The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) unveiled a set of new measures on Thursday aimed at bolstering the safety standards of gas distribution pipelines across the nation.
Through the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the PHMSA presented updated regulations designed to enhance safety protocols on the extensive network of gas distribution pipelines that crisscross the country. The proposal targets the reduction of risks by elevating emergency response plans, integrity management plans, operation manuals, and other safety mechanisms.
This initiative follows the 2018 Massachusetts gas explosions linked to a utility provider, which tragically resulted in the loss of one life and injuries to 22 others.
PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown emphasized, “This proposal incorporates lessons from the 2018 Merrimack Valley (in Massachusetts) tragedy to help ensure something like that never happens again. These changes will protect communities and the environment, as well as lower energy costs for consumers.”
The proposed measures require pipeline operators to enhance construction procedures that minimize the likelihood of incidents stemming from system over-pressurization. Additionally, distribution integrity management programs must be updated to encompass preparations for over-pressurization incidents.
Furthermore, the proposal stipulates that new regulator stations must incorporate secondary pressure relief valves and remote gas monitoring capabilities.
The importance of fortifying emergency response plans is underscored in the proposal, which mandates that operators establish contact with local emergency responders and maintain open communication with customers and the affected public to provide guidance in case of an emergency.
This NPRM implements revisions mandated by the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act, enacted as part of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020, as well as addresses recommendations put forth by the National Transportation Safety Board.
In a related move, in May, the PHMSA introduced new regulations aimed at curtailing methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas, from the domestic pipeline system. The implementation of these rules is projected to potentially eliminate 1 million tonnes of methane emissions by the year 2030.