June 5, 2023
PHMSA has published updated High Consequence Area (HCA) GIS data sets through the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) reflecting locations that meet the definition of a High Population Area (HPA) and Other Populated Area (OPA) from 49 CFR 195.450.
Per FAQ-3.9: When must newly-identified HCAs be included in the program? – These new data sets will require hazardous liquid pipeline operators to initiate a new HCA analysis with this updated information to identify potential pipeline and facility product releases that could impact an HCA directly, indirectly, by overland spread, or by waterway transport within one year of identification.
Operators must also look for new HCAs on their own by monitoring local population growth or through knowledge of environmental resources that become available to them. A baseline assessment for pipeline segments that could affect newly identified HCAs must be performed within five years of its identification.
ISltd® combines best in class release consequence analysis software with integrity management and GIS expertise to provide a high-resolution, cost-effective, and in-depth HCA analysis results of your company’s pipeline facilities.
As a reminder, per 49 CFR 195.61, the NPMS submission due date is June 15th, 2023 for hazardous liquid pipeline operations in operation as of 12/31/2022.
To download the GIS shapefile versions of HPA v5 and OPA v5 or to view the metadata describing the original data sources, visit https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/PopulationData.aspx.
For more information, reach out to your ISltd integrity management experts, Andrew Lewis, George Sinclair, or Regan Carriger, or email us at info@isltd.com.
April 21, 2023
Earlier this week, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of Limited Enforcement Discretion for new and replaced onshore gas transmission pipelines regarding compliance with specific sections of the recently published RIN-2 Final Rule until February 24, 2024.
On August 24, 2022, PHMSA published the RIN-2 Final Rule – Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments, which introduces several new requirements to ensure prevention, timely identification, thoughtful evaluation, and prompt remediation of threats to gas transmission pipeline integrity.
After publishing an initial stay of enforcement for existing pipelines, the latest Notice of Limited Enforcement Discretion is specific towards pipelines entering into service after August 24, 2022, and specifically excludes independent compliance timelines outlined in §§ 192.917(b) (risk analysis data requirements) and 192.13(d) (management of change requirements), and compliance with §§ 192.319, 192.461 (coating assessment and remediation for repairs or replacements), and 192.623 (extreme weather events and natural disaster assessments).
As a reminder, this new rule still goes into effect May 24, 2023, and while Limited Enforcement Discretion can be exercised through February 24, 2024, operators are still required to implement these safety- and environment-improving requirements into their programs and operations.
For more information on how Integrity Solutions can help bring your company into compliance with all the RIN-2 requirements, reach out to your ISltd regulatory compliance expert, Andrew Lewis, George Sinclair, or Regan Carriger, or email us at info@isltd.com.
December 6, 2022
On Tuesday, December 6th, 2022, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced they would be exercising limited enforcement discretion for operators of existing onshore gas transmission pipelines regarding compliance with the RIN-2 Gas Transmission Final Rule (87 FR 52224) until February 24, 2024.
This announcement follows the August 24, 2022, RIN-2 Final Rule titled “Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments” and subsequent Petitions of Reconsideration filed by the American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, and Interstate Natural Gas Association of America on September 23, 2022.
For more information on how this impacts the implementation of updates to your pipeline safety and integrity management program, contact your ISltd® regulatory compliance expert, Andrew Lewis, George Sinclair, or Regan Carriger, or email us at info@isltd.com
To read more about the limited stay of enforcement, visit the link below:
August 24, 2022
The RIN-2 Final Rule is here!
This morning, PHMSA published the final installment of the much-anticipated “gas mega-rule” to the Federal Register titled Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: Repair Criteria, Integrity Management Improvements, Cathodic Protection, Management of Change, and Other Related Amendments, which amends 49 CFR 192 of the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations.
This new rulemaking considers lessons learned from recent onshore gas transmission pipeline incidents and codifies a management of change process. The rulemaking also clarifies certain integrity management, assessment, corrosion control, repair, high consequence area (HCA), and extreme weather event requirements, as well as revises or creates new definitions related to the above amendments.
Don’t know where to start? Integrity Solutions® Ltd regulatory compliance experts are diving into this new final rule and will be prepared to help you navigate this rule and make your program compliant in advance of the May 24, 2023, effective date.
Reach out to Andrew Lewis, George Sinclair, or Regan Carriger, or email us at info@isltd.com to find out how we can help!
For more information on the final rule, visit the link below: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/24/2022-17031/pipeline-safety-safety-of-gas-transmission-pipelines-repair-criteria-integrity-management
December 27, 2021
On 12/27/2021 PHMSA introduced a rule entitled: Pipeline Safety: Unusually Sensitive Areas for the Great Lakes, Coastal Beaches, and Certain Coastal Waters.
This rule amends the pipeline safety regulations to explicitly state that certain coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and coastal beaches are classified as unusually sensitive areas for the purpose of compliance with the hazardous liquid integrity management regulations. The effective date of the interim final rule is February 25, 2022.
This has added substantial new Ecological high consequence area that may impact client assets located near coastal zones. If an operator has assets within a few hundred miles of a coastal area, ISltd® recommends a comprehensive review to potentially update their HCA analysis.
Integrity Solutions® Ltd has decades of experience researching, identifying, and implementing new HCA information, as well as performing immediate impact, overland liquid migration impact, air dispersion impact, primary watershed impact, and secondary watershed impact analyses to help determine the overall impacts of an unintended release and ensure gas and hazardous liquid integrity management regulatory compliance.
November 15, 2021
The RIN-3 Final Rule is here!
PHMSA has released the much-anticipated final rule covering roughly 425,000 miles of onshore gas gathering lines. The regulatory compliance clock is ticking for all gas gathering pipelines!
The regulation has analysis requirements for each gathering system, including segment classification into Type A, B, C & R, segment start/end point delineation, release impacts determination, MAOP establishment, and methodology documentation. There are also Part 191 annual reporting and Part 192 requirements based on segment diameter and proximity to impacted buildings and sites.
Don’t know where to start? Integrity Solutions® Ltd. has analyzed the final rule. We have completed similar analyses for thousands of miles of gathering pipelines. Therefore, we are prepared to help you navigate the new requirements and make your program compliant in advance of the May 16, 2022, effective date.
April 13, 2020
PHMSA has announced the availability of new Drinking Water and Ecological USA data sets through the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). Hazardous liquid pipeline operators must request these new data sets and initiate a new HCA analysis with this updated information to identify potential pipeline and facility product releases that could impact an HCA directly, indirectly, by overland spread, or by waterway transport.
ISltd® combines best in class release consequence analysis software with integrity management and GIS expertise to provide high-resolution, cost-effective, and in-depth HCA analysis results of your company’s pipeline facilities.
Already have an HCA analysis process that works? Let the experts ISltd® perform an updated HCA analysis faster, more accurately, and less expensively than you’ve seen.
If you wish to request this new data, you can begin the process here or fill out the form below and let us help!
