Notice2022-01596
Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of Operators' Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe
Primary source
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Published
January 27, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Abstract
This notice announces a public informational webinar on the scope of Section 114 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020). The webinar will also cover PHMSA and state inspection plans to ensure compliance of operators' inspection and maintenance procedures to eliminate hazardous leaks, minimizes releases of methane (the predominant component of natural gas), and the replacement or remediation of facilities known to leak.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4327-4328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01596]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0123]
Pipeline Safety: Informational Webinar Addressing Inspection of
Operators' Plans To Eliminate Hazardous Leaks, Minimize Releases of
Methane, and Remediate or Replace Leak-Prone Pipe
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice of public informational webinar.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public informational webinar on the
scope of Section 114 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines
and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020). The webinar will
also cover PHMSA and state inspection plans to ensure compliance of
operators' inspection and maintenance procedures to eliminate hazardous
leaks, minimizes releases of methane (the predominant component of
natural gas), and the replacement or remediation of facilities known to
leak.
DATES: The informational public webinar will be held on February 17,
2022, from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., ET. Members of the public who
wish to attend this webinar must register no later than February 11,
2022. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as sign language
interpretation or other aids, are asked to notify PHMSA no later than
February 11, 2022. For additional information, please see the ADDRESSES
section of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The informational public webinar will be held virtually. The
agenda and instructions on how to attend will be available on the
meeting website at <a href="https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mkey=0913558304&mtg=159">https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mkey=0913558304&mtg=159</a> once they are finalized.
Presentations from the informational public webinar will be
available on the meeting website no later than 5 business days
following the webinar.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Byron Coy, Senior Technical Advisor,
Program Development Division, by phone at (609) 771-7810 or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e88a919a8786c68b8791a88c879cc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6a4bfb4a9a8e8a5a9bf86a2a9b2e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The mission of PHMSA is to protect people and the environment by
advancing the safe transportation of energy products and other
hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. PHMSA's
mission includes prevention of the release of natural gas that can
release methane into the atmosphere. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, methane is a potent greenhouse gas
with a global warming potential (GWP) of 28-36 times greater than that
of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Compared to carbon dioxide,
methane gas has a stronger warming effect, but a shorter lifespan in
the atmosphere. Due to the high GWP, minimizing releases of methane
(both fugitive and vented emissions) has near-term benefits to
mitigating the consequences of climate change. Likewise, remediation or
replacement of pipeline facilities that are known to leak based on
material, design, or past operating and maintenance history can result
in enhanced public safety, environmental protection, and economic
benefits.
The PIPES Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260, Division R) was signed into
law on December 27, 2020. This law contains several provisions that
specifically address the elimination of hazardous leaks and
minimization of releases of natural gas from pipeline facilities.
Section 114(b) of the PIPES Act of 2020 contains self-executing
provisions that apply directly to pipeline operators. This section
requires each pipeline operator to update its inspection and
maintenance plan required under 49 U.S.C. 60108(a) no later than one
year after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2020 (i.e., by
December 27, 2021) to address the elimination of hazardous leaks and
minimization of releases of natural gas (including, and not limited to,
intentional venting during normal operations and maintenance) from the
operators' pipeline facilities (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(D)). The PIPES
Act of 2020 also requires those plans to address the replacement or
remediation of pipelines that are known to leak due to their material
(including cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, and historic
plastics with known issues), design, or past operating and maintenance
history (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(E)). In addition, 49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)
requires that operators continue updating these plans to meet the
requirements of any future regulations related to leak detection and
repair that are promulgated under 49 U.S.C. 60102(q). Pursuant to the
PIPES Act of 2020, operators must have completed updates to their plans
by December 27, 2021, and PHMSA (along with our state partners) is
required to inspect these plans in 2022.
The PIPES Act of 2020 further directs the Comptroller General of
the United States to conduct a study to evaluate the procedures used by
PHMSA and states in reviewing plans prepared by pipeline operators
under section 60108(a) and provide recommendations for how to further
minimize releases of methane from pipeline facilities without
compromising pipeline safety. No later than 90 days after the date the
Comptroller General's report is published, the Secretary of
Transportation is required to submit to Congress a report that includes
a response to the results of the study and the recommendations
contained in the report.
On June 10, 2021, PHMSA published an advisory bulletin in the
Federal Register titled ``Statutory Mandate to
[[Page 4328]]
Update Inspection and Maintenance Plans to Address Eliminating
Hazardous Leaks and Minimizing Releases of Natural Gas from Pipeline
Facilities'' (86 FR 31002) reminding pipeline operators of their
obligation to comply with Section 114 of the PIPES Act of 2020 by
December 27, 2021. That advisory bulletin reminded owners and operators
of pipeline facilities that the PIPES Act of 2020 requires operators to
update their inspection and maintenance plans to identify procedures to
prevent and mitigate both vented/intentional and fugitive/unintentional
pipeline emissions. Vented emissions can occur during repairs,
maintenance, or operations of pressure relief systems, or other
controlled activities. Fugitive emissions include leaks from mains or
service lines, meters, or excavation damage, as well as other
accidental releases.
II. Public Webinar Details and Agenda
The public informational webinar will take place on February 17,
2022. During the webinar, PHMSA will review the scope and requirements
of Section 114 and plans for PHMSA and state inspection of the
requirements. Following opening remarks, the webinar will address the
following topics: (1) Key elements of Section 114; (2) Significant
sources of natural gas (primarily methane) emissions from pipelines;
(3) Discussion of which types of pipeline facilities must comply with
each portion of Section 114; (4) PHMSA and state inspections, including
reviews of a pipeline operator's programs and procedures to reduce
methane emissions; (5) Inspection topics related to methane reduction
and leak-prone pipes; (6) General review of how operators' programs and
procedures will be inspected; and (7) The timelines for actions
required by Section 114.
III. Public Participation
The webinar will be open to the public. Members of the public who
wish to attend must register on the meeting website and include their
names and organization affiliation. PHMSA is committed to providing all
participants with equal access to these meetings. If you need special
accommodations, please contact Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810 or
via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97f5eee5f8f9b9f4f8eed7f3f8e3b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85e7fcf7eaebabe6eafcc5e1eaf1abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>.
PHMSA is not always able to publish a notice in the Federal
Register quickly enough to provide timely notification regarding last
minute changes that impact a previously announced meeting. Therefore,
individuals should check the meeting website listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice or contact Byron Coy by phone at (609) 771-7810
or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c5a7bcb7aaabeba6aabc85a1aab1eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9dbc0cbd6d797dad6c0f9ddd6cd97ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a> regarding any possible changes.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 24, 2022, under authority
delegated in 49 CFR 1.97.
Alan K. Mayberry,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2022-01596 Filed 1-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
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