Thursday, July 11, 2024

PUC's Pipeline Safety Program Recognized For Exemplary Standards & Impact On Residents, Businesses; State Agencies Lack Authority To Act On Pipeline Issues

On July 11, the Public Utility Commission recognized the staff and leadership of the PUC’s
Pipeline Safety Division, which has received outstanding evaluations from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) – reflecting the PUC’s strong commitment to its safety mission.

“The PUC regulates over 88,000 miles of pipeline across Pennsylvania – enough to circle the Earth 3.5 times,” noted Commissioner John F. Coleman Jr. “We are proud of the work of our Safety Division and the Commonwealth is fortunate to have such a dedicated team of experts who are continually working to enhance pipeline safety in our communities.”

The PUC's commitment to safety has a significant impact on residents and businesses across the Commonwealth. 

The removal of cast iron and bare steel pipelines, some of the riskiest assets, enhances the integrity of Pennsylvania’s pipeline infrastructure. The increased number of inspections allows for more interaction with pipeline operators, promoting adherence to safety protocols. 

Damage prevention efforts and collaboration with operators have led to a reduction in gas facility line hits. And continuous training – including mandatory federal and industry-provided courses – ensures that the pipeline staff is well-equipped to enforce new federal safety regulations and to stay abreast of new technology and changes in natural gas and pipeline industry regulations.

Safety Steps Across Pennsylvania

-- Last year the PUC's Pipeline Safety Team worked with operators to remove more than 500 miles of vintage pipeline mains, significantly reducing potential risks.

-- The Safety Division conducted 4,000 inspections in 2023, nearly 30% of which were construction-related, ensuring stringent safety standards across the state.

-- The team dedicated 281 days to investigating pipeline incidents, demonstrating a robust commitment to safety and incident prevention.

-- The PA PUC's pipeline staff undergoes rigorous training and professional development, including 25 week-long courses at the federal training center in Oklahoma City, ensuring high standards of expertise and preparedness.

-- Operators under PUC jurisdiction provide natural gas service to approximately 3 million customers in Pennsylvania.

Safety Division Scorecard

The annual monitoring of state pipeline safety programs awarded the Pennsylvania PUC Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program and the Gas Pipeline Safety Program perfect scores in multiple categories for Calendar Year 2023. 

In PHMSA's Progress Report Review, both the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program and the Gas Pipeline Safety Program achieved a perfect score of 50 out of 50 points. 

Additionally, in PHMSA's Program Evaluation Review, the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program received 96 out of a possible 96 points, and the Gas Pipeline Safety Program earned a flawless 100 out of 100 points.

“The PA PUC Pipeline Safety Division’s perfect scores in the 2023 PHMSA audit underscore the Commission’s dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards,” said PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. “The team’s efforts ensure the safe delivery of natural gas and hazardous liquids across Pennsylvania, protecting residents and businesses alike.”

A state agency's program performance is based on PHMSA's annual Program Evaluation and Progress Report scoring, which includes records review, data analysis, training and qualifications, procedures, performance, and field observations.

Visit the PUC’s Pipeline Safety webpage to learn more about this program.

The Whole Pipeline Picture

The Public Utility Commission does generally do a good job regulating retail distribution, intrastate and other pipelines, however, there are huge holes in the authority state agencies have to regulate pipelines generally.

There are tens of thousands of miles of natural gas pipelines the PUC by law has no jurisdiction over.

For example, a natural gas gathering pipeline slid down a hill in Westmoreland County and punched through the basement of a family’s home and no state agency had any jurisdiction to do anything about it.  Read more here.

Just the headlines of the following articles give you an idea of the kinds of pipeline issues not addressed in Pennsylvania--

-- Senate Budget Hearings: PA’s Experience With New Pipeline Construction Shows State Laws Not Strong Enough To Prevent Environmental Damage, Protect Public Safety  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Fails To Address $70 Million In Penalties On Natural Gas Pipelines Or Real Concerns Of People Living Near Gas Production, Distribution Facilities  [PaEN]

-- How Long Must The Public Wait For Action On Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bills?   [PaEN]

-- Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly To Fill Gaps In State Regulation Of Pipelines  [PaEN]

-- Natural Gas, Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Are NOT Required To Carry Insurance Or Show They Can Pay For Damages If They Explode, Leak Or Kill Someone  [PaEN]

-- KDKA: Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Crashes Into, Thru Westmoreland County Home And A Loophole In State Law That Doesn’t Regulate Gathering Pipelines For Safety   [PaEN]

-- Natural Gas Pipeline Pigging Facility Malfunction Dec. 27 Released 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas; Same Facility Plagued Community With Blowdowns 3 Times A Day, 7 Days A Week For Nearly 10 Years Until Criminal Charges Brought Against CNX   [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station  [PaEN]

-- Navy Veterans Patrick & Helen Robinson Relate Their 7-Year Struggle Dealing With Impacts Of Mariner East Pipeline Construction In Indiana County, And They Continue  [PaEN]

-- Cambria County Family Sues Sunoco After 3 Years Of Dealing With Damage To Home, Well, Septic System, Property From Mariner East Pipeline Construction  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Little Information Made Public About Free Water Testing Ordered As Part Of Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Settlement To Criminal Charges By Attorney General  [PaEN]

-- Citizen Complaints Result In DEP Issuing PA General Energy More Violations At Loyalsock Creek Gas Pipeline/Water Withdrawal Construction Site In Lycoming County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: PA General Energy Cited For More Water Pollution Violations, Blocking The Whole Width Of Loyalsock Creek At Gas Pipeline/Water Withdrawal Construction Site In Lycoming County [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Has No Exclusion Zones For Water Withdrawals From Any Streams, Including EV Or HQ Streams Subject To Water Quality Antidegradation Rules  [PaEN

-- PJM Interconnection: Winter Weather Forces Natural Gas Pipeline Fuel Restrictions, ‘Conservative Operations’ Declared To Assure Electric Grid Reliability Through Jan. 17  [PaEN]

-- Bill Reported Out Of Senate Committee Would Allow Pipelines Like Mariner East To Apply For Waivers Of Any PUC Regulation, Law Or Policy  [PaEN - 2024]

-- Gas Industry, Sen. Bartolotta Seek Legislation To Eliminate Environmental Hearing Board Appeals Of DEP Permits For Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities  [PaEN - 2024]

-- Senate Republicans Pass Bill Authorizing An Authority To Take Over Permitting Large-Scale Energy Projects; Eliminating Public Comment; Waiving Any Regulation; Providing Immunity From Prosecution; Barbers Reviewing Permits?  [PaEN - 2024]

-- PA House Republicans Announce Energy Package, Including An Energy Advocate Within DEP To Veto Any Action That Would Impact PA’s Energy Portfolio And An Independent Energy Office With The Same Power  [PaEN - 2024]

-- More Articles:

To see the record of inaction and action on pipelines since 2016, Search PA Environment Digest under the subject “Pipelines.”

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 6 to 12 - Double Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Failure; 19 + 12 Abandoned Conventional Wells; Draining Water Impoundment By Spraying  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 13 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 13 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles This Week:

-- Final State Budget Includes $50 Million For Clean Streams Fund; New SPEED Permit Review Program; Support For DEP Oil & Gas Program  [PaEN] 

-- House, Senate Send Bill Authorizing Geologic Sequestration Of Carbon Dioxide To The Governor  [PaEN]

-- State Health Plan Identified Oil & Gas Development As Health Risk Last Year; Environmental Health Indicators Map Is Now Available To Show Potential Risks Near You  [PaEN]

-- Federal Court Again Says Groups Have A Right To Appeal Permits For Gas Pipelines To State Environmental Hearing Board, Overruling Transco, DEP Objections  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Encroachment Permit For A Beech Resources, LLC Project To Construct 3 Pipelines On A Right-of-Way Impacting An Exceptional Value Stream, EV Wetlands In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- PUC's Pipeline Safety Program Recognized For Exemplary Standards & Impact On Residents, Businesses; State Agencies Lack Authority To Act On Pipeline Issues [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: PUC To Hold Second Hearing July 15 On Venango Water Company [Impacts Continue From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Contamination Of Water Supply]   [PaEN]

-- Now On Demand: PublicSource.org - Learn The Story Behind The Story - EQT's Gas Play In Pennsylvania, West Virginia  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Environmental Groups Warn Fast-Tracking Carbon Capture A Mistake In Pennsylvania  

--  Pittsburgh Business Times: Bill Would Regulate Carbon Capture, Storage In Wells Underground, But Environmentalists Are Pushing Back 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: New Book Investigates What Happens To The Mountains Of Waste Generated By Oil & Gas Industry [Including Road Dumping]

-- Post-Gazette: 2.5 Mile Segment Of Great Allegheny Passage Trail In Fayette County To Closure Due To Gas Pipeline Project Through Mid-October

-- Delaware Valley Journal: PA Energy Advocates Ecstatic After Judge Blocks Biden Pause In Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities [PA Gas Industry Wants To Send More Gas To China Because It Means Higher Prices For Them And Us]

-- Clean Air Council: Federal Court Rejects Attempt To Block EPA Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Regulation 

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Fall 3% Due To Storage, Rising Output Less Gas Flowing To LNG Export Facilities

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Ease On Rising Production, Drop In Gas Flowing To LNG Gas Export Facilities

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Price Forecasters Say Prices Set To Rise By Over A Third In Second Half Of The Year

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Output To Decline In 2024, While Demand Rises To Record High, EIA Says

-- Wash Post: 26 Foot, Armored Sea Wall Protects New Louisiana LNG Gas Export Facility Being Built By Venture Global To Try To Protect It From Storms  

[Posted: July 11, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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