G/TBT/N/USA/1997  
22 May 2023  
(23-3481) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT) [2028]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to h andle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN  where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Gas 
pipeline leak detection equipment; gas distribution, gathering, and transmission 
pipelines; Pipeline components and pipelines (ICS code(s) : 23.040); Valves (ICS code(s): 
23.060); Equipment for petroleum and natural gas industries (ICS code(s): 75.180); Gas 
supply systems (ICS code(s): 91.140.40)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Pipeline Safety: 
Gas Pipelin e Leak Detection and Repair; (90 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice of proposed rulemaking - PHMSA proposes regulatory 
amendments that implement congressional mandates in the Protecting our Infrastructure 
of Pipelines and Enhancing Saf ety Act of 2020 to reduce methane emissions from new 
and existing gas transmission pipelines, distribution pipelines, regulated (Types A, B, C 
and offshore) gas gathering pipelines, underground natural gas storage facilities, and 
liquefied natural gas faci lities. Among the proposed amendments for part 192 -regulated 
gas pipelines are strengthened leakage survey and patrolling requirements; performance 
standards for advanced leak detection programs; leak grading and repair criteria with 
mandatory repair timel ines; requirements for mitigation of emissions from blowdowns; 
pressure relief device design, configuration, and maintenance requirements; and clarified 
requirements for investigating failures. Finally, PHMSA proposes expanded reporting 
requirements for op erators of all gas pipeline facilities within DOT's jurisdiction, including 
underground natural gas storage facilities and liquefied natural gas facilities.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection o f human health or safety; Protection of the environment  G/TBT/N/USA/1997  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
88 Federal Register (FR) 31890, 18 May 2023; Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Parts 191, 192, and 193:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-18/html/2023 -09918.htm  
https://www.govin fo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-18/pdf/2023 -09918.pdf  
This notice of proposed rulemaking is identified by Docket Number PHMSA -2021-0039. 
The Docket Folder is available from Regulations.gov at 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA -2021-0039/document  and provides access 
to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also 
accessible from Regulations.gov  by se arching the Docket Number. WTO Members and 
their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point  by or 
before 4pm Eastern Time  on 17 July 2023. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry 
Point from WTO Members and their sta keholders will be shared with the regulator and will 
also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov if received within the comment 
period.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  17 July 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_09733_00_e.pdf