Both the Senate and the House now have bills in varying stages of review for reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Act, which expires at the end of September. There are some notable differences in the bills, reflecting the Democratic majority in the House and the Republican majority in the Senate. Neither bill has been put before the entire chamber for a vote. If they do progress further, it remains to be seen how the bills will ultimately be reconciled.
Continue Reading Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization: Issues for Resolution
Distribution Pipelines
Distribution Pipelines and Increased Penalties Feature in Senate Pipeline Safety Bill
In advance of a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Act, Senators Markey, Warren, and Blumenthal announced legislation to address distribution pipelines and risks associated with the September 2018 Merrimack Valley incident. The Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act of 2019, named after a man who died in the incident, would impact various aspects of distribution pipelines, including emergency response, integrity management, operation and maintenance, safety management systems, and recordkeeping. Further, for all pipeline operators the bill would increase civil penalties under the statute by a factor of 100, from $200,000 per day to $2 million per day and for a maximum of $2 million to $200 million for a related series of events. Even though the majority of the bill’s provisions are limited to distribution pipelines, certain of these proposals could be expanded more broadly during the reauthorization process to apply to gathering and transmission pipelines.
Continue Reading Distribution Pipelines and Increased Penalties Feature in Senate Pipeline Safety Bill
Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization: Will a New Congress Mean New Mandates?
Posted in Construction and Design, Legislation, Natural Gas, Oil, Pipeline Safety Act, Policy, Rulemaking, Security
The federal Pipeline Safety Act (PSA or the Act) mandates minimum safety standards for pipelines and certain associated storage and facilities (including LNG and other terminals). Congress should take up legislation to reauthorize the Act this year. Since the last reauthorization in 2016, there have been several noteworthy developments that have affected the industry, the…
Long Awaited Plastic Pipe Rule Finalized
The federal agency tasked with pipeline safety, PHMSA, has issued a long-awaited rule regarding plastic pipe. Plastic pipe is primarily used in distribution gas pipeline systems, as a corrosion resistant and cost effective alternative to steel pipelines. This rule provides some significant updates to existing 49 C.F.R. Part 192 rules applicable to plastic pipe…