PHMSA Modernizes Methane Detection Rules for Gas Pipelines
(P&GJ) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has introduced a final rule aimed at modernizing leak detection and repair requirements for natural gas pipelines.
The rule, expected to save up to $1.5 billion annually and reduce methane emissions by 500,000 metric tons, covers approximately 2.8 million miles of pipelines, 398 underground natural gas storage facilities, and 173 liquefied natural gas facilities nationwide.
“This new rule was developed by building a consensus with the pipeline industry, public interest representatives, and representatives from labor unions that are actually on the ground doing the work to maintain the world’s largest gas pipeline system,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown.
The updated regulations require pipeline operators to adopt advanced leak detection technologies, including aerial and vehicle surveys, handheld devices, and continuous monitoring systems. Key measures include:
- Increasing the frequency of leak surveys.
- Reducing the volume of unintentional emissions, such as leaks and equipment failures.
- Setting criteria and deadlines for repairing leaks that pose safety or environmental risks.
The rule also encourages the use of equipment that captures methane for reuse, minimizing emissions from maintenance, repair, and construction activities.
“It will harness the tremendous new potential we are seeing from mobile leak detection systems, unmanned aerial systems, and other innovative technologies to mitigate this threat to people and the environment—keeping valuable natural gas in pipelines so they arrive safely for use in homes and businesses, and ensuring America is the global leader in safely transporting methane,” Brown added.
Mandated by the 2020 PIPES Act, the rule incorporates 28 consensus recommendations developed during discussions with stakeholders, including the pipeline sector, public interest groups, and labor unions.
The regulation is part of the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, aiming to protect public health, promote innovation, reduce energy waste, and support skilled labor. Methane, a greenhouse gas with 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, has been a key focus of recent national and international climate strategies.
The full text of the rule will be published in the Federal Register. An unofficial version is available on PHMSA’s website.
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