Pipeline Safety Regulations

Who Regulates What?

Determining who regulates what when it comes to hazardous liquids and gas pipeline safety in the United States is very confusing.  A basic rule is that these pipelines are categorized by what they transport or store (e.g., hazardous liquids, gas, etc.) and where they go (e.g., interstate, intrastate, international, residence, commercial, export, onshore, offshore, etc.). Certain aspects of siting, construction, and safety are regulated by different federal and state agencies under various regulatory authorities. Click on the agency or programs listed below to find out more about their specific role(s) in siting, construction, and safety.

Who Oversees Pipeline Siting & Construction, including Environmental Review?

Federal Energy Regulatory Agency (FERC) Reviews applications for construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines, authorizes the siting and construction of onshore and near-shore LNG import or export facilities, issues certificates of public convenience and necessity for LNG facilities engaged in interstate natural gas transportation by pipeline, and authorizes natural gas companies to provide storage and storage-related services at market-based rates for new storage capacity. Prepares National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental impact assessments/statements for all projects. FERC has no jurisdiction over siting and construction of intrastate gas or hazardous liquids pipelines, and no direct jurisdiction over pipeline safety or security.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Division of Natural Gas Regulation Reviews and authorizes import/export of natural gas, including LNG, CNG, CGL, etc. from and/or to a foreign country.

US Department of Transportation (US DOT), Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) Reviews and participates in LNG Facility Siting and conducts inspections and oversight of Pipeline Construction.

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Reviews applications for construction and operation that occur in the Nation’s waters, including wetlands, this includes: Oil and Gas Structures on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) through Nationwide Permit 8, Linear Transportation Projects through Nationwide Permit 14, and Utility Line Activities through Nationwide Permit 12

National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) U.S. States have little to no direct role in interstate gas pipeline siting or construction. Some States are involved in siting and construction of intrastate gas pipelines and both interstate and intrastate hazardous liquids pipelines through environmental and engineering reviews and oversight authorities.

Who Oversees Pipeline Safety, including Environmental and Occupational Safety & Health?

U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT), Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) Most interstate pipeline inspectors are federal government employees focusing upon 12% of the gas infrastructure in the country.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oil and Gas Extraction Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Voluntary Methane Programs for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry, Oil Spills Prevention and Preparedness Program

U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oil and Gas Program

State Occupational Health and Safety Programs California, Alaska, Utah

National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) Pipeline safety in Alaska and Hawaii is completely overseen by OPS. In the other states and territories NAPSR members (as of 2013) had direct safety authority over more than 96% of regulated intrastate gas systems and 32% of hazardous liquid systems (including carbon dioxide pipelines). States monitor 88% of the interstate gas infrastructure in the U.S., and approximately 20.5% of underground natural gas storage under PHMSA’s safety authority.


Under What Legal Authorities Is Pipeline Safety Regulated?

U.S. Federal Regulations – Five statutes provide the framework for the Federal pipeline safety program:

  1. Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968
  2. Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979
  3. Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006
  4. Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011
  5. Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) ensures safety in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and spill response planning of America’s 2.6 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid transportation pipelines and related infrastructure, including LNG. They do this through the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49, specifically Parts 100-199. Below you will find a table to the 49 CFR Parts that specifically pertain to the regulation, monitoring, enforcement, construction, operation, emergency response, and overall safety of hazardous liquids and gas pipeline infrastructure. Click on the Number in the first column of the table to see the full text of that Part.

Note that Parts 190, 191, 192, and 195 were revised and published on September 30, 2019. They will become effective on July 1, 2020. On that date, the links below will be updated.

Part Title
130Oil Spill Prevention and Response Plans
172Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions, Hazardous Material Communications, Emergency Response Information, Training Requirements, Security Plans
190Pipeline Safety Enforcement and Regulatory Procedures
192Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum
Federal Safety Standards
193Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards
194Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines
195Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline
196Protection of Underground Pipelines from Excavation Activity
198Regulations for Grants to Aid State Pipeline Safety Programs
199Drug and Alcohol Testing

State Pipeline Safety Regulations

Not every State or U.S. Territory has jurisdiction over pipeline safety. This drop-down list of pipeline types lists which States DO HAVE jurisdiction.

