Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is a federal agency within the , established in 2004 to regulate the safety of pipelines and the transportation of hazardous materials across all modes. Its primary mission centers on protecting people and the through the advancement of safe practices for products and hazardous substances, overseeing approximately 3.3 million miles of pipelines that carry 64 percent of the nation's energy commodities, alongside 1.2 million daily hazardous materials shipments totaling 1.6 billion tons annually and 16,700 underground facilities. PHMSA develops and enforces federal safety standards, conducts inspections and audits of operators, investigates accidents, and issues civil penalties for violations, with responsibilities divided between pipeline safety—encompassing transmission, distribution, and hazardous liquid lines—and hazardous materials regulations that apply to ground, air, and . Key regulatory achievements include mandating integrity management programs for pipelines, which require operators to assess and mitigate risks in high-consequence areas, contributing to long-term reductions in incident rates as tracked in federal data reports since the 1970s. The agency has faced scrutiny over enforcement adequacy and resource constraints, particularly following major incidents that prompted legislative reforms like the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, though official evaluations highlight progress in state partnership programs and material risk reductions.

Establishment and Evolution

Founding and Legislative Origins

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) was established as an operating administration within the (USDOT) through the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act (Pub. L. 108-426), signed into law by President on November 30, 2004. This legislation reorganized USDOT by abolishing the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and reallocating its responsibilities, specifically merging the RSPA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety with the longstanding Office of Safety (OPS), which had operated under USDOT since its inception in 1968 under the . The creation of PHMSA reflected congressional intