Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council Responds to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Request for Comments on Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair
Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council
For Immediate Release
August 16, 2023
Contact: info@dgccouncil.com
NEWS: Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council Encourages the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to Align Different Regulatory Actions, Ensure Proposed Measures are Feasible, and Extend the Implementation Timeframe in its Proposed Rule on Pipeline Safety
WASHINGTON - The Differentiated Gas Coordinating Council (DGCC), a coalition of stakeholders across the natural gas supply chain dedicated to expanding the market for low-methane-loss, “differentiated” natural gas, submitted comments in response to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) proposed rule titled “Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair” to reduce methane emissions from new and existing gas transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines, regulated gas gathering pipelines, underground natural gas storage facilities, and liquefied natural gas facilities.
"Pragmatic regulations act as the guiding compass for industry innovation. With PHMSA's proposed rule, we have a unique opportunity to set clear benchmarks and foster an environment where advanced technologies can thrive,” said Tom Hassenboehler, Executive Director of the DGCC. “When we strive for meaningful reductions in methane emissions, it's vital that regulations be adaptable and well-conceived. Only then can we inspire and achieve results that exceed standard expectations, leveraging the best of technology for a sustainable future."
In its comments, the DGCC outlined several concerns related to regulatory harmonization, feasibility, clarity, and implementation of the proposed rule.
Harmonization: To foster a consistent regulatory environment, the DGCC urges PHMSA to align with other federal entities. In its comments, the DGCC advocated for PHMSA to streamline the approval of advanced monitoring technologies using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently proposed “alternative test method” and identified potential overlaps and inconsistencies with other federal regulations, such as the varying thresholds proposed by PHMSA and those proposed by the EPA’s supplemental methane proposal.
Feasibility: While appreciative of PHMSA’s initiative, the DGCC is concerned that some proposed requirements are not realistic. For instance, the suggested 5 parts per million detection sensitivity may not be practically attainable at the scale and timeline set by the proposed rule. Additionally, PHMSA must take into account environmental factors that could impact the ability of operators to meet certain proposed requirements.
Clarity and Implementation Concerns: The DGCC called for clearer guidelines, especially around leak reporting and grading expectations. The council also recommends an extended implementation window, suggesting that the current 6-month timeframe is insufficient for industry stakeholders to adapt. This proposed rule is an important next step for the natural gas industry; midstream operators must be given the time to safely and effectively comply.
By collaborating with regulatory bodies, the DGCC aims to ensure that the dynamic landscape of the oil and gas sector is adequately represented while ensuring the rapid reduction in methane emissions via the adoption of advanced methane emissions detection and remediation technologies.
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Established in 2022, the DGCC is an ad hoc coalition of stakeholders across the natural gas supply chain dedicated to expanding the market for low methane, “differentiated” natural gas. Its members include academics; downstream, midstream, and upstream energy producers; gas customers; and technology companies. The DGCC’s goal is to facilitate a federal pathway for state regulators, utilities, and gas consumers to accept differentiated gas as an important option to meet their climate goals. We believe that the adoption of differentiated gas is the best way to rapidly reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector—a win for American energy producers, energy consumers, and the climate.