PHMSA Publishes Final Phase of Rural Pipeline Rule

Today the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule in the Federal Register (76 FR 25576-25588) extending its safety regulations to previously uncovered rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines. According to the summary of rule this “change complies with a mandate in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 (PIPES Act)” (76 FR 25576).

This final rule would extend Part 195 regulations to:

• Low-stress pipelines of less than 8 5/8 inch diameter located in or within ½ mile of an unusually sensitive area (USA); and

• All rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipelines outside of the current ½ mile USA limit.

This rule does not effect the existing exemption from PHMSA regulations for low-stress pipelines subject to Coast Guard safety regulations.

This final rule has an effective date of October 1st, 2011.