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DOT/PHMSA | RIN: 2137-AE72 | Publication ID: Fall 2018 |
Title: Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines, MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements and Other Related Amendments | |
Abstract:
This rulemaking would amend the pipeline safety regulations to address the testing and pressure reconfirmation of certain previously untested gas transmission pipelines and certain gas transmission pipelines with inadequate records, require operators incorporate seismicity into their risk analysis and data integration, require the reporting of maximum allowable operating pressure exceedances, allow a 6-month extension of integrity management reassessment intervals with notice, and expand integrity assessments outside of high consequence areas to other populated areas. |
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Agency: Department of Transportation(DOT) | Priority: Other Significant |
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage |
Major: Yes | Unfunded Mandates: No |
EO 13771 Designation: Regulatory | |
CFR Citation: 49 CFR 192 | |
Legal Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. |
Legal Deadline:
None |
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Statement of Need: This rulemaking is in direct response to Congressional mandates in the 2011 Pipeline reauthorization act, specifically; section 4(e) (Gas IM plus 6 months), section 5 (IM), 8 (leak detection), 23(b)(2)(exceedance of MAOP); and section 29 (seismicity). These statutory mandates and recommendations stem from a number of high profile and high consequence gas transmission and gathering pipeline incidents and changes in the industry since the establishment of existing regulatory requirements (e.g., the San Bruno, CA explosion that killed eight people). |
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Summary of the Legal Basis: Congress has authorized Federal regulation of the transportation of gas by pipeline under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Authorization is codified in the Pipeline Safety Laws (49 U.S.C. sections 60101 et seq.), a series of statutes that are administered by the DOT, PHMSA. PHMSA has used that authority to promulgate comprehensive minimum safety standards for the transportation of gas by pipeline. |
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Alternatives: PHMSA considered alternatives to establishing a newly defined moderate consequence area and evaluated requiring assessments for all pipelines outside HCAs. |
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Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Preliminary estimates of annualized costs are in the range of $40 million; annualized benefits, including cost savings, are over $200 million. |
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Risks: This rule addresses known risks to gas transmission and gathering including the "grandfather clause" (exemption for testing to establish maximum operating pressure for transmission lines) and new unregulated gathering lines that resemble transmission lines. |
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Timetable:
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Additional Information: SB- Y IC-N SLT-N; | |
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No | Government Levels Affected: None |
Small Entities Affected: No | Federalism: No |
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes | |
RIN Information URL: www.regulations.gov | Public Comment URL: www.regulations.gov |
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No | |
Agency Contact: Robert Jagger Technical Writer Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 Phone:202 366-4595 Email: robert.jagger@dot.gov |