The Effectiveness of the Federal Pipeline Safety Program

Gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States total about 1.7 million miles and transport more than half of the Nation's energy supply. The Office of Pipeline Safety Operations, an element of the Materials Transportation Bureau within the Department of Transportation, is responsible for developing and administering a comprehensive and effective pipeline safety program. The regulations issued by the Pipeline Safety Office do not cover all pipeline facilities and, in some cases, are not effective for ensuring the public safety. Although several serious accidents have occurred in recent years involving intrastate liquid pipelines and gas gathering lines in rural areas, safety regulations governing these pipelines have not been issued. Regulations governing liquid pipelines are generally less comprehensive and exacting than gas regulations and, as a result, do not offer the same degree of protection from potential hazards. Guidance given to Federal Pipeline field staff does not provide specific criteria on what constitutes an adequate inspection, and guidance on how to allocate staff resources needs revision. Factors limiting the Federal Pipeline office's ability to enforce its safety program include: a small field staff, lack of positive guidance in preparing noncompliance cases, lack of civil penalty authority against liquid pipeline operations, the unique problems of small operators, and the general impreciseness of safety regulations.