The US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed revised federal pipeline safety regulations that will require the installation of remotely controlled or automatic shutoff valves on certain pipelines.
The published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is for certain newly constructed or entirely replaced natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. It is expected to enhance safety by mitigating the consequences of large-volume pipeline spills and establishing minimum standards for detecting ruptures or leaks.
“This proposal is backed by extensive research that supports the use of remotely controlled and automated valves as both cost-effective and capable of minimizing potential delays between the identification and isolation of a pipeline release,” added PHMSA administrator Skip Elliott.
The proposed rule requires that remote-control or automatic shutoff valves be installed on new or replaced pipelines greater than six inches in diameter. Leak detection systems must also be able to close valves to isolate a ruptured pipeline segment within just 40 minutes.
Image credit: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration