The State of Texas proposed a new rulemaking in the November 24, 2000 Texas Register to require pipeline integrity management programs for both liquid and gas intrastate pipelines. The proposed rule is summarized below. The full text of the proposed rule can be downloaded from RCP's website at http://www.your-rcp.com/downloads/Misc/Dec2000/TXPLIntegrityProposedRule11-24-2000TXReg.pdf.
By February 1, 2002, each transmission and jurisdictional gathering operator shall develop, submit to the TRRC, and maintain a pipeline integrity assessment and management plan. The plan may be developed by using risk based analysis or following the prescriptive requirements in the rule. Within 185 days of submittal, the Commission will notify the operator of the acceptance of the plan or complete an evaluation to review compliance with the rule.
Operators chosing to use the Risk-Based Analysis must conduct at least 50% of their initial assessments of integrity by January 1, 2006 and the remainder by January 1, 2011. The assessment plan is required to contain, at a minimum:
- Identification of the pipelines covered by the plan;
- Prioritization of pipeline segments based on an analytical process of assessing risks
- Assessment of pipeline integrity utilizing in-line inspection; pressure test; direct assessment; or other new technology.
- Management of the pipeline segments which may include remediation or increased inspections as necessary.
- Periodic review of the pipeline integrity assessment and management plan every 36 months, or more frequently if necessary.
Operators chosing to use the Prescriptive Rule Minimums must pressure test or conduct in-line inspection of each pipeline segment at 5 or 10 year intervals, depending on the location of the pipeline and its service.
In either case, an operator may use an integrity assessment method conducted prior to the effective date of the rule as the assessment if the method meets the requirements of this section.