Overview of Rules and Regulations

Tank inspection to achieve regulatory compliance has often been viewed as just another expense. This article takes the opposite view by utilizing regulatory compliance as a means for enhancing overall efficiency, awareness, safety, and profitability.

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Last October, we saw the State of California implement its “PSM for Refineries” standard and now the State of Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) appears to be following suit, releasing draft language to adopt a...

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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued two reports on the safe management of hazards by small businesses and storage facilities that use highly hazardous chemicals in business processes.

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The first increases to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for violations of safety regulations since 1990 went into effect on August 1, 2016. The increases are substantial: the maximum penalties have increased by 78 percent.

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Inspectioneering recently had the opportunity to chat with Kent Cheese, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, certification and inspection. Mr. Cheese has more than 20 years of experience working...

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Facilities are facing increasing challenges, including justifying inflated budgets, managing contractor hours, ensuring regulatory compliance and qualifying the work being completed. To help facilities manage evolving inspection requirements,...

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This newly issued (28 August, 2003) document reports the results of discussions with representatives of refining firms, technologies, and services providers, research institutions, and other organizations on current and future trends in the U.S....

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Inspectioneering recently had the opportunity to sit down with Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton and discuss the evolution of reliability in the oil and gas industry.

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OSHA has recently issued three memoranda updating guidance on its Process Safety Management (“PSM”) standard.

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In the oil & gas, chemical and petrochemical industries, identifying, understanding, and controlling process hazards in order to prevent process-related injuries and incidents is of the utmost importance. EPA and OSHA have released numerous...

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Last Wednesday the FAA announced an initiative to allow three additional commercial drone applications; applications that will bring big value to the Oil and Gas and Petrochemical industries. Today, drone operators must have a Section 333 Exemption...

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PinnacleART’s engineers and inspectors can help your facility define, prioritize and mitigate risks within your facility. Let our team build, implement and maintain a comprehensive mechanical integrity and RBI program for your pressure vessels,...

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The role of an API inspector is rapidly changing. Necessary skills for success have transformed as technology, standardization, and regulations have become part of the way of life.

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For over 20 years, OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard worked to guarantee safe and healthy workplaces in industries that use hazardous chemicals. For most of that time the standard had remained largely unmodified. This all changed last...

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The Province of Alberta has a long history of pressure equipment safety dating back to 1897 when the first boiler laws were introduced to regulate the new technology of steam boilers. Boiler inspectors were hired, and soon thereafter the Alberta...

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On October 7, 2010, EPA maintained the November 10, 2010 compliance date for drilling, production or workover facilities that are offshore or that have an offshore component, and for onshore facilities required to have and submit Facility...

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This week, PHMSA proposed new federal pipeline safety regulations that would require the installation of remotely controlled or automatic shutoff valves on certain newly constructed natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.

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The CSB has approved a final rule on accidental release reporting that requires prompt reports from owners-operators of facilities that accidentally release a regulated substance resulting in a death, serious injury or substantial property damage.

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Last week, more than 30 industry groups, including the API, called on the Trump administration to finish a regulatory overhaul that would expedite federal environmental approval for big infrastructure projects such as pipelines and road expansions.

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The lawsuit alleges that BSEE has granted offshore drillers "alternate compliance" and "departures" from the new rules hundreds of times, effectively waiving some of the most crucial safeguards against blowouts.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday proposed refiners increase the volume of biofuels blended into their annual fuel output but did not reallocate the waived amounts under the hardship program.

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How long does it take for you to receive reports after an inspection has been completed? A week? A month? Does the data come from multiple sources with no way of knowing if it has been manipulated? Traditional inspection contractors do not have...

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Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, has started building a small oil refinery at its storage terminal in Malaysia that will provide low-sulphur fuel for ships, a senior company official said on Monday.

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Over the next 18 months, Phillips 66 plans to modify units at its Wood River and Bayway refineries to reduce high-sulfur fuel oil production in accordance with certain changes to marine fuel rules.

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The CSB has called on the EPA to review its existing Hydrofluoric Acid study to determine the effectiveness of existing regulations, as well as the viability of utilizing inherently safer alkylation technologies in petroleum refineries.

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White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Wednesday said the Trump administration would soon issue an executive order that would open the door for more natural gas pipelines and exports of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.

