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Industry presses pilot programs, special-permit reform and class‑location rule to speed technology adoption
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Summary
Industry witnesses told the subcommittee that PHMSA should update repair criteria, reform its special-permit process, and complete the long‑pending class‑location rule so operators can use modern inspection tools, analytics and risk-based inspection practices more quickly.
Industry witnesses urged Congress and PHMSA to clear bureaucratic hurdles that, they said, slow adoption of newer inspection technologies and analytical tools.
Andy Black of the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association and Eric Taylor of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America said pipelines generate vast amounts of inspection data from inline inspection tools ("smart pigs") and that machine learning and advanced analytics can help identify threats earlier. Black said a congressional demonstration program could provide the data PHMSA needs to update prescriptive regulations.
Taylor focused on the class-location rule, which he said has not been substantially updated for more than 50 years. He said completing that rule would allow operators to apply newer assessment methods rather than undertaking large replacement programs when population or land-use changes alter an existing location classification.
Both industry witnesses criticized the current special-permit process for taking too long and attaching unrelated conditions that slow pilots. Black said that in the last administration PHMSA applied unnecessary red tape to a congressionally authorized pipeline safety technology demonstration pilot, preventing the program from producing intended results.
Contractors and industry groups also supported risk-based inspections of in-service breakout tanks to reduce unnecessary greenhouse-gas emissions and worker hazards when risk analysis shows less frequent inspections are appropriate.
Safety witnesses supported some pilot programs but urged careful oversight. Bill Karam said the nation still needs practical safety steps such as routine installation of inexpensive fire‑shutoff valves on service lines to prevent fire-related releases in distribution systems.
Ending: Members signaled bipartisan interest in reconciling the need to adopt new technology quickly with appropriate safety oversight and in fixing permitting and special-permit processes to allow demonstration programs to proceed.
