PHMSA’s 40 Rules
On April 24th 2026, PHMSA published 40 proposed and direct final rules to the Federal Register. Topics range from reporting and material verification to editorial and standards updates. Elemental is summarizing all 40 actions for you here. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox.
Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
PHMSA has published 10 Notice(s) of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) including previously rescinded Direct Final Rules (DFRs) which received adverse comments. The NPRMs with a comment deadline of June 23, 2026 include:
2026-08078 Administrative Rulemaking: Regulatory Procedures (190): Adopts amendments to 49 CFR 190 to align procedures governing administrative challenges to final rules that come after those rules have been posted by the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) with similar rules issued by the Office of Materials Safety (OHMS). This includes removing a second-round appeals process and consolidates reviews for petitions.
2026-08081 Adjust Annual Report Deadlines (192): Extends the annual reporting deadline for gas operators and liquified natural gas facilities(LNG) to June 15th. This NPRM would also extend the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) information submission deadline for operators of gas transmission pipelines and liquified natural gas facilities to June 15th. This would bring gas and LNG facility annual reporting deadlines in line with hazardous liquid and CO2 annual reporting deadlines.
2026-08082 Adjustment to OPID Notifications for Construction(191, 195): Proposes to increase cost thresholds for notifications for some construction and maintenance projects on gas, hazardous liquid, and CO2 pipeline facilities and underground natural gas storage (UNGS) facilities. It also introduces an inflation adjustment calculation for years 2026 and onwards.
2026-08083 Eliminating Limitations on Welders and Welding Operators (192): This NPRM would remove paragraph (a) from 192.229, removing the exclusion preventing welders or welding operators qualified by nondestructive testing from welding on pipe and components for compressor stations.
The NPRMs with a comment deadline of 60 days after publication include:
2026-08076 Timeframe to Make RMVs Operational(192, 195): Extends the timeframe for making rupture-mitigation valves operational from 14 to 90 days.
2026-08068 Remote Monitoring of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Rectifiers (195): Allows required electrical checks of cathodic protection devices to be performed remotely.
2026-08067 Removing Unnecessary Provision for Material Properties Verification During MAOP Reconfirmation (192): Removes the requirement that an operator test the pipe materials cut out from the test manifold sites when conducting pressure tests.
2026-08077 Hazardous Liquid Valve Maintenance Schedule (195): Proposes to modify valve inspection requirements for HL and CO2 Pipelines. The change allows operators to inspect valves once per calendar year with intervals not exceeding 15 months.
2026-08080 Integration of Innovative Remote Sensing Technologies for Right-of-Way Patrols on Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines (192, 195): To comply with ROW patrol requirements, operators may use unmanned aerial systems (drones), satellites, and other remote sensing technologies as long as they provide the same level of information as other aerial patrol techniques.
2026-08079Property Damage Definition for Reporting Incidents on Gas Pipelines and Accidents on Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipelines (191, 195): Clarifies what is included and excluded when calculating the cost of an incident/accident. The loss of product, the cost of permits, and the cost to remove/replace undamaged third-party infrastructure is not included in the cost of the event. It also updates the reportable threshold for hazardous liquid accidents based on an inflation calculation, which matches what is currently used for gas pipeline.
Direct Final Rules - Standards Incorporated by Reference
PHMSA has published 15 Direct Final Rules (DFRs) to the Federal Register updating the following editions and/or versions to incorporated by reference standards. These changes are effective January 1, 2027, and are intended to maintain or improve public safety, prevent regulatory confusion, and reduce compliance burdens.
ASTM A53/A53M, Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless, 2024
ASTM D2513, Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings, 2024
ASTM A372/A372M, Carbon and Alloy Steel Forgings for Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels, 2025
ASTM D2564, Solvent Cements for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Piping Systems, 2024
ASTM F2620, Heat Fusion Joining of Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings, 2024
MSS SP-75, High-Strength, Wrought, Butt-Welding Fittings, 2025
Direct Final Rules - Reporting Updates (Facsimiles)
PHMSA has published 3 Direct Final Rules (DFRs) to the Federal Register removing the option to submit certain notifications via facsimile (fax) and updating contact information and phone numbers accordingly.
2026-08059 Removing Obsolete Provision in Safety-Related Condition Reporting Requirements: This DFR rescinds the option for operators to submit a Safety-Related Condition (SRC) report via facsimile (fax). This revision removes all references in 49 CFR Part 191.25(c) which previously allowed operators to submit SRC reports via fax and now only accepts reports via e-mail at InformationResourcesManager@dot.gov.
