Pipeline Agency to Follow Industry Practices for Gas Storage (1)

Federal safety regulators are adopting industry best practices in new mandatory requirements for natural gas storage.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration finalized its regulation to make underground natural gas storage facilities safer after a massive 2015 gas leak in Southern California. The regulation (RIN:2137-AF22), set to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, is the first to address unregulated interstate storage facilities. Trade associations generally approved of the agency’s adoption of industry practices.

The best practices, as defined by the American Petroleum Institute, are recommendations for safely using salt caverns, empty oil and gas reservoirs, ...