PHMSA confirms 2027 effective date for updated pipeline corrosion standardAnalysis

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will require natural gas pipeline operators to use the 2016 edition of a corrosion-inspection standard, NACE SP0206, starting January 1, 2027. The Pipeline Safety Trust (PST) argued that a broken link in PHMSA's rulemaking notice counted as a legal objection sufficient to block the rule. PHMSA disagreed, and the rule will take effect as scheduled.

What the rule changes

The direct final rule incorporates the 2016 edition of NACE SP0206, "Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment Methodology for Pipelines Carrying Normally Dry Natural Gas," into 49 CFR part 192. It replaces the current references in §§ 192.923 and 192.927 to the 2006 edition of the same standard. PHMSA published the original direct final rule on April 24, 2026, in the Federal Register, and said at the time the rule would take effect January 1, 2027 if it received no adverse comments.

The objection PHMSA rejected

PST told PHMSA that the 2016 edition of NACE SP0206 was not available at the website the agency listed in its notice, and that the notice did not spell out PHMSA's standards library email address the way other similar rules do. PST argued that its comment met the legal definition of an adverse comment and that the rule should be withdrawn, while saying it still supported adopting the 2016 edition.

PHMSA disagreed. Under its procedures at 49 CFR 190.339(c), an adverse comment must explain why a rule is inappropriate, challenge its underlying approach, or show it would be ineffective or unacceptable without a change; frivolous or insubstantial comments do not count. PHMSA said PST had not shown that anyone suffered real harm from the incorrect website link.

How PST got the standard anyway

The original notice gave several ways to obtain the 2016 edition consistent with 49 U.S.C. 60102(p), including a PHMSA Standards Incorporated by Reference web page and an email address, phmsaphpstandards@dot.gov. PST used that email during the comment period and received a working link to the standard at no charge. PHMSA also pointed to 49 CFR 192.7, which separately lists the agency's contact information for requesting industry standards, as another avenue open to the public.

PHMSA concluded that PST's comment did not meet the adversity standard in § 190.339 and confirmed the rule will take effect January 1, 2027. The notice was issued by PHMSA Chief Counsel Keith J. Coyle.