2026-08064 Removing Obsolete Provision from Safety-Related Condition Reporting Requirements for Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Facilities: This DFR revises 49 CFR Part 195.56(a) to remove the option for hazardous liquid operators to submit SRC reports via fax. Hazardous liquids operators shall only submit SRC reports via e-mail to InformationResourcesManager@dot.gov.
2026-08066 Editorial Corrections to Telephone and Facsimile Numbers: This DFR provides a batch revision and removal of obsolete references to inoperative phone and fax numbers. The previously provided phone number (202) 366-4046 is revised to (202) 366-4595 in 49 CFR Parts 192.7(a), 193.2013(a)(1)(i) and 195.3(a).
Additionally, PHMSA has removed the option for operators to request Special Permits via fax in accordance with 49 CFR Part 190.341(b)(1), 190.341(e)(2)(i) and 190.341(h)(1) when applying for a special permit, renewing a special permit or requesting an emergency permit, respectively.
Further, 49 CFR Part 192.727(g)(1) and 49 CFR Part 195.59(a) are revised to remove the fax number associated with reporting abandoned and deactivated pipeline facilities.
Direct Final Rules - Editorial Revisions
PHMSA has published 5 Direct Final Rules (DFRs) to the Federal Register which make non-substantive, editorial, or typographical revisions to portions of 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195. These changes are effective January 1, 2027.
2026-08056 Electronic Submission of Requests for Written Interpretations and Special Permits: PHMSA is modernizing its filing procedures by formally recognizing email as a valid submission method for both interpretation requests and special permit applications, providing a faster alternative to traditional mail. Revised sections include 49 CFR 190.11(b) and 49 CFR 190.341(b)(2).
2026-08058 Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments; Correction: PHMSA is removing a duplicate paragraph number presented as 49 CFR 192.624(c)(6)(vii) to the corrected sub-paragraph (c)(6)(viii).
2026-08061 Editorial Corrections and Clarifications to Criteria for Conducting Integrity Assessments Using Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing Appendix F to 49 CFR part 192: This final rule addresses a typographical error present in Appendix F of 49 CFR Part 192. Paragraph XIV is incorrectly duplicated and thus Appendix F is amended with the corrected numerical paragraph XIX.
2026-08063 Editorial Correction to Requirements for Low-Stress Hazardous Liquid Pipelines in Rural Areas: This DFR amends an erroneous citation for Baseline Assessment Scheduling under 49 CFR Part 192.452(d)(3); which does not exist. The citation is amended to the correct paragraph 49 CFR Part 192.452(d).
2026-08065 Outer Continental Shelf Pipelines; Correcting Amendment: PHMSA is revising 49 CFR Part 195.9 and the included reference to the MMS, formally known as the Minerals Management Service, to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement, or BOEMRE.
Direct Final Rules - Other Updates
PHMSA has published 7 Direct Final Rules (DFRs) to the Federal Register which make non-substantive, editorial or typographical revisions to regulations.
2026-08054 Declaratory Order Procedures: Adopts a new regulation under 49 CFR 190.13 to establish procedures for issuing declaratory orders. An operator can request that an issue be addressed if it is unclear or controversial by filing a petition for declaratory order. After considering any public comments, the Associate Administrator will either issue a declaratory order or deny the petition.
2026-08055 Consent Orders: Amends the procedural code to state that consent agreements may be used to resolve all PHMSA enforcement proceedings, up to, and including civil penalties.
2026-08057 Clarification of Incident Reporting Requirements for Gas Pipeline Facilities: Updates to 49 CFR 191.5 to reflect the National Response Center (NRC) no longer allows operators to provide electronic incident notifications by removing the nrc.uscg.mil option.
2026-08060 Interpretation Request Procedures: Amends the procedural code to include the posting of requests for regulatory interpretations on PHMSA’s public website and open them public to comment for 30 days. Final interpretations will also be posted to the PHMSA website.
2026-08062 Clarification of Accident Reporting Requirements for Hazardous Liquid and Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Facilities: Updates 49 CFR 195.52 to reflect the NRC no longer allows operators to provide electronic incident notifications by removing the nrc.uscg.mil option.
2026-08070 Electronic Retention of Part 194 Response Plans: Allows operators of oil pipelines to keep electronic copies of onshore oil spill response plans instead of maintaining paper ones. Also allows oil pipeline operators to keep the “relevant portions” of those plans.
2026-08074 Clarifying Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Integrity Management Guidance: Provides clarification to the implementation of integrity management for hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipeline by adding language to Appendix C to Part 195. This language adds shape around defining high consequence areas and identifying integrity threats.
Operators will need to update their procedures to capture the changes impacted by the DFRs. Continue following along with Elemental for an analysis of the NPRMs once they become final.
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