Happy Tuesday and welcome back to another day of ESC News Blog.
Did anyone see
The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on August 25, 2023, they reprinted
an article from the Associated Press titled, “New rules floated after blasts in
Massachusetts”? In the article, it speaks
about U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials SafetyAdministration (PHMSA) proposal to strengthen regulations on gas distributionpipelines which was announced last week.
The interest in updating the regulations is due to the eruptions and fires
in 2018 caused by over pressurized gas distribution pipelines in the Merrimack Valley
area in Massachusetts, when over a hundred homes were damaged, many people were
injured, and someone lost their life. Recovery
from the event took months for some people which meant they didn’t have heat and/or
hot water. PHMSA doesn’t want this to
happen again, so they are proposing better construction methods and improved management
programs to reduce risks of over pressurized pipelines. PHSMA would like to make new regulator stations
with secondary pressure relief vales and remote gas monitoring systems a
requirement in an effort to reduce these incidents. Lastly, they would like better response plans
for gas pipeline emergencies which will require the company to inform local
authorities, customers, and the public in the affected area. PHMSA’s proposal for gas distribution pipeline
revised regulations is currently in the public comment period. If you would like to read more of Associated Press’ article for free on MSN
Start, please click the link: New gas pipeline rules floated following 2018 blasts in Massachusetts (msn.com).
In line with
this the PHMSA announced earlier this year, they have funds available from the
Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant program.
If you would like to learn more about the
grant program, please click the link: Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants | PHMSA(dot.gov).
If you would
like help in looking into how to transport your product safely and efficiently,
contact us via the email in the blog and check out our ESC's website!
We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great week!
**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read the Associated
Press’ article. **