Federal Agency Issues Natural Gas Storage Safety Regulations

Statement

Following through on a promise made by President Barack Obama to Congressman Brad Sherman last January, PHMSA, the relevant federal agency, issued a proposed Interim Final Regulation which will become binding on the industry before January 20, 2017.

Congressman Sherman, who lives in Porter Ranch, about as close as anyone to the site of the world's largest natural gas leak said:

"Never again should any community in America face what we faced in Porter Ranch.

"This proposed regulation is a major step forward in preventing future massive leaks from underground natural gas storage facilities. This isn't partisan, and the Trump Administration should enforce this regulation vigorously. The regulation is based on the recommendations of the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas industry group that usually sides with Republicans on regulatory issues.[1]

"For the first time, natural gas storage facilities will be subject to federal standards and inspections. Also, for the first time, violators will be subject to federal civil and criminal penalties, and possible shut-down. The Porter Ranch leak, which spanned from October 23, 2015 to February 18, 2016, showed that leaks at natural gas storage facilities could pose a health risk for tens of thousands of local residents while emitting nearly 5.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas which predominantly consists of methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times as potent as carbon dioxide.

"PHMSA has stated that this regulation is a "first step" and will be followed by additional regulations. Future regulations should: (1) require that natural gas is injected and withdrawn only through the interior tubing, not through the casing; (2) require surface and sub-surface shut-off valves; and (3) require that no region of the country is dependent on a single too-big-to-fail style natural gas storage facility."

Source