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REGULATORY UPDATE

AN SGA WEB CONFERENCE

Friday March 7, 2008

This web conference was recorded; click Replay to hear the discussion.


Session Slides

Download the slides - 3 slides per page - grayscale

Download the slides - 1 slide per page- color

Access the recording of this session

 

Our Presenters Referenced the Following Documents During this Web Conference

Download PHMSA Coupling Advisory

Texas Railroad Commission-Compression Coupling News Release

 

Sponsoring Committees

  • Distribution Regulatory Compliance Interest Group (DRC)
  • Distribution Construction, Operations and Maintenance Interest Group (DCOM)
  • Distibution Integrity Management Programs Interest Group (DIMP)
  • Public Awareness Interest Group (PA)
  • Gas Control Interest Group (GC)
  • Operator Qualification Interest Group (OQ)

 

Discussion Outline

 

MODERATOR: Beverly Melchisedech, CenterPoint Energy (beverley.melchisedech@centerpointenergy.com)

 

Public Awareness

Presenter: Blaine Keener, PHMSA (CATS) (blaine.keener@dot.gov)

Clearinghouse Submittals

  • Required information
  • All submittal information stored in Public Awareness Program Database (PAPD)
  • Clearinghouse review
  • Which Operators are Required to Submit?
  • Review criteria
    • RP 1162 Structure
    • Management Support & Personnel Roles
    • Implementation Audit
    • Effectiveness Evaluation
    • Communication for all Audiences
    • Methods
    • Frequencies
    • Messages
    • Supplemental Elements
  • Results
  • Deviation statistics
  • Summary
  • National Pipeline Mapping System
  • 811
  • Pipeline Emergenies On-Line
 

Distribution Integrity Management Programs

Presenter: Mike Beatty, South Carolina Electric & Gas - a SCANA Company (mdbeatty@scana.com)

Member SGA DIMP Interest Group Committee

What can we be doing now?

  • Excess Flow Valves
    • Congress passed PIPES Act in 2006 mandating the installation of EFVs as of June 1, 2008
    • After June 1, 2008, EFVs must be installed:
      • New/replacement services lines serving single residential customers
      • Operating pressure > 10 psig –If contamination will not prevent proper operation &
      • If EFV in size required is commercially available
    • Rule may not be promulgated by June 1, 2008
    • EFV Considerations
      • Implementation
        • Timeline
        • Training
        • O&M Manual revisions
      • Application / Sizing Considerations
      • Location
      • Testing / Purging / Resetting
      • Turning on / off Meters
      • Record keeping
        • Service Cards
        • CIS
        • GIS
        • Leak Reports
      • Customer Load increases
  • The anticipated 7 key elements
  • Distribution pipeline operators, regardless of size, shall implement a system-wide integrity management program including seven key elements, namely that each operator: 
    1. Develop and implement a written integrity management plan. Between April 2009 and April 2010
    2. Know your infrastructure.
    3. Identify threats, both existing and of potential future importance.
    4. Assess and prioritize risks.
    5. Identify and implement appropriate measures to mitigate risks.
    6. Measure performance, monitor results, and evaluate the effectiveness of its programs, making changes where needed.
    7. Periodically report a limited set of performance measures to regulator(s).
  • Threats
  • The categories of threats to be considered should include the eight threats identified by PHMSA in the Annual Distribution Report PHMSA Form 7100.1-1 as “Cause of Leaks” in Part C:  
    • Excavation
    • Other outside force
    • Natural Forces
    • Incorrect Operations
    • Equipment
    • Corrosion
    • Material or welds (construction)
    • Other
    • Threats are:
      • Damages
      • Failures
      • Damages and Failures may or may not result in a leak
      • Leak Management is a key part of addressing Threats
    • Mechanical Damage by 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Party is the Major Threat.
    • Consider :
    • Hits per 1000 locates.
    • Break this down into hits with tickets & without tickets
    • Adding/gathering root cause analysis
    • Locator QA/QC
    • Enforcement and Damage Recovery
    • Develop metrics to evaluate performance
    • Internal programs
      • 1162 Public Awareness programs
      • Operator Qualifications programs
      • Locating (In-House or Contractor)
      • GIS or Maps/Facility
    • External programs
    • Resources
      • Gas Piping Technology Committee (GTPC) Guidance Document
      • SGA DIMP Interest Group web page
        • SGA DIMP Discussion Document
        • Phase 1 Report
        • Information on the SGA DIMP Round Table scheduled July 23/24, 2008 at the Distribution Conference in Atlanta

Texas Railroad Commission - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Presenter: Phil Bennett, AGA (pbennett@aga.org)

  • Risk-based leak inspection program
  • Leak grading and repair
  • Mandatory removal and replacement program

 

Operator Qualifications

Presenter: Mike Burkhart, Nicor

To ask a question about OQ or ASME B31Q, visit our Operator Qualification Interest Group web page.

 

Plastic Pipe

Presenter: Richard Sanders, PHMSA - tentative (Richard.Sanders@dot.gov)

 

Gas Control

Presenter: Karen Butler, Community Assistance and Technical Services (Karen.Butler@dot.gov)

Note: Karen's slides contain a great deal of useful information. Below is an outline from her presentation. Download the slide deck above to access Karen's slides.

Control Room Management

  • Project Drivers
  • Enterprise Approach Key Information Resources
  • Pilot Project Field Survey Topics
  • Field Survey Visits Including Pilot Operators
  • Comparative Industries
  • Enhancement Areas
  • Safety Pyramid
  • Conceptual Pipeline CRM Risk Matrix
  • Current Industry Efforts and Resources
  • Existing Relevant Standards
  • CRM Rule-Making Status

 

 

 

This page updated: March 17, 2008