PHMSA withdraws pipeline inspection guidance, citing overreach

(UI) — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has withdrawn a Biden-era advisory bulletin tied to the 2020 PIPES Act, citing federal overreach and excessive regulatory burdens on the pipeline industry.

The bulletin, originally intended to guide operators in implementing Section 114 of the PIPES Act, had been criticized for extending beyond the law’s scope and introducing costly new requirements. In a notice transmitted to the Federal Register, PHMSA formally rescinded the guidance.

“Eliminating red tape is at the heart of this administration's plan to maintain energy dominance,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “President Trump’s aggressive deregulatory agenda is bringing down costs for consumers and unleashing a golden age of American energy.”

PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman added, “Section 114 provided clear direction to operators and PHMSA. That is why I am rescinding the prior administration’s Advisory Bulletin, which imposed new requirements outside the scope of existing regulations and statute."

Pipeline operators are now instructed to follow the original language of Section 114 and section 60108(a) of the Pipeline Safety Act in drafting inspection and maintenance plans. Regulators will use those standards during future audits and inspections.

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