Stories about gas storage rarely make headlines, but the fact is there are hundreds of underground natural gas storage facilities peppered across the country, and when something goes wrong, the impacts can be devastating. For example, in 2015 a leak at the Aliso Canyon storage facility in Southern California ended up displacing thousands from their… Keep reading →
NEW REPORT CHRONICLES LESSONS LEARNED FROM ALISO CANYON LEAK AND CALLS FOR A PHASE-OUT OF SINGLE-BARRIER WELLS WASHINGTON – Today, the Interagency Task Force on Natural Gas Storage Safety, established in the wake of last year’s massive natural gas leak at California’s Aliso Canyon site, issued a new report intended to help reduce the risk of future… Keep reading →
Natural gas is a major source of electricity in the United States. Roughly one-third of the 33 trillion cubic feet of gas produced each year is used to power our homes and businesses. And it’s the gas delivery and transmission industry that ensures these services are delivered nationwide. Most of us don’t think about this… Keep reading →
In response to the deadly natural gas explosion in San Bruno, California, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing new regulations to make pipelines safer. The regulations will go a long way toward safeguarding communities from the risks of natural gas explosions, but, if they’re done right, they could also protect… Keep reading →
On separate fronts, two U.S. government agencies have proposed new regulations over the expanding natural gas industry, and industry participants are now focusing their efforts on coping with the costs the proposals will potentially bring, which could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized federal regulations… Keep reading →
A ruptured natural gas pipeline in the quiet community of San Bruno, California ignited on the evening of September 9, 2010. The resulting fire destroyed 38 homes, killed eight people, and injured many others. It was one of the biggest pipeline explosions in recent history, and it very likely could have been prevented. Now, almost… Keep reading →
Last month, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the SAFE PIPES Act, reauthorizing the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Tucked inside the bipartisan bill are important new measures intended to advance the ways in which regulators facilitate the repair and replacement of old, increasingly leaky pipeline systems. The bill also creates a multi-agency task… Keep reading →
As natural gas providers deal with the combination of aging infrastructure and safety, one of the most important factors emerging is the vital role of reliable data and recordkeeping as a means of preserving system resiliency. Recordkeeping is a key issue in measuring a pipeline infrastructure’s life cycles and managing associated risks, according to Jeff… Keep reading →
On October 1, 2015, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed changes to strengthen its hazardous liquid pipeline safety regulations. The proposal aims to address mandates from the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Pipeline Safety Act), which requires improvements in operation, maintenance, and inspection… Keep reading →
In response to this year’s high-profile pipeline incidents, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is expected to finalize numerous proposed rulemaking measures regulating pipeline safety in the coming year.
