PHMSA Sends Pipeline Safety Deregulation Final Rule to OMB

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Review (OIRA) announced that it had recevied for review a final rule addressing “Gas Pipeline Regulatory Reform” from the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA). The notice of proposed rulemaking for this action was published in June of 2020.

According to the abstract in the Fall 2020 Unified Agenda for this rulemaking:

“This rulemaking would amend the Pipeline Safety Regulations to adopt a number of actions that ease regulatory burdens on the construction and operation of gas transmission, gas distribution and gas gathering pipeline systems. These amendments include regulatory relief actions identified by internal agency review, existing petitions for rulemaking, and public comments on the Department of Transportation Regulatory Review and Transportation Infrastructure notices.”