Pipeline Safety Regulations

Contents

• Federal Agencies and Regulations
• Washington State Regulations
• Regulations in Other States
• Regulation in Canada

Federal Agencies and Regulations

For an overview, see Chart showing Federal and State Current Enforcement Responsibilities - Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

• PL 107-355 - Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, HR 3609 (110 KB)
• Federal Pipeline Safety Act (49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) Subtitle VIII Pipelines - Cornell Legal Information Institute
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
• Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) - U.S. Department of Transportation
  • OPS Stakeholder Communications (Choose Local Officials Tab)
  • OPS Regulations and Rulemaking
  • Pipeline Integrity Management
• Pipeline and Hazardous Material - National Transportation and Safety Board
• Partnership for Excellence in Pipeline Safety - Partnership of National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) with the US Department of Transportation's  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)  

Washington State Regulations

For overview see Chart showing Federal and State Current Enforcement Responsibilities - Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

• OPS Stakeholder Communications: Washington - Overview of Pipeline Information for Washington State
• Washington Pipeline Safety Act, Ch. 81.88 RCW, (Ch.191 Laws of 2000(ESSHB 2420)) ( 50 KB)
• Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Pipeline Safety
• Interstate Pipeline Transportation Agreements ( 5.32 MB) between the Department of Transportation (DOT), Research and Special Programs Administrator and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Re: Gas Pipeline Safety Program and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program, June 9, 2000.
  • Gas Safety Rule Review (Ch. 480-93 WAC) Information
• Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) regulates the following intrastate pipelines:
  (1) natural gas, synthetic fuel gas or liquefied petroleum gas pipelines larger than 14 inches in diameter and greater than 15 miles in length; and (2) crude or refined petroleum or liquid petroleum product pipelines larger than 6 inches in diameter and 15 miles in length.
• Fuel Accident Prevention and Response Team -  Task Force was appointed by Governor Locke after the Bellingham explosion to evaluate Washington state's current status and make recommendations if shortcomings were revealed via Washington Digital Archives
• Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response - Department of Ecology
• Washington Utilities Coordinating Council
• One-Call Underground Utility Locator Legislation
• Chapter 19.122 RCW - Underground Utilities - One number locator system,
• One-Call Map
• Washington Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety
  • Report of the Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety ( 69 KB), July 26, 2002

Regulations in Other States

See Office of Pipeline Safety Stakeholder Communications page. Select a state to view in lower left corner of OPS page.

Regulations in Canada

• National Energy Board (NEB) is responsible for pipeline safety in Canada. While Canadian laws are different from those of the United States, the NEB's Web site contains useful educational information for persons researching pipeline safety issues.
  • National Energy Board Safety and Environment
• British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission
• Oil and Gas - British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources