Consulting Services

RCP’s regulatory interpretations and compliance programs are highly respected throughout the industry and at all levels of the federal Pipelines and Hazardous Safety Administration, and applicable state agencies for their regulatory expertise and thoroughness.

Our professional staff has decades of experience in government and industry, and know that regulatory issues can be complex, confusing, and a strain on resources. We not only understand the regulations, standards, and engineering requirements behind the rules, but also the federal and state agencies that write and enforce them.

Jurisdictional Determination

RCP has 20 years of experience in jurisdictional determination for complex upstream, midstream and downstream facilities. We have extensive knowledge of the applicable Federal and State regulations, as well as the Letters of Interpretation that may be applicable to each situation including FAQs, Advisory Bulletins, and Preambles. We can offer clarification of governing regulations in the event of apparent overlapping jurisdiction and specific delineation of regulatory boundaries – pinpointing specific locations of jurisdictional separation.

Acquisition Due Diligence

RCP is a valuable resource when it comes to identifying issues important to the acquisition decision-making process (i.e. “deal-killers”, significant compliance gaps, significant future regulatory liabilities/costs, etc.). RCP will evaluate the pipeline’s operating and maintenance history, its environment, and other factors to identify any unusual risks or liabilities such as problems identified during previous in-line inspections, which have not been corrected.

Audits

RCP has a proven track-record helping clients identify gaps in their compliance programs and conducting mock audits in preparation for integrated federal and state inspections. RCP’s approach to audits and assessments is typically either consultative or enforcement oriented depending upon the client’s needs. The consultative approach provides a gap analysis on existing compliance programs and management practices versus industry standards and regulations. The enforcement approach incorporates a mock audit, which gives clients an idea of how well a facility can manage an agency audit and how likely it would be for an agency inspector to issue a Notice of Violation.

Agency Response Support

RCP provides post-inspection agency response support to help quickly correct any procedural deficiency and help develop improved implementation methods to address agency inspection closure notes or Notice of Amendment letters. If there are post-inspection responses or hearings required, RCP is experienced in guiding companies through the process and preparing effective response strategies to bring outstanding inspection deficiencies to closure.

Expert Witness

RCP’s executives frequently serve as expert witnesses in pipeline litigation cases ranging from small property damage claims to large complex class action lawsuits. Additional types of litigation support include interpretation and detailed reports on regulatory compliance determinations, code compliance, general industry practices, engineering, safety, and risk analyses.

Pipeline Safety Management System

RCP is a leading expert on Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS) and has helped lead the way in conducting industry research for the development and creation of API 1173 public awareness materials and best practices as well as planning, implementation and program effectiveness tools that are being used industry wide. Learn more

Training

RCP offers several public courses throughout the year at our Houston headquarters training facility which includes our popular DOT Gas and Liquid Pipeline Compliance Course, Pressure Testing Workshops and NEW Fundamentals of Transmission Pipeline Operations. RCP also provides on-site training for groups of five or more as well as customized company specific training ranging from half-day refresher courses to intense interaction three-day sessions.

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