Search Results for agency_names:"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration"

The Department of Transportation issued a final rule that updates the penalties for violations of certain DOT regulations to account for inflation, as required by legislation from 2015. These updates affect various areas such as air and motor vehicle safety, hazardous materials transportation, and railroad operations. The changes include adjustments in the minimum and maximum fines that can be imposed for different types of violations. The rule was implemented immediately and did not include a notice and comment period, as per the stipulations of the legislation enabling these adjustments.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), part of the Department of Transportation, is proposing new procedures to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These procedures establish categorical exclusions (CEs), which are categories of actions deemed to typically have minimal environmental impacts. PHMSA invites public comments on these proposed CEs and procedures, aiming to ensure their activities minimize environmental effects and involve public and governmental engagement. Comments must be submitted by January 9, 2025.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a waiver to exempt City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri, from the Buy America requirements for certain products used in its natural gas project funded by the NGDISM grant. This waiver is granted because these products, such as locator markers and magnesium anodes, are not available in sufficient quantities from domestic manufacturers. City Utilities had previously sought suppliers but found no companies able to provide the required products compliant with the Buy America Act. The waiver applies only to this specific project and is effective until the project concludes, estimated by June 30, 2029.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing a waiver from the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements for certain products that the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its safety and modernization grant project. The waiver applies because these products are not readily available in the U.S., or they are too costly to obtain domestically. The waiver covers products like electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, and lockwing valves, among others, and enables PGW to proceed with updating their gas distribution system in Philadelphia's disadvantaged neighborhoods. This waiver is only applicable to PGW's project and is effective until June 30, 2029.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule to revise civil penalty amounts for violations of various transportation regulations, effective December 30, 2024. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and are meant to ensure that penalties maintain their deterrent effect by accounting for inflation. The rule covers a wide array of areas including aviation, hazardous materials, and vehicle safety, among others. The adjustments apply prospectively, meaning they will only affect violations occurring after the rule takes effect.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), is making corrections to certain rules regarding gas transmission pipelines. These changes are necessary following a 2024 court decision that removed specific safety requirements from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) because they were not justifiable. The amendments remove rules about monitoring internal pipeline corrosion and immediate repair criteria for specific types of pipeline damage. These changes take effect immediately to ensure that the regulations reflect the current legal environment and accurately guide pipeline operators.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a final rule amending the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations to reduce regulatory burdens on gas pipelines while maintaining safety. It includes revisions to inspection requirements, such as extending intervals for atmospheric corrosion checks on certain pipes and allowing remote monitoring of rectifier stations. The rule also updates the reporting criteria for incidents by adjusting monetary thresholds for inflation and revises welding and testing requirements for pipe components. These changes aim to streamline regulatory processes and reduce costs without compromising safety standards.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation is holding a virtual public meeting on January 16, 2025. This meeting involves two advisory committees, the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC) and the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), to discuss proposed rules on updating pipeline safety standards and cost recovery for LNG facility reviews. The public is encouraged to attend and submit comments by February 20, 2025. Information about joining the meeting will be made available online, and accommodations can be arranged for attendees with disabilities.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a waiver of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's requirements for certain natural gas products like gas service risers, meters, and regulators because these are not available in large enough quantities domestically. This waiver, which applies to projects funded by the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program, aims to ensure timely project completion while maintaining safety. It is based on public feedback indicating supply issues and will last for three years starting January 22, 2025. PHMSA has emphasized the importance of having enough compliant products to avoid delaying critical safety construction projects.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing to update more than 20 incorporated consensus standards in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. This proposed rulemaking involves incorporating newer versions of technical standards, clarifying regulatory language, and making minor corrections to improve clarity without imposing new initiatives on pipeline operators. The changes will allow operators to use the latest technologies and practices in pipeline safety, while also aligning with federal policies to incorporate voluntary consensus standards. Public comments on the proposal are invited until March 16, 2021.