Federal Agencies

Office of Pipeline Safety
http://ops.dot.gov

Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration, the OPS is the chief federal regulatory agency for both natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Under provisions spelled out by the Pipeline Safety Act, it develops and enforces safety and environmental standards for interstate and intrastate pipelines, carries out research and gathers data, inspects pipeline operators and investigates accidents and unsafe conditions, and works with state pipeline safety agencies under agreements.

Joint Pipeline Office

http://www.jpo.doi.gov/index.htm

This agency regulates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, North Slope and other pipelines in Alaska, involving six federal and seven state agencies that share staff and other resources. The Federal Bureau of Land Management and Alaska's Department of Natural Resources/State Pipeline Coordinator's Office are the lead agencies, and the OPS has an important role.

Minerals Management Service

http://www.mms.gov/offshore/

Part of the Department of Interior, its chief function is to manage the offshore production of natural gas and crude oil — from administering leases for drilling sites and collecting royalties to conducting research. It also regulates safety and environmental aspects of offshore production, including pipelines, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Under an agreement with the OPS, the MMS regulates production well pipelines until they reach transmission pipelines, which are regulated by OPS.

National Transportation Safety Board

http://www.ntsb.gov/

This independent agency investigates major pipeline accidents and safety conditions and issues findings and recommendations for other federal and state agencies and industry. Although it has no enforcement or regulatory authority, other agencies give NTSB findings and recommendations great weight in their regulatory decisions in all areas of transportation safety. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires OPS to respond to NTSB recommendations with 90 days and to report annually about these responses.

Environment and Natural Resources Division

Department of Justice

www.usdoj.gov

The Department of Justice emerged in recent years as an important enforcer of pipeline safety regulations by prosecuting noteworthy civil and criminal cases against operators violating the Clean Water Act and other federal laws. On behalf of such agencies as the Environmental Protection Agency, it succeeded in imposing record-high civil and criminal penalties on pipeline companies found guilty of serious violations.

National Response Center

Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/er/nrs/nrsnrc.htm

Staffed 24 hours a day by U.S. Coast Guard officers and marine science technicians, the NRC receives all reports of oil spills throughout the U.S. requiring federal notification. These include oil pipeline leaks and spills when discovered. The NRC collects available information about the spill and notifies pre-designated one-scene response coordinators. It maintains reports of pipeline and other oil spills in a national database.

Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

www.csb.gov

Begun in 1998, the CSB is an independent, scientific investigative agency that provides an equivalent of the NTSB for the U.S. chemical industry. While its scope of activities includes the broad range of chemical accidents, its Chemical Incidents Report Center page (http://www.csb.gov/circ/) presents useful information on some major oil and natural gas pipeline accidents, as well as accidents at refinery, storage and other facilities related to pipelines.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

www.ferc.gov

This independent agency regulates the interstate transmission and sale of natural gas, including routing and construction of pipelines, and publishes a landowner guide about new natural gas pipelines. It regulates the rates and practices of interstate oil pipelines, ensuring equal access by shippers, but does not regulate their routing and construction or the price of oil or oil products they transport. Its required annual Form 6 report compiles operating and financial information about regulated natural gas and oil pipeline operators.

National Energy Technology Laboratory

Department of Energy

http://www.netl.doe.gov/

This agency conducts research to advance fossil energy exploration, supply and end use technologies and includes the National Petroleum Technology Office. Besides its own research projects, the NETL partners with industry and other researchers to create commercially viable technical solutions. Some research includes natural gas and oil pipeline reliability and safety issues, such as pipeline corrosion problems. The site includes a searchable database of relevant documents and articles (http://www.netl.doe.gov/newsroom/index.html).

National Petroleum Council
www.npc.org

Reporting to the Secretary of Energy, this advisory council of representatives of the oil and gas industry and associated interests conducts studies and makes recommendations, sometimes at the request of the Secretary. It deals with every aspect of the oil and gas industry, including pipelines. Although chartered by the Secretary of Energy, it is privately funded.

Energy Information Administration
www.eia.doe.gov

This agency in the Department of Energy provides forecasts, research and information about domestic and international energy topics, including pipeline systems, capacities, construction and economics.

Pipeline Industry

Association of Oil Pipelines
www.aopl.org

This association represents common carrier crude oil and refined products pipeline companies before Congress, regulatory agencies and the courts. It conducts research, provides information, and publishes reports on oil pipeline issues ranging from safety practices to volumes transported by various modes.

