The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under the US Department of Transportation on Monday sent an advisory to oil and gas pipeline operators to update their inspection and maintenance plans for curbing the release of methane, a greenhouse gas that is more potent than CO2. The move is part of President Joe Biden’s effort to combat climate change. The advisory directs operators to the PIPES Act, a law signed at the end of last year.
Under the new law, PHMSA has the authority to supervise methane leaks by natural gas pipelines and transmission systems. PHMSA Acting Administrator Tristan Brown said minimising methane release could help fight climate change while opening new pipeline jobs. He added that operators had an obligation to identify and address methane leaks to protect the public and the environment.
The PIPES Act is set to come into effect by the end of the year. According to PHMSA’s advisory, operators must have inspection and maintenance plans in place by December 27 to minimise methane emission and repair or replace leaking pipes.
The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters welcomed the new law, saying it would create new high-skill jobs. According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, transmission, storage, and distribution contributed to about one-third of the oil and gas industry’s emissions in 2019. EPA is expected to introduce new regulations by September, requiring companies to reduce methane by at least 45% by 2025 versus 2012 levels.
