On October 17, 2008, the Department of Transportation / Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a final rule amending the Pipeline Safety Regulations to increase the regulatory maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) for certain gas transmission pipelines. (See related article in the November 2008 Edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance News.) The original effective date of November 17, 2008 has been delayed to December 22, 2008.

Because the final rule is a major rule within the meaning of the Congressional Review Act, the effective date must be delayed until 60 days after publication in the Federal Register or transmission to Congress, whichever is later. The final rule was transmitted to Congress on October 22, 2008. Accordingly, PHMSA is delaying the rule’s effective date until December 22, 2008.