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Inflation Reduction Act
Opportunity to Improve PHMSA Guidance
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice seeking input from the public on existing guidance documents within DOT and its modal operating administrations, including PHMSA . In particular, DOT seeks input on guidance documents that...
Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization: Will a New Congress Mean New Mandates?
The federal Pipeline Safety Act (PSA or the Act) mandates minimum safety standards for pipelines and certain associated storage and facilities (including LNG and other terminals). Congress should take up legislation to reauthorize the Act this year. Since the last...
Takeaways from the FERC and CFTC Annual Enforcement Reports for Energy Companies
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) each issued their annual enforcement reports last week. As always, these reports highlight priorities and attempt to quantify enforcement efforts by the agencies during the prior fiscal...
Long Awaited Plastic Pipe Rule Finalized
The federal agency tasked with pipeline safety, PHMSA, has issued a long-awaited rule regarding plastic pipe . Plastic pipe is primarily used in distribution gas pipeline systems, as a corrosion resistant and cost effective alternative to steel pipelines. This rule...
Inspector General to Audit LNG Safety Oversight
The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General within the (DOT OIG) announced recently that it will audit oversight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). DOT OIG notes that the “self-initiated”...
Industry Impact from Criminal Verdict in Pipeline Oil Spill
On September 7, 2018, a jury in a California state court found Plains All American Pipeline guilty on 9 criminal counts, stemming from a release of 140,000 gallons of crude oil from a Plains pipeline near Santa Barbara in 2015...
Hurricane Preparedness in High Gear on East Coast
Hurricane season is upon us, with Hurricane Florence making its way towards landfall in the Carolinas, currently expected to reach the coast by early Friday morning, September 14, 2018. Tropical storm force winds and heavy rain will reach the coastal...
Draft Pipeline Risk Modeling Report Issued for Public Comment
As part of its integrity management regulatory scheme, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is requesting comments on a draft risk modeling report . In certain densely populated or environmentally sensitive areas, PHMSA integrity management rules require the...
As LNG Permitting Delays Continue, PHMSA to Assist FERC
The liquified natural gas (LNG) export boom has strained the resources and technical expertise of the two federal agencies that oversee LNG facility siting, design, construction, and operation: FERC, (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and PHMSA (the Pipeline and Hazardous...
Proposed Revision to Class Location Requirements When Population Increases
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting comments on existing requirements for gas transmission pipelines following population growth. This notice is the result of previous Agency requests for comment...
CFTC on Aiding & Abetting
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) yesterday announced a settlement with Lansing Trading Group, LLC that resolves allegations of attempted market manipulation and, separately, aiding and abetting attempted market manipulation. Although this settlement involved wheat and corn, its takeaways are...
Evolution of PHMSA Hearings: Response to Interest in Public Participation and Pre-Hearing Conferences
In a letter issued to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) and E&E News last week, PHMSA’s new Chief Counsel Paul Roberti announced its intention to publicly post advance notice of hearings requested by operators. As reported...
Global Energy Change: Increased Use of Natural Gas and LNG
Global energy change through increased use of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been the focus of this week’s World Gas Conference (WGC). The WGC, sponsored by the International Gas Union, has convened these conferences once every three...
Lucia v. SEC and the status of FERC ALJs
On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court held that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are “officers of the United States” whose appointments are therefore subject to the Appointments Clause of the Constitution for their actions...
State Participation in Interstate Pipeline Inspections: GAO Recommendations
A recent Report to Congress mandated by the most recent amendments to the Pipeline Safety Act was released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), reviewing federal and state responsibilities and resources for inspection of pipelines that transport product across state...