Pipelines update: PHMSA regulations and the PIPES Act of 2020

With the reauthorization of the PIPES Act (i.e., Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020), the oil and gas industry is in line for changes that will have an effect on nearly every pipeline operator. In addition to an increase in funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the agency was given several mandates to issue final rules throughout the industry. Many of the final rules have been a long time in coming and are the result of PHMSA’s slow pace in responding to industry incidents and concerns. Now that the agency has deadlines, however, operators will be seeing changes in several sections of the 49 Code of Federal R