PA Environment Digest Blog: US DOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Announces Proposed Rules To Reduce Risk Of Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions

On August 24, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to strengthen safety requirements for millions of miles of gas distribution pipelines.

These proposed changes aim to improve safety and mitigate risk through the improvement of emergency response plans, integrity management plans, operation manuals and more.

This proposal comes after the tragic Merrimack Valley incident, which injured dozens and resulted in one fatality.

“Every day, millions of miles of gas distribution pipelines deliver energy to tens of millions of Americans, helping heat homes and power businesses,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “But as the tragic death of Leonel Rondon in 2018 reminded us, more must be done to ensure the safety of those pipelines - which is why we are announcing a new proposed rule to strengthen pipeline safety regulations and protect the public.

This NPRM implements Congressionally mandated revisions from the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act—enacted as part of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 as well as to address National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations.

Major pieces of the proposal include:

-- Improving construction procedures designed to minimize the risk of incidents caused by system over-pressurization.

-- Updating Distribution Integrity Management Programs to cover and prepare for over-pressurization incidents.

-- Requiring new regulator stations to be designed with secondary pressure relief valves and remote gas monitoring, to better prepare gas distribution systems to avoid over pressurizations, and limit damage during incidents.

-- Strengthening emergency response plans for gas pipeline emergencies, including requirements for operators to contact local emergency responders and keep customers and the affected public informed of what to do in the event of an emergency.

“This proposal incorporates lessons from the 2018 Merrimack Valley tragedy to help ensure something like that never happens again,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown. “These changes will protect communities and the environment, as well as lower energy costs for consumers.”

This rule also builds on other national and international actions advanced by Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration to reduce methane emissions—a greenhouse gas with more than 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.

As part of the Administration’s U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan and President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, PHMSA is also directing funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to modernize municipally- and community-owned natural gas distribution pipes.

Earlier this year, PHMSA announced the first $196 million from the nearly $1 billion Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant program—an additional $400 million in awards to communities are expected later this year.

The full-text NPRM has been transmitted to the Federal Register. A publication date will be provided when it becomes available along with an opportunity to provide public comment.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

(Photo: 2011 natural gas explosion in Allentown killed 5 people.)

Companion Articles:

-- PUC Approves 2 Penalty Settlements With Columbia Gas Totaling $1.525 Million For A House Explosion In Washington County, 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents In Franklin, Clarion Counties [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Pipelines To Get New Rules To Reduce Risk From Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions

-- AP: Natural Gas Leak At PA Chocolate Factory Caused Blast Where 7 Died

-- PUC Approves $125,000 Settlement With National Fuel Gas Related To 2020 Gas Leak And Fire In Erie

-- PUC: Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Jan. 1 Explosion In Port Richmond, Philadelphia

-- Lehigh Valley Live: Natural Gas Explosion In Allentown Kills 5 In 2011

NewsClips This Week - Plum Boro, Port Richmond Explosions:

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Hosting Multi-Agency Resource Center Event Aug. 24 For Families Impacted By Gas Explosion

-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]

-- WTAE: Plum Boro Homeowner Says Peoples Gas Company Found Gas Leak At His Home

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Investigators Work Their Piece Of Gas Explosion Puzzle In Plum Boro

-- WTAE: DEP Pledges Home Methane Detectors, Fast-Tracked Test Results For Plum Boro Residents

-- TribLive: Like Smoke Alarms, Natural Gas Alarms Can ‘Alert You To A Potential Problem,’ Plum Boro Neighborhood Where Home Exploded May Soon Have Them

-- WTAE: Homeowners Searching For Natural Gas Detectors After Plum House Explosion

-- AP: 10 Damaged Homes Remain Uninhabitable A Week After Explosion That Killed 6 In Plum Boro, Allegheny County

-- TribLive Editorial: People Of Plum Deserve Honesty, Transparency In Explosion Investigation

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Community Seeks Will To Push Forward, A Week After Fatal House Explosion

-- TribLive: National Transportation Safety Board Will Not Investigate Fatal Plum Boro Home Explosion For Now

-- WHYY/Billy Penn: Neighbors Raise $20,000 For Residents Impacted By New Year’s Day Natural Gas Explosion In Port Richmond, Philadelphia

NewsClips This Week - Natural Gas:

-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma

-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply] [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: No Word Yet On When Do Not Consume Water Advisory Will Be Lifted For The Village Of Reno Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater In Venango County [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PDF of Article]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say

-- WHYY: Chester Residents Unite Against Philly LNG Natural Gas Task Force Proposal: ‘We Will Not Allow This Environmental Genocide’

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest community

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs

-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says

Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas:

-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force [PaEN]