Pipeline Safety Topics

Natural gas and petroleum products supply nearly two-thirds (66%) of America's energy demand. Pipelines are the method of choice for transporting these products and exceed 2.5 million miles in aggregate length.

Considerations

• Materials conveyed by pipeline are mostly hazardous and pose threats to the public's health and safety if not properly handled. Pipeline safety strategies are designed to protect the public without disrupting the economy.

Regulation

• The Office of Pipeline Safety, (OPS) "... is the primary federal regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of America's energy pipelines." The OPS addresses issues of risk management, training, communication and enforcement.

Partners

• The OPS encourages collaboration with "pipeline safety stakeholders," which include emergency response personnel, heavy equipment operators, state and local administrators, and the general public.

Issues

• Nine sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) address pipeline safety issues directly. Part 199 of 49 CFR outlines standards for establishing drug and alcohol detection and testing programs at the employer level. Part 194 establishes oil spill response procedures, while part 193 "...addresses safety standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities."

Prevention

• Because most energy pipelines are buried underground, excavators and heavy equipment operators are required to contact the proper state authorities 48-72 hours before any digging begins.

  Operators are also required to post brightly-colored markers to identify the presence of "rights of way" areas. These underground areas allow pipeline companies to perform necessary maintenance and repair functions and to monitor trespassing.