Pipeline companies might get to skip some safety tests on old gas lines

US pipeline regulators are clarifying rules about how gas transmission lines prove their maximum operating pressure. This change could make it easier for companies to reconfirm safety without performing new tests.

For years, pipeline operators have had to reconfirm the safe operating pressure of older gas lines, often requiring new tests. This proposed rule could allow them to use existing records instead, potentially saving time and money. It shifts the burden of proof from new data to historical documentation, which may or may not reflect current conditions.