American Petroleum Institute
www.api.org

This association represents member companies in all aspects of the oil and natural gas industry before the federal government (and state governments through its state affiliates). Its pipeline segment lobbies for the oil pipeline industry, helps develop industry standards, and conducts applied research. It also holds the API Annual Pipeline Conference, usually every April. Jointly with the AOPL, it also publishes the online primer, "Pipeline 101" (http://www.pipeline101.com/aboutus.html), as part of its public relations program.

Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
www.ingaa.org

This association represents virtually all interstate natural gas pipeline companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It helps develop industry standards and provides information to policy makers and the public. The INGAA Foundation conducts studies and projects on safety and other regulatory issues.

American Gas Association
www.aga.org

This association represents member local natural gas utility companies, as well as pipeline, marketer, and international gas companies. It gathers information and issues reports to policy makers and the public about the industry, and promotes the growth in demand for natural gas.

Gas Technology Institute

www.gri.org

This industry organization provides research and development programs, technical services, technology commercialization, and education and training for the natural gas companies that fund it. Pipeline safety and technology is part of its scope.

Pipeline Research Council International

http://www.prci.com/

This industry organization conducts collaborate technology development for the natural gas and oil transmission pipeline industry. Funding comes from corporate members and the Gas Technology Institute. Six subject matter technical committees manage the technology programs and the individual projects that comprise them.

CONCAWE

http://www.concawe.be/index.html

This European oil industry organization emphasizes environmental, health, and safety issues. Its technical and economic studies about oil refining, distribution and marketing in Europe, including pipelines, are available at no cost on this site, as are issues of its semiannual journal.


Other Organizations

American National Standards Institute

www.ansi.org

ANSI is a private, nonprofit organization (but primarily industry-funded) that develops and administers voluntary consensus standards in a broad range of industries, including pipelines. Its membership includes corporations, industry organizations, government agencies, and institutions, and is affiliated of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Industry-developed standards are often incorporated by reference in pipeline safety regulations, thus effectively becoming government regulations. For example, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Welding Society (AWS) are accredited standards developers.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers International

www.asme.org

ASME is a primarily industry-funded international educational and technical organization that develops and publishes many industrial and manufacturing standards, including those for pipelines, often incorporated by reference in federal pipeline safety regulations. It recently established the Pipeline Systems Subdivision to bring together members involved in pipeline technology. ASME also holds an annual International Pipeline Conference to present and consider technical issues.

Common Ground Alliance

www.commongroundalliance.com

This primarily industry-funded organization works with OPS to identify and implement effective measures to protect natural gas and oil pipelines and other underground infrastructure from damage by excavation activity. These measures include research, public education campaigns, information clearinghouse, development of best practices.

National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives

http://www.napsr.org/who_we_are.htm

This organization represents the interests of state pipeline safety agencies that work with OPS in developing and enforcing regulations. It reviews inspection and enforcement procedures, reviews the need for changes in regulations, conducts training, and maintains relationships with industry and the federal government.

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

www.naruc.org

This represents all state agencies regulating telecommunications, energy and water utilities and carriers, including state agencies that help OPS enforce interstate and intrastate pipeline safety regulations. NARUC thus has an important role in shaping federal pipeline safety legislation and administrative rulemaking. It also operates the National Regulatory Research Institute, which includes research and reports on pipeline safety issues.

 

 


Pipeline Periodicals

Oil & Gas Journal
www.ogj.com

The most comprehensive trade magazine about the oil and natural gas industry, this weekly ranges from political and business news affecting the industry to papers on oil and gas technology by professionals. It extensively covers most aspects of the pipeline industry, although rarely accidents. Most noteworthy is its annual report, "Pipeline Economics," usually in a September issue, which provides details about revenues and earnings of all regulated oil and natural gas pipeline companies in the previous calendar year. Its web site provides free access only to articles in the most current issue, plus recent articles from the PR Newswire.

Pipeline & Gas Journal
http://www.undergroundinfo.com/PGJ/pgj_home.html

Published since 1999, this monthly print and online trade magazine covers technical, business and regulatory topics in the pipeline industry. Its web site provides free access to much of its content, including that in past issues.

Energy Pipeline News

http://www.anvilpub.com/pipeline.htm

This online monthly newsletter provides timely, brief articles on business, regulatory and safety issues in the oil and natural gas pipeline industry. Published since 1999, it is available free to email subscribers.

Underground Focus Magazine

http://www.underspace.com/uf/index.htm

This bi-monthly trade magazine covers accidents and accident prevention topics for underground utilities industries, including oil and natural gas pipelines. Its web site provides free access to pipeline or other accident briefs, arranged by date or by state, and article titles (but not full text).

