November 2021

Time For Change, LLC. President nominated and approved as a pipeline automated valve study committee member by the National Academies

[Houston, TX]—November 2, 2021—Time For Change, LLC., a consultancy specializing in pipeline integrity engineering services, is proud to announce member approval for participation on the Committee on Criteria for Installing Automatic and Remote-Controlled Shutoff Valves on Existing Gas and Hazardous Liquid Transmission Pipeline by the National Academies.

Mrs. Cassandra K. Moody, P.E., president and founder of Time For Change, LLC. stated she “is excited to have the opportunity to contribute to this high-quality effort.” Mrs. Moody strongly believes “intentional studies comprising broad perspectives greatly supplement the practicality of implementing pipeline safety regulations.”

The National Academies high standard of committee selection implemented by the National Academy of Science (NAS) includes a meticulous vetting process. First, consideration of committee composition as a whole to be technically broad and diverse was foundational to gathering committee member nominations. Subsequently, the committee candidates’ backgrounds and expertise were reviewed as part of the committee selection process.  Additionally, each committee member nominee was investigated for potential conflicts of interest painstakingly by the National Academy of Science project officers and staff.

Automated Valve Study

The study will focus on current and potential methodologies and standards, including the regulatory criteria, for deciding when automated valves should be installed on transmission pipelines.  The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is the division within the National Academes of Science  championing the study. The mission of the TRB is to provide leadership in research, committees, and studies for transportation improvements and innovation.

The valve study committee, sponsored by the federal agency of Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), will investigate the need for installation of automatic valves on federally regulated gas and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines in support of the United States’ congress directive on Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 signed into law on December 27, 2020. The proposed pipeline safety regulation applicable to both gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines related to the valve study is identified by docket number PHMSA-2013-0255.

About Time For Change, LLC.:

Time For Change, LLC. is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm founded in 2019 and lead by Principal Engineer, Mrs. Cassandra K. Moody, P.E. The Houston based engineering consultancy, delivers solutions in the pipeline sector for integrity management programs, change management during improvement and implementation initiatives, training, and regulatory compliance. Before establishing her consultancy firm, Mrs. Moody led teams and managed projects as a pipeline operations engineer for Hilcorp Energy Company, a midsize North American pipeline operator. Her experience with automated remote valves comprises environmental impact and hydraulic modeling, engineering design, threat and risk analysis, retrofit or optimization evaluations, associated cost-benefit analysis, and operability considerations for onshore and coastal liquid pipeline systems. In addition, she has performed operations analysis of new and existing natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline systems and facilities, including analyses for operability optimization, asset reliability, cost consciousness, and regulatory compliance. She was a founding leadership team member of Young Pipeline Professionals, USA (YPP USA), and is active with the Society of Women Engineers–Houston Section (SWE). Mrs. Moody is registered with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors as a Mechanical Engineer. She earned her B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Genetics from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Houston.

About the National Academies:

The National Academies including the disciplines of Science, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world. Their work helps shape sound policies, inform public opinion, and advance the pursuit of science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies study process is committed to providing valuable and credible reports through independent, objective, and nonpartisan advice with high standards of scientific and technical quality.