Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments

Summary: PHMSA is proposing to amend the pipeline safety regulations to incorporate by reference (IBR) all or parts of new, updated, or reaffirmed editions of voluntary consensus standards that are available on the Internet, free-of-charge, to the public. PHMSA is also proposing to make non-substantive edits and to clarify regulatory language in certain provisions. These proposed changes are relatively minor, and would not require pipeline operators to undertake any significant new pipeline safety initiatives.