This week APGA members meet with staff from the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) to discuss APGA’s concerns and priorities, as well as hear PHMSA’s agenda and strategic plan for this administration. PHMSA attendees included the Administrator of PHMSA, Skip Elliott, Associate Administrator of Pipeline Safety, Alan Mayberry, and Cameron Satterthwaite from the Standards & Rulemaking Division.
APGA highlighted the membership’s commitment to pipeline safety and the associated programs and initiatives that are underway to further improve the already excellent safety record of municipal natural gas systems. APGA also asked PHMSA about the status of specific rulemakings, including the Plastic Pipe Rule, a potential Stay of Enforcement for farm tap inspections, and the inclusion of the definition of Distribution Center in the Safety of Gas Transmission & Gathering Lines Rule. Unfortunately there are numerous factors in play that influence the timely publication of actions from PHMSA, including legal and leadership review as well as placement in the administration’s priorities.
PHMSA spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing its goals for the next Pipeline Safety Reauthorization. This legislation is what provides PHMSA with statutory authority to act as the federal pipeline safety regulator. Additionally, it provides funding to PHMSA’s state partners and outlines mandates for pipeline safety stakeholders. APGA is eager to identify potential opportunities for mandates or authority expansions that may benefit municipal gas systems.
APGA was represented by Rich Worsinger from City of Rocky Mount, Sam Davis Jr., from Lake Apopka Natural Gas District, John Leary from Borough of Chambersburg, Stephen Mayfield from City of Tallahassee, Bill DeFoor from Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, John Erickson and Erin Kurilla. APGA plans to request similar meetings during all future May Government Relations Conference and Board and Committee Meetings in the Washington D.C. area.
For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-905-2904 or by email at
ekurilla@apga.org.