NOTIFICATION
Addendum
The following communication, dated 11 April 2022, is being circulated at the request
of the delegation of the United States of America.
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Title: Pipeline
Safety: Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards
Description: TITLE:
Pipeline Safety: Requirement of Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture
Detection Standards
AGENCY:
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT
ACTION:
Final rule
SUMMARY:
PHMSA is revising the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations applicable to most
newly constructed and entirely replaced onshore gas transmission, Type A gas
gathering, and hazardous liquid pipelines with diameters of 6 inches or
greater. In the revised regulations, PHMSA requires operators of these lines to
install rupture-mitigation valves (i.e., remote-control or automatic shut-off
valves) or alternative equivalent technologies, and establishes minimum
performance standards for those valves' operation to prevent or mitigate the
public safety and environmental consequences of pipeline ruptures. This final
rule establishes requirements for rupture-mitigation valve spacing, maintenance
and inspection, and risk analysis. The final rule also requires operators of
gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to contact 9-1-1 emergency call centers
immediately upon notification of a potential rupture and conduct post-rupture
investigations and reviews. Operators must also incorporate lessons learned
from such investigations and reviews into operators' personnel training and
qualifications programs, and in design, construction, testing, maintenance,
operations, and emergency procedure manuals and specifications. PHMSA is
promulgating these regulations in response to congressional directives
following major pipeline incidents where there were significant environmental
consequences or losses of human life. The revisions are intended to achieve
better rupture identification, response, and mitigation of safety, greenhouse gas,
and environmental justice impacts.
The
effective date of this final rule is 5 October 2022.
This
final rule and the notice of proposed rulemaking notified as G/TBT/N/USA/1576 are identified by Docket Number PHMSA-2013-0255. The Docket
Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2013-0255/document and provides access to primary and supporting documents as
well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.
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[1] This information can be provided by including a website address, a
pdf attachment, or other information on where the text of the final/modified
measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.