Pipeline safety rules now use the latest industry standards, closing a loophole from old lawsuits

The US pipeline safety agency updated its rules to include the newest version of an industry safety standard. This means pipeline operators must now follow the most current best practices for managing pipeline risks, even if older versions of the rules were tied up in court.

For years, some pipeline safety rules were stuck using outdated technical standards because of ongoing lawsuits. This meant companies could legally operate under less stringent requirements. The update forces all operators to adopt the latest safety engineering, which could reduce the chance of leaks and failures.