During the latest installment of Regulation Navigation, Warren Miller, the Regulatory Compliance Specialist of ITS, and Erin Kurilla, the Vice President of Operations and Pipeline Safety at the American Public Gas Association, discussed the current Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We are currently in the public comment period for this proposed regulation which closes next week.
This NPRM is directly tied to the Congressional Mandate that came out in the law called Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 – Section 113, published 12/27/2020.
A number of proposed changes aim to reduce methane emissions affecting new and existing gas transmission, distribution, regulated (Type A, B, C and offshore) gas gathering pipelines, underground gas storage, and liquified natural gas facilities.
PHMSA will make this rule effective within six months of the publication date of this regulation.
In order to leave a comment on the NPRM, visit the regulations.gov website using this link. You’ll see a blue box at the top where you can click to upload a comment.
Whether you missed the webinar or would like a quick refresher, read on for the Top 5 Takeaways:
DON’T PANIC YET
The NPRM includes a public comment period for PHMSA’s review, which may lead to amendments to the proposed language.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There are thousands of comments on this rulemaking, probably the most ever. Plenty of those comments haven’t taken into account the industry’s safety record.
BE PREPARED
Any new regulation is going to result in changes. Be proactive and prepared to make adjustments.
LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT
Learn about the rule and its technical requirements, such as new equipment, but don’t plan your retirement. There is a PHMSA grant program that will help you purchase new equipment.
PARTICIPATE
Please send in your comments, even for a particular section, before the deadline of August 16th. Your comments can be enter on the docket here.
If you have questions or concerns about how PHMSA regulation changes might impact your company or are interested in learning more about our range of regulatory consulting services, please contact ITS Regulatory Compliance Specialist Warren Miller to learn more about how we can help you meet your compliance needs.