EVENT SUMMARY
This is an Underground Storage specific PHMSA update, touching on standard updates such as implementation, inspections, risk management, best practices, and more.
Attendees will receive 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) upon completion.
Meet Your Instructor
Catherine Washabaugh, PHMSA
Catherine Washabaugh has over 40 years of experience with the transportation of natural gas, hazardous liquids, and reservoir engineering. She has been with PHMSA for 10 years and is currently the operations supervisor for the UNGS Team, based in the Eastern Region. Catherine manages the inspection of UNGS facilities in the country and teaches the Underground Natural Gas Storage Course at PHMSA’s Training & Qualification Center (TQ) in Oklahoma City.
Catherine began her career with PHMSA as a Staff Engineer in the Central Region Office, conducting integrated inspections and construction inspections on both Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas Pipelines. Catherine became a member of the UNGS Implementation Team in January 2017, formed as a result of the PIPES ACT of 2016.
Prior to PHMSA, Catherine worked for the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for over 30 years. Initially she worked in the Petroleum Engineering section of the MPSC performing reservoir engineering analysis, prorating natural gas fields, and providing expert testimony in pipeline cases, gas field proration cases and Gas Cost Recovery cases. Moving to the pipeline side, she conducted comprehensive and specialized inspections on intrastate and interstate pipelines, as well as investigating pipeline failures. Catherine is a former member of the Michigan Damage Prevention Board, working on legislation for the One Call law known as the MISS DIG Underground Facility Damage and Safety Act.
Catherine received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the University of Michigan, majoring in Operations Management.