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PinnacleART and Metegrity, Inc. have formed a strategic partnership to improve the mechanical integrity program of a natural gas service provider’s operations in the southwest region of the United States.

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Training options to meet your needs. E²G contracts with API to deliver training programs for FFS, Risk–Based Inspection, Damage Mechanisms, and Pressure Relieving Systems. ETI and Customized Training offers specialized courses based on industry...

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INEOS Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has written an open letter to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, expressing his concerns about Europe’s chemicals industry.

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Last October, we saw the State of California implement its “PSM for Refineries” standard and now the State of Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) appears to be following suit, releasing draft language to adopt a...

• Continue reading...

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued two reports on the safe management of hazards by small businesses and storage facilities that use highly hazardous chemicals in business processes.

• Continue reading...

The DOJ, EPA, and TCEQ have announced an agreement with Vopak Terminal Deer Park Inc. and Vopak Logistics Services USA, Inc., to improve air quality in the Houston area by strengthening air pollution controls and compliance with federal and state...

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Last week, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) revised its regulations and increased the maximum civil penalty amount for violations of Federal pipeline safety law.

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Becht Engineering's Bobby Wright will be presenting "Reliability Ranking and Life Extension of Coke Drums" at Refcomm Rotterdam October 3rd at 11:10 am. Also be sure to visit the Becht booth #15 to meet with Chuck Becht IV, Chuck Becht V,...

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with Wilson Oil, Inc., (doing business as Wilcox & Flegel Oil Co.) for alleged Clean Water Act spill prevention violations at its Longview Terminal facility in Longview, Washington.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today issued a final rule entitled, "Operator Qualification, Cost Recovery, Accident and Incident Notification, and Other Pipeline Safety Changes."

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule amending its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases at chemical facilities and improve emergency response activities when those...

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Sinclair Casper Refining Company has paid $655,000 to reimburse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for response costs incurred at the Empire State Oil Company Refinery Site in Thermopolis, Wyoming. The company entered into a settlement...

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Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Baton Rouge Area Office have issued citations and over $92,000 in fines for nine serious and two other violations to PPG Industries' Westlake facility.

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ASTM International in partnership with the Codes and Standards Training Institute (CASTI), launched an eLearning course to provide individuals with a general knowledge relating to maintenance, inspection, repair, and alteration of pressure vessels...

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today issued an Interim Final Rule ("IFR") to implement the agency's expanded authority to address unsafe pipeline conditions or practices...

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found three repeat and eight serious safety violations at Solvay Specialty Polymers' chemical facility in West Deptford, New Jersey.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced today that it has completed its investigation of the May 19, 2015, Plains All-American pipeline release in Santa Barbara County,...

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U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) report finds that offshore regulatory changes made thus far do not do enough to place the onus on industry to reduce risk, nor do they sufficiently empower the regulator to proactively oversee industry’s efforts to...

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations to improve chemical process safety, assist local emergency authorities in planning for and responding to accidents, and improve...

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Gecko robots cover up to 150 square feet per minute and can perform inspections internally or externally. We combine logistical simplicity, speed, and a range of inspection strategies to provide a targeted and economical solution for tank...

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An ongoing investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) of the February 18, 2015 explosion at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, has uncovered multiple process safety management deficiencies that led to the accident and a...

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The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has approved the final investigation report and video from the 2009 explosion and fire at caribbean petroleum terminal facility in Puerto Rico.

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Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transporation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration announced proposed regulations to make critical safety improvements for hazardous liquid pipelines. The proposed regulations seek to...

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In November 2014, a worker was overcome at a DuPont chemical manufacturing facility when a supply line unexpectedly released more than 20,000 lbs. of methyl mercaptan, a deadly chemical. Three co-workers came to the worker's aid in an attempted...

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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardouse Materials Safety Administration has proposed new requirements to strengthen Federal pipeline safety regulations related to pipeline accident and incident notification. The Operator...

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On Thursday, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) revealed the initial findings from their investigation into the deadly gas leak that took the lives of four workers at Dupont's chemical plant in LaPorte, TX

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Today the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) formally announced that to “Modernize U.S. Process Safety Management Regulations” is the Board’s newest Most Wanted Safety Improvement, concluding that implementation of key federal and state CSB...

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