Pipeline Safety: Class Location Change Requirements — PHMSA Denies INGAA Petition for Reconsideration
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
On January 14, 2026, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a final rule under 49 CFR Part 192 governing class location change requirements for natural gas pipelines (91 FR 1608). These requirements determine how pipeline operators must respond when surrounding land use changes increase population density near a pipeline, potentially necessitating upgrades or operational changes to maintain safety standards. The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) filed a petition for reconsideration on February 13, 2026, challenging several discrete provisions of the final rule. INGAA's petition sought to revisit specific regulatory requirements the association viewed as technically or operationally problematic. PHMSA formally denied the petition on March 30, 2026, upholding all provisions of the January 14 final rule without modification. This document serves as a public notice of both the petition's existence and PHMSA's denial, directing interested parties to docket PHMSA-2017-0151 on regulations.gov for the full text of the original rule, the INGAA petition, and PHMSA's denial response. The action was issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.97 and signed by Linda Daugherty, Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- PHMSA's January 14, 2026 final rule on class location change requirements (91 FR 1608) remains fully in effect with no modifications
- INGAA's petition for reconsideration filed February 13, 2026 was formally denied by PHMSA on March 30, 2026
- All discrete issues challenged by INGAA were reviewed and rejected by PHMSA, providing regulatory certainty for pipeline operators
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Natural gas pipeline operators must comply with class location change requirements under 49 CFR Part 192 when surrounding land use changes increase population density near a pipeline
Pipeline operators must respond to population density increases near pipelines by implementing upgrades or operational changes to maintain safety standards as required by the final rule
Pipeline operators must implement and maintain compliance with all provisions of the January 14, 2026 final rule on class location change requirements (91 FR 1608), as PHMSA has denied all challenges to these provisions
Pipeline operators must reference and comply with 49 CFR Part 192 regulations governing class location changes for natural gas pipelines