New Federal Gas Storage Rules Likely to Mimic Industry's Guidelines

"Federal pipeline agency's response to Aliso Canyon disaster will likely lean on industry proposals that don't require emergency shutoffs or safer pipes."

"Federal regulators say they may propose safety rules as a response to  the three-and-a-half-month methane leak in California, but the rules may not address two key issues that turned Aliso Canyon into a disaster: emergency shutoff valves and a safer configuration of pipes.

Last week, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said it may issue its first safety regulations for storage sites like Aliso Canyon. The agency also urged operators to voluntarily follow guidelines developed by the industry itself. Those guidelines don't require systems to stop the flow of gas in an emergency or include redundancies to isolate the methane from the environment.

Adoption of the industry guidelines would probably do little to prevent a similar disaster at the 418 similar storage units across the country, according to pipeline safety and environmental groups. The ongoing release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—from Southern California Gas Co.'s Aliso Canyon storage unit has forced thousands of people to evacuate because of health concerns."

Phil McKenna reports for InsideClimate News February 8, 2016.