PHMSA Adds AMPP Corrosion Standards to Federal Pipeline Safety Rules

PHMSA incorporates updated AMPP corrosion standards into federal pipeline safety regulations, signaling a shift toward stricter compliance and alignment with current industry practices.

(P&GJ) — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has incorporated updated corrosion management standards from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) into federal pipeline safety regulations, expanding requirements for operators across gas and liquids systems.

The rulemaking adds revised editions of NACE SP0206 and NACE SP0502 into 49 C.F.R. Parts 192 and 195, aligning federal regulations with current industry practices for managing internal and external corrosion.

The update applies to operators of natural gas, hazardous liquids, carbon dioxide and liquefied natural gas infrastructure, as PHMSA continues to revise and modernize pipeline safety rules.

“Standards are increasingly part of the regulatory framework, not just guidance,” said Tim Gonzalez, vice president of energy integrity solutions at AMPP. He said incorporating updated standards reflects a shift toward clearer expectations for corrosion management programs.

The changes are part of a broader move toward performance-based safety frameworks that rely on industry-developed technical standards to support regulatory oversight.

AMPP said the alignment between updated standards and federal rules is intended to reduce uncertainty for operators while improving consistency in corrosion control practices.

The direct final rules are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, unless adverse comments are received.