PHMSA announced its exercise of enforcement discretion with respect to portions of its regulations that pertain to farm taps. Pursuant to the exercise of enforcement discretion announced in this document, PHMSA will not take enforcement action against operators who forego the new maintenance and inspection requirements established in March 2017 and instead mitigate any future risk associated with farm taps through compliance with the existing Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) regulations. This will provide regulatory flexibility to pipeline operators while at the same time maintaining an equivalent level of safety.

§190.223 In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, the DOT issued a final rule which provides the 2018 inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

§§192.3, 192.7, 192.9, 192.59, 192.63, 192.121, 192.143, 192.145, 192.149, 192.281, 192.283, 192.285, 192.313, 192.321, 192.367, 192.375, 192.455, 192.513, Appendix B to Part 192 (revised), 192.123, 192.191, (removed and reserved), and 192.67, 192.204, 192.329, 192.376, 192.720, and 192.756 (added) PHMSA is amended the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations that govern the use of plastic piping systems in the transportation of natural and other gas. These amendments were necessary to enhance pipeline safety, adopt innovative technologies and best practices, and respond to petitions from stakeholders. The changes include increasing the design factor of polyethylene pipe; increasing the maximum pressure and diameter for Polyamide-11 pipe and components; allowing the use of Polyamide-12 pipe and components; new standards for risers, more stringent standards for plastic fittings and joints; stronger mechanical fitting requirements; the incorporation by reference of certain new or updated consensus standards for pipe, fittings, and other components; the qualification of procedures and personnel for joining plastic pipe; the installation of plastic pipe; and a number of general provisions.