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PHMSA Grants Extension on Elements of Plastic Pipe Rule

By Erin Kurilla posted 03-07-2019 11:24 AM

  
On November 30, 2018, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published the Plastic Pipe Final Rule. Compliance with the rule went into effect on January 22, 2019. However, the American Gas Association (AGA) filed a Petition for Reconsideration with PHMSA. AGA asked that PHMSA provide additional time for compliance for specific elements within the rule and requested that the requirements for category 1 fittings be limited to those that are greater than four-inches.

Due to the government shutdown, PHMSA’s response to AGA’s petition was delayed. A letter distributed by Alan Mayberry, PHMSA Associate Administrator of Pipeline Safety, on March 1, 2019 provided several of the extensions that AGA proposed. In summary, PHMSA provided a 90-day extension, until April 22, 2019, for several of the compliance deadlines for implementation of training and operator qualification programs related to the new requirements. Additionally, PHMSA has granted a six-month extension, until July 22, 2019, to comply with certain provisions that require the development of new programs.

PHMSA addressed AGA’s petition to limit the requirements for category 1 fittings to joints on plastic pipe below four-inches. PHMSA denied this petition, but instead agreed to delay the compliance deadline for category 1 requirements for joints between metallic and plastic pipe four-inches and greater until January 22, 2020. PHMSA states that “this provides additional time to develop and test larger mechanical joints that can meet the category 1 performance standard.”

APGA is also in discussions with AGA and PHMSA about a webinar on the Plastic Pipe Rule. While the webinar will be hosted by industry, PHMSA will provide the presentation and will answer questions that are distributed in advance. More details will be provided once the date is confirmed.

For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at ekurilla@apga.org.

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