHMSA with recommendations to support finalizing the rule,” they said.
In addition to INGAA Pres. Donald F. Santa and AGA Pres. David K. McCurdy, the letter was signed by officials from the American Petroleum Institute, American Public Gas Association, Pipeline Safety Trust, and Pipeline Safety Coalition.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].