Interstate Gas Pipelines

Arizona: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Arizona Corporate Commission

Connecticut: PUC

Iowa: Safety and Engineering Section, Iowa Utilities Board

Michigan: Gas Safety Office, PUC

Minnesota: Office of Pipeline Safety, State Fire Marshal Division, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

New York: Office of Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service

Ohio: Gas Pipeline Safety Section, PUC

Washington: Washington and Transportation Commission

West Virginia: PSC

Intrastate Gas Pipelines

Alabama: Gas Pipeline Safety Section, PUC

Arizona: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Arizona Corporate Commission

Arkansas: Pipeline Safety Section, PSC

California: California Office of the State Fire Marshal

Colorado: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Connecticut: PUC

Delaware: PSC

Florida: PUC

Georgia: Pipeline Safety Office, PUC

Idaho: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Illinois: Pipeline Safety Division, Illinois Commerce Commission

Indiana: Pipeline Safety Division, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

Iowa: Safety and Engineering Section, Iowa Utilities Board

Kansas: Pipeline Safety Division, Kansas Commerce Commission

Kentucky: Gas Branch, PUC

Louisiana: Office of Conservation, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Maine: Gas Safety Division, PUC

Maryland: Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Massachusetts: Pipeline Engineering/Safety Division, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy

Michigan: Gas Safety Office, PUC

Minnesota: Office of Pipeline Safety, State Fire Marshal Division, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Mississippi: PUC

Missouri: Gas Safety and Engineering Division, PUC

Montana: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Nebraska: Deputy State Fire Marshals, Fuels Division, Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office

Nevada: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

New Hampshire: Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

New Jersey: Bureau of Pipeline Safety, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

New Mexico: Pipeline Safety Bureau, Transportation Division, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

New York: Office of Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service

North Carolina: Pipeline Safety Section, North Carolina Utility Commission

North Dakota: Testing and Safety Division, PSC

Ohio: Gas Pipeline Safety Section, PUC

Oklahoma: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Oregon: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Pennsylvania: Gas Safety Division, Bureau of Transportation and Safety, PUC

Puerto Rico: PSC

Rhode Island: Gas Safety Division, PUC

South Carolina: Pipeline Safety Office, PUC

South Dakota: Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Tennessee: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, Tennessee Regulatory Authority

Texas: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Texas Railroad Commission

Utah: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Vermont: Director of Engineering, Vermont Department of Public Service

Virginia: Division of Utility and Railroad Safety, Virginia State Corporation Commission

Washington: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

West Virginia: PSC

Wisconsin: Pipeline Safety Program, Natural Gas Division, PSC

Wyoming: Gas Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

District of Columbia: PUC

Interstate Hazardous Liquids

Arizona: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Arizona Corporate Commission

California: California Office of the State Fire Marshal

Minnesota: Office of Pipeline Safety, State Fire Marshal Division, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

New York: Office of Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service

Virginia: Division of Utility and Railroad Safety, Virginia State Corporation Commission

Washington: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Intrastate Hazardous Liquids

Alabama: Gas Pipeline Safety Section, PUC

Arizona: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Arizona Corporate Commission

California: California Office of the State Fire Marshal

Kentucky: Gas Branch, PUC (Agreement)

Louisiana: Office of Conservation, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Maryland: Pipeline Safety Division, PUC

Minnesota: Office of Pipeline Safety, State Fire Marshal Division, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Mississippi: PUC

New Mexico: Pipeline Safety Bureau, Transportation Division, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (Agreement)

New York: Office of Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service

Oklahoma: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Oklahoma Corporation Commission

South Carolina: Pipeline Safety Office, PUC (Agreement)

Texas: Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division, Texas Railroad Commission

Virginia: Division of Utility and Railroad Safety, Virginia State Corporation Commission

Washington: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

West Virginia: PSC

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