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FERC*
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the regulatory agency that oversees the U.S. interstate natural gas pipeline industry. It does so under the authority of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act and the Energy Policy Act (EPAct).
The commission regulates both the construction of interstate natural gas pipelines and transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce. Companies wishing to build interstate pipeline facilities or operate pipelines first must obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from FERC. This is done to assure that pipeline facilities benefit consumers, are compatible with the environment and minimize interference with the public and landowners along pipeline rights-of-way.
In regulating the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, the commission sets rates, terms and conditions for operation of interstate gas pipeline facilities.
The FERC itself is a five-member commission, each of whom is nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
*Source for diagram and above narrative: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Office of Pipeline Safety*
The federal government establishes minimum pipeline safety standards under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49 "Transportation," Parts 190-199. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), has overall regulatory responsibility for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines under its jurisdiction in the United States.
OPS is headquartered in Washington, DC, and supported through five regional offices located in Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta and Washington, DC. OPS Regional Directors, Pipeline Inspectors, State Liaisons and Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) managers operate from each of the five OPS regional offices.
CATS managers are available to assist the public, the media and state or local officials with inquiries concerning pipeline safety-related issues.
OPS inspects, regulates and enforces interstate gas pipeline safety requirements in Florida. OPS also inspects, regulates and enforces both intra- and interstate liquid pipeline safety requirements in Florida.
Through certification by OPS, the state of Florida regulates, inspects and enforces intrastate gas pipeline and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) safety requirements. This work is performed by the Florida Public Service Commission and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, respectively.
Contact information pertaining to pipelines in Florida:
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Bureau of LP Gas Inspection
3125 Conner Blvd., Suite N
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
Bureau Chief: Vicki O'Neil
Phone: 850-921-8001
E-mail: oneilv@doacs.state.fl.us
Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0868
Bureau Chief: C. Edward Mills
Phone: 850-413-6650
E-mail: Emills@PSC.State.FL.US
Office of Pipeline Safety -- Southern Region Office
233 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-832-1147
Director: Linda Daugherty
CATS manager: Michael J. Khayata
Direct: 404-832-1155
E-mail: michael.khayata@dot.gov
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
Administrator: Vacant
Acting Assistant Administrator/Chief Safety Officer: Stacey Gerard
Media Contact: Patricia Klinger, Director, External Communications
Direct: 202-366-6374 or 202-366-4831 (main)
Pager: 877-990-1196
E-mail: Patricia.Klinger@dot.gov
*Source: Office of Pipeline Safety
Oil Pipelines*
Regulation
Regulation falls into two basic categories. Regulations that help the industry ensure the safety of communities and the environment and regulation of transportation charges. In addition, the industry has established or participates in a number of engineering and scientific committees that help set widely accepted technical standards for construction and operation of pipelines.
Safety and the Environment
The safe operation of oil pipelines is assured by extensive federal and state regulation. The primary jurisdiction is that of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety. Offshore pipelines are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service. Pipeline operations are also subject to regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency; the Occupation Safety and Health Administration; the U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and various state public service or public utility commissions and other state agencies. The National Transportation Board investigates pipeline accidents and makes recommendations for improvements in operations.
Technical Standards
The first technical standards applied to the pipeline industry were the pressure piping building codes that were established in the early part of the 20th Century and were well in place by the Twenties.
By 1955, building on the earlier codes, the first edition of technical standard B31.4, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Hyrocarbons was published. The code sets requirements for safe design, construction, inspection, testing, operation and maintenance of liquid pipeline systems. It has been evolved and upgraded constantly since it was first published and today is maintained by a committee of engineers and other technical experts who are overseen by the American National Standards Institute. The Office of Pipeline Safety and the National Transportation Safety Board serve as members of the B31.4 committee.
In addition to this core technical document, the industry adheres to a number of other standards that apply to all phases of pipeline safety:
- Tank operation and construction (15 standards maintained by a committee operated by API, the American Petroleum Institute);
- Underground storage caverns (2 API standards);
- Manufacture of line pipe (4 API standards);
- Cathodic protection against corrosion (8 NACE standards and guides);
- Welding (15 AWS and 1 API standards);
- Pipeline awareness (2 API standards);
- Pipeline integrity (API Recommended Practice 1129, Assurance of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline System Integrity);
- Pipeline Wall Thickness (API Standard B31.4)
*Source: Association of Oil Pipelines
LINKS
Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL)
American Petroleum Institute (API)
National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)
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