THE “WHO AND WHY?”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates workplace safety in facilities, focusing on general industry safety standards (29 CFR 1910) and construction safety standards (29 CFR 1926), specifically addressing all identified hazards associated with the operating process.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulates pipeline safety, encompassing design, construction, operation, maintenance, and spill response planning for both natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.

 DOT Transmission

• Jurisdictional Pipeline
• Non-Jurisdictional Pipeline
• DOT Gathering
• Non-Regulated Gathering

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pipelines and facilities primarily by addressing air emissions, water pollution, and waste management related to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of interstate natural gas pipelines and related facilities, implementing the Clean Air Act (CAA) and other environmental regulations.

• Air
• Land
• Water
• Waste
• Offsite Consequence Analysis

Both federal and state agencies regulate pipelines, with PHMSA of the U.S. DOT setting federal regulations and states assuming intrastate regulatory, inspection, and enforcement responsibilities under an annual certification. State Regulatory Agencies can regulate intrastate gas, hazardous liquid, and CO2 pipelines, enforcing both state and federal pipeline safety regulations, while State Environmental Agencies focus on environmental aspects like air, water, and waste management. 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency within the Department of Energy (DOE) that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects. The five-member commission has the authority to set rates and charges for the transportation and sale of natural gas, the transmission and sale of electricity, the licensing of hydroelectric power, and the transportation of oil by pipeline. In addition, FERC issues licenses and permits for the construction of hydroelectric projects, for the maintenance of facilities at international borders, and for the construction of gas pipelines and facilities. 

The Coast Guard plays a crucial role in oil and gas operations, particularly in response to incidents involving oil and gas releases with US Waterways. Operated by the Coast Guard, the National Response Center (NRC) is the sole government point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological spills and discharges into the environment, anywhere in the US Waterways. They work alongside operators and local authorities to mitigate environmental threats and ensure public safety.