On December 6, 2023, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act of 2023 (PIPES or the Bill) to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous...more
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is suspending a rule that allows liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be transported by rail in specialized tank cars, starting 31 October 2023. This final rule overturns a Trump-era rule...more
On May 4, 2023, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) titled “Pipeline Safety: Gas Leak Detection...more
Biden administration acts to restore clean-water safeguards - Associated Press – November 18 - The Biden administration took action this Thursday to restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams,...more
On 8 November 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to propose a temporary suspension of transport...more
The United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) issued an April 13th letter addressing a request for clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (“HMR”)...more
Congress recently passed legislation with a reauthorization of the pipeline safety programs through 2023 as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety...more
Recent news that the Democrats flipped both U.S. Senate seats in Georgia’s run-off election means that the Democrats have enough votes to add the Congressional Review Act (CRA)[1] to the tools that could be used to advance...more
Later this year, it is likely that the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will vote on whether to approve a new natural gas export terminal to be located on the Delaware River in Gibbstown, New Jersey, just southeast of...more
California and five major automakers finalize deal on vehicle emissions standards - The New York Times – August 17 - The California Air Resources Board (CARB) this Monday finalized “Settlement Agreements” with five of...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued on June 19, 2020, its Final Rule for publication in the Federal Register. Once the Final Rule takes effect 30...more
In response to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a notice that it does not intend to...more
On March 20, in response to the Declaration of a National Emergency relating to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of...more
According to a recent filing,1 the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is considering recommendations to increase the outer tank shell for the DOT-113 tank car in...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to authorize the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by...more
On October 24, 2019, The U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register following its earlier...more
On October 1, 2019, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued three new rules to promote pipeline safety. The first, the MAOP Reconfirmation Rule, is the result of Congressional mandates,...more
On June 6, 2019, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation (PHMSA) announced the availability for comment of its draft Environmental Assessment for a Special Permit to...more
This proceeding will focus on the following broad policy issues: 1) what data is necessary in order for the CPUC to consider a “cost-effectiveness” framework in this proceeding; 2) how should the CPUC’s annual report...more
On April 11, 2019, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Promoting Energy Infrastructure on Economic Growth which included provisions related to updating regulations linked to facilities which handle liquefied natural...more
As described in previous blog posts on May 7, 2018 and March 13, 2018, regulatory changes are needed before liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be transported by rail tanker cars under applicable Hazardous Materials and Carriage...more
On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced significant measures to improve permitting for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. These measures follow up on Chairman McIntyre's statements earlier in...more
As previously reported, on Aug. 31, 2018, Kevin J. McIntyre, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Howard "Skip" Elliott, Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration...more
On May 7, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finally responded to the Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). As...more
A recent Boston Globe editorial entitled “Gas-by-train? Beacon Hill Opens The Door” suggests that liquefied natural gas (LNG) may be arriving by train to New England from the shale gas region in Pennsylvania in the future....more