On May 15, John Erickson spoke on behalf of APGA at the Western Regional meeting of the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) in San Diego, Calif. NAPSR is the association of state pipeline safety agencies. Most APGA members are audited by a NAPSR member state agency for compliance with pipeline safety regulations. John first described APGA’s position on the final rule on plastic pipe, the pending transmission rule and pipeline safety act reauthorization. The final plastic pipe rule is much improved over what was initially proposed. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) accepted APGA’s comment that socket fusion should not be prohibited for pipe over 1.5 inches in diameter. The final rule does not restrict the use of socket fusion. The rule also prohibits the use of leak repair clamps as a permanent leak repair method but does not require operators to locate and remove any leak repair clamps installed prior to the effective date of the rule. The rule also allows operators to operate plastic polyethylene pipe at higher pressures and expands the use of PA-11 and PA-12 pipe.
Other speakers had already described the transmission rule and the pipeline safety reauthorization process so John focused on two issues of particular concern to APGA members. APGA supports PHMSA defining the term “distribution center” in the transmission rule since there is currently no definition and regulations define any line between a storage facility and a distribution center as transmission regardless of pressure. This results in many low pressure pipelines being classified as transmission even though the lines operate at very low stress levels. PHMSA’s proposed definition would reclassify many lines as distribution.
Regarding reauthorization, John stated that APGA supports requiring that individuals who design major pipeline projects have the appropriate knowledge and skills but does not agree that the individuals must be a licensed professional engineer. As a licensed professional engineer himself, John stated that nothing in the licensing process addresses the design of pipeline projects and that a combination of education and experience are the most important criteria in the safe design of pipeline projects.
Turning to the Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF), John described recent changes to the Simple Handy Risk-based Integrity Management Plan (SHRIMP) program. Major changes were made to the excavation and natural forces threat assessment sections, and a new subthreat under materials, joints and welds addresses PermalockTM tapping tees, which PHMSA has announced will be a focus of upcoming Distribution Integrity Management Programs (DIMP) inspections. John also mentioned that the SIF is developing a series of educational videos to help newly elected or appointed officials understand the basics of operating a gas utility. The first three videos can be found at
http://apgasif.org/gas-operations-safety-orientation-videos/.
Many of the speakers from states and PHMSA emphasized the importance of Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS). APGA members should be prepared to be asked about their adoption of PSMS principles in their next state audit.
For questions, on this article, please contact John Erickson of APGA staff by email at
jerickson@apga.org.