Ongoing PHMSA Regulatory Efforts and Schedule

The tables below summarize the status of PHMSA’s pipeline safety-related rulemakings, as reflected in DOT’s October 2017 Significant Rulemaking Report and OMB’s Fall Unified Regulatory Agenda.  The Report and Agenda are not binding, and anticipated publication dates are frequently missed.  For example, although DOT anticipated publishing by January 2018 the Enhanced Emergency Order Procedures contemplated by the PIPES Act and the final Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities regulations, neither have appeared in the Federal Register yet.

Notably, PHMSA plans to finalize both proposed major overhauls of the hazardous liquids and gas pipeline safety regulations by August 2018, despite that the administration is apparently reconsidering the content of the draft regulations, which may potentially necessitate re-proposal prior to finalization.

Pending Final Rules

RULE	DOT Estimated Submission to OMB	DOT Estimated Publication	OIRA Estimated Publication
Enhanced Emergency Order Procedures	n/a	n/a	January 2018
Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines	May 10, 2018	August 22, 2018	August 2018
Safety of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines	January 24, 2018	April 27, 2018	August 2018
Underground Natural Gas Storage Facilities	n/a	n/a	January 2018

Pending Notices of Proposed Rulemaking & Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemakings (ANPRM)

RULE	DOT Estimated Submission to OMB	DOT Estimated Publication	OIRA Estimated Publication
Class Location Requirements (ANPRM)	December 26, 2017	April 9, 2018	April 2018
Standards Update Rule – 2015 and Beyond	n/a	n/a	June 2018
Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards	n/a	n/a	April 2018

• Pipeline Safety: Guidance on Training and Qualifications for the Integrity Management Program (April 10, 2017)
• PHMSA Advisory Bulletin reminding natural gas transmission pipeline operators of PHMSA’s expectations regarding how mature IM programs should implement the training and qualification requirements included in § 192.915 and discussed in ASME B31.8S–2004.
• Advisory Bulletin - Deactivation of Threats (March 16, 2017) 
  PHMSA Advisory Bulletin informing gas transmission pipeline operators on threat identification, minimum criteria for threat deactivation, and documenting determinations and decisions related to threat deactivation.
• PHMSA Civil Penalty Summary (Sept. 28, 2016)
• Advisory Bulletin - Clarification of Terms Relating to Pipeline Operational Status (Aug. 16, 2016)
• Advisory Bulletin - Ineffective Protection, Detection, and Mitigation of Corrosion Resulting From Insulated Coatings on Buried Pipelines (June 21, 2016)
• Advisory Bulletin - Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Flooding, River Scour, and River Channel Migration (Jan. 19, 2016)
• Advisory Bulletin - Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by the Passage of Hurricanes (June 23, 2015)