Washington Watch

PHMSA Worries About Pipeline Safety, Senate Bill Worries Pipeline Industry
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
May 2009 Vol. 64 No. 5

Six months after giving pipelines the green light to use high stress pipelines more widely, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is now highlighting safety concerns with new pipelines operating at 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS).

New Pressure To Up Water Infrastructure Spending; Broadband Funding Fleshed Out
April 2009 Vol. 64 No. 4

On the heels of the $6 billion emergency funding in the stimulus package for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, President Obama has proposed a huge increase for both funds in fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1.

Wellinghoff Named Acting Chairman of FERC
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
March 2009 Vol. 64 No. 3

Industry execs with good luck in Vegas might want to put some money down on President Obama eventually eliminating the “acting” adjective he put in front of the title of new FERC “Chairman” Jon Wellinghoff.

Last Minute Bush Rule On Endangered Species Could Speed Gas Projects
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
February 2009 Vol. 64 No.2

A last-minute rule from the Bush administration limits the ability of federal wildlife officials and environmentalists to throw a monkey wrench into an application for construction of new gas transmission lines and LNG facilities.

Increased Sewer/Water Funding Headlines Many Changes In Washington
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
February 2009 Vol. 64 No.2

Sewer and drinking water funding has been a back burner issue in Washington for the past decade, as local infrastructure needs have come to a boil. But the economic stimulus package Congress will pass will include substantial funds for water infrastructure.

FERC relents on key Issues in final posting rule
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
January 2009 Vol. 64 No. 1

FERC walked a fine line with its final rule on natural gas flow posting, reducing the number of intrastate pipelines – called major non interstates for the purpose of this rulemaking – who will have to comply while at the same time ditching a former proposal which interstates had opposed. FERC threw a bone to interstates, too.

Democratic future darkens prospects for LNG approvals
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
January 2009 Vol. 64 No. 1

The gas infrastructure conference on Nov. 21 touched on LNG pricing and terminal construction, but never got into the political issues which are likely to bear on FERC’s approval of new LNG terminals.

Climate Change Agenda Could Have FERC Selecting Pipeline Projects
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
January 2009 Vol. 64 No. 1

Worries about potential escalating demand for natural gas from electric utilities and industrials forced to switch fuels because of climate change legislation from Congress was the major factor behind the FERC natural gas infrastructure workshop on Nov. 21.

Standards Of Conduct Go INGAA’s Way
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
December 2008 Vol. 63 No. 12

You know a federal rulemaking was complicated when the chairman of the agency in charge admits: “It has been difficult to get this rule right.” That may be an understatement with regard to the final rules on standard of conduct for pipelines which FERC announced on Oct. 16.

New MAOP Leeway Pretty Narrow
Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor
December 2008 Vol. 63 No. 12

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finalized new rules allowing transmission companies to operate pipeline segments in Class 1 locations at 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) of the steel.

Syndicate content