Pipeline & Gas Industry
www.pipe-line.com

Although it discontinued publication in December 2001, many of its articles are still available on its web site free of charge. It covered technical and regulatory issues extensively.

 

 


Pipeline Reform Advocacy Organizations

U.S. Public Interest Research Group

http://www.uspirg.org/

This membership organization is active nationally and in 27 state PIRGs on a broad range of environmental, consumer, educational and political reform issues. U.S. PIRG was a key organization in lobbying for reforms in the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, and several state PIRGs have highlighted pipeline safety reform issues, such as Washington PIRG (www.washpirg.org), New Mexico PIRG (www.nmpirg.org), and Ohio PIRG (www.ohiopirg.org).

Natural Resources Defense Council

www.nrdc.org

This membership organization is a strong advocate for improved protection of the environment and also was a key organization in lobbying for reforms in the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. It pursues this goal through research, advocacy, litigation and public education.

Safe Bellingham
www.safebellingham.org

This community organization formed after an Olympic gasoline pipeline exploded in Bellingham WA in 1999, killing three children. It has succeeded in persuading state officials to strengthen Washington's pipeline safety program and helped win passage by the U.S. Congress of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002.

Danielle Dawn Smalley Foundation
http://64.226.100.73/default.asp

Founded in Crandall, TX in 2001, its purpose is to provide financial aid to victims of pipeline accidents (and their families) and to describe the causes of those accidents. It will also help educate people living or working near pipelines of potential dangers, work with regulatory and emergency response organizations, and publicize the location and contents of high-pressure pipelines.

Alyeska Group of Six

www.alaskagroupsix.org

This organization publishes news and anonymous information about safety and environmental hazards on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline system and the proposed exploration and development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Citizens for Safe Pipelines

http://www.lasplacitas.org/pipeline.html#anchor553957

This non-profit New Mexico organization seeks to protect the environment, property and public safety from releases from hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines through education, technical assistance, litigation and advocacy.

Cook Inlet Keeper

www.inletkeeper.org

Dedicated to protecting the Cook Inlet watershed, an area the size of Virginia, it pays close attention to the area's complex of crude oil and natural gas pipelines. It issued a 2002 report about extensive spills by and lax regulation of these pipelines. It is part of the National Keeper Alliance

Georgia Strait Crossing Concerned Citizens Coalition

http://www.sqwalk.com/GSXCCC_Intro.htm

Organized to oppose a natural gas pipeline from Sumas WA to Vancouver Island BC, this group maintains a web site with extensive information about pipeline safety and environmental issues.

PipelineAction.Org — Longhorn Pipeline

www.pipelineaction.org

Based in Austin TX, this organization's web site provides extensive information opposing the proposed Longhorn Pipeline, a refined product pipeline from Houston to El Paso.

Stop the Ohio Pipeline (STOP)

http://www.stoppipeline.org

This community organization's web site describes its opposition to a proposed Marathon Ashland Petroleum refined products pipeline (Ohio River Pipe Line) from its Kentucky refinery through southeastern Ohio to Columbus.

Friends of Parrett Mountain

http://www.friendsofparrettmountain.org/index.htm

This community organization opposes routing a proposed Northwest Natural Gas Co. transmission pipeline near Portland OR.

Floyd County Chapter of the Blue Ridge Coalition

http://www.floydart.com/brc/#issues

This Virginia community organization opposes the proposed Greenbriar natural gas pipeline project through West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.

Connecticut Stop the Pipeline

http://www.ctstopthepipeline.com/

Based in Branford CT, near New Haven, this community organization opposes the proposed Islander East natural gas pipeline from North Haven across Long Island Sound to supply potential customers in eastern Long Island.

 


Other Sources

DOTPipeline.org

www.dotpipeline.org

Maintained by Regulatory Compliance Partners, Inc., a consulting firm for pipeline companies, this site provides links to relevant sites, a searchable database of federal pipeline safety regulations, and a monthly newsletter on pipeline regulatory developments.

Pipeline Safety Information for Local Governments

http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/PubSafe/pipesafety.aspx

Although intended for local governments in Washington State, this site maintained by its Municipal Research & Services Center combines in one place much useful information applicable to most communities. It includes links to federal and state regulations, local government regulations and model ordinances, and key publications.

ViaData LP

http://www.viadata.com/viadata_library.htm

A software publishing firm, it provides this on-line library of basic documents about pipeline safety, including OPS and MMS regulations, Federal Register searches, The Pipeline Safety Encyclopedia, industry standards, written interpretations, manuals, "rapid update service," and other standards and technical information.

 

 

 
 

 

Copyright © 2002 Pipeline Safety Foundation