PHMSA Rulemakings Update.  The tables below summarize the status of PHMSA’s rulemakings as reported in the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) September Significant Rulemaking Report and by OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Spring 2016 Unified Regulatory Agenda.  Revised dates appear in bold.  

OTHER PHMSA UPDATES

PHMSA schedules Pipeline Safety R & D Forum.  On November 16-17, PHMSA will convene a 2‑day Pipeline Safety and Research Development Forum to address research that promotes solutions for pipeline safety challenges.  The purpose of the forum is to identify key pipeline technical challenges, disseminate information on current research efforts, and identify new research to help address challenges.  The forum will address threat/damage prevention, leak detection/mitigation, anomaly detection/characterization, natural gas underground storage, and liquefied natural gas.  The forum will be held in Cleveland, Ohio. 

PHMSA is accepting applications for One-Call Grants.  In August, PHMSA announced that qualifying state agencies may submit applications for Pipeline Safety One-Call Grants.  The grant supports initiatives to promote damage prevention efforts, such as one-call legislation, compliance activities, training and public education.  State agencies with section 60105 Certifications or section 60106 Agreements with PHMSA are eligible.  Applications are due October 19, 2016.

UPDATES FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES

FWS issues draft guidance for ESA compensatory mitigation.  On September 2, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published its draft Endangered Species Act (ESA) Compensatory Mitigation Policy (CMP).  The draft CMP provides new guidance on the use and establishment of compensatory mitigation mechanisms that can be utilized to address unavoidable adverse impacts to ESA-listed, proposed, and at-risk species and their habitat.  Typically imposed through Section 7 consultation or Section 10 incidental take permitting, the draft CMP would apply a “net gain” mitigation goal (or “no net loss” at a minimum) for affected resources.  The draft CMP also has a preference for compensatory mitigation in advance of impacts, and encourages a shift from the project-by-project application of mitigation to a landscape-scale approach that consolidates mitigation measures in an effort to achieve more effective ecological benefits.  Comments on the draft CMP are due by October 17, 2016. 

UPDATES ON LITIGATION

ExxonMobil agrees to pay $12 million in damages for Silvertip pipeline rupture.  ExxonMobil and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division have entered into a proposed consent under which ExxonMobil will pay $12 million in natural resources damages relating to the 2011 rupture of the Silvertip pipeline in the Yellowstone River in Montana.  The funds will be used by the United States and the state of Montana to restore, rehabilitate, replace, and acquire lost natural resources, with some funds used to reimburse the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.  The proposed consent decree has been lodged with the U.S. District Court and is subject to a 30-day public comment period after publication in the Federal Register. 

SELECT UPDATES FROM STATES

CALIFORNIA

SB 840 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review).  On September 13, the Governor signed SB 840, making several changes to implement the resources and energy budget actions adopted as part of the 2016-17 budget package.  The bill’s provisions include the following: 

Revised definition of “oil.”  Existing law requires that operators of new or replaced pipelines near environmentally or ecologically sensitive areas use best available technologies, including leak detection technology, automatic shutoff valves, or remote-controlled sectionalizing block valves to reduce the amount of oil spilled during an event.  Operators of existing pipelines near these must submit plans by January 1, 2018, to retrofit such pipelines by January 1, 2020.  SB 840 defines the term “oil” to mean petroleum, petroleum products, anhydrous ammonia, and ethanol, consistent with Part 195 of PHMSA’s regulations. 

Reports of State Fire Marshal.  Under existing law, the State Fire Marshal regulates the inspection of intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines.  SB 840 requires that the State Fire Marshal submit, no later than January 31, 2017, and then annually thereafter until January 31, 2021), a report to the Legislature regarding the number of annual inspections performed, the status of the installation of automatic shutoff systems, and the status of Lines 901 and 903 in the County of Santa Barbara (i.e., the lines owned by Plains All American that ruptured in 2015).

SB 62 (Hill).  In August, the California legislature approved legislation that would establish a new Office of Safety Advocate (OSA) within the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to advocate for continuous, cost-effective improvement of the safety management and safety performance of public utilities.  The new OSA would participate as a party in CPUC rate-making proceedings and on behalf of customers and advocate for effective public utility safety management and infrastructure improvements; recommend improvements to the CPUC’s safety management policy and safety culture; inform the official record of CPUC proceedings about safety-related risks; and assist the CPUC in holding public utilities accountable for safe operations.  The bill is awaiting the approval of the Governor. 

SB 215 (Leno).  In August, the California legislature approved a bill that would expand the CPUC’s rules governing ex parte communications.  Among other things, the CPUC would be required to establish rules for reporting ex parte communications and determining the types of issues that may be considered procedural matters.  The bill also provides for civil penalties for violations of ex parte communication rules and authorizes the attorney general to bring an enforcement action against a CPUC decision-maker or employee for violations.  The bill is awaiting the approval of the Governor. 

IOWA

On September 14, The Iowa Utilities Board (Board) published a notice in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, stating that on August 22, the Board issued an “Order Adopting Amendments to Natural Gas and Electric Safety Standards,” that, among other things, amends state pipeline safety standards to be consistent with federal regulations.  The Board did not adopt updated versions of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Standard B31.8 or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 59 because PHMSA does not incorporate by reference more current versions.  The amendments become effective October 19. 

NORTH DAKOTA

According to press reports, on September 13, the North Dakota Legislative Rules Committee, which reviews administrative rules adopted by North Dakota administrative agencies, postponed approval of new rules adopted by the North Dakota Industrial Commission on June 29.  The new rules include revised requirements for underground gathering pipelines for crude oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide, and produced water, including: (1) prior notice of construction and pressure testing; (2) design and construction; (3) crew training; (4) inspections; (5) environmental protection; (6) sharing of data; (7) corrosion control; and (8) abandonment.  The requirements are also revised for above-ground facilities associated with underground gathering lines.  All oil storage, production, and treating sites are required to have dikes unless a waiver is granted.  In addition, there are new permitting requirements for saltwater handling facilities pertaining to siting, construction, operation, abandonment, and reclamation.  Finally, the revised rules require bonding, subject to certain exceptions, for new facilities and for existing facilities not already bonded as an appurtenance to another facility. 

UTAH

On September 15, the Utah Department of Natural Resources published a notice of a proposed rule that would modify the standards for oil and gas companies to report the release of fluids or natural gas into the environment.  The proposal adjusts the quantity standards for natural gas from a transportation facility and for fluid releases.  A public hearing will be convened on September 28 in Salt Lake City.

To download a full text PDF, which includes Dates of Interest, upcoming PHMSA State Seminars, and State Specific Association Meetings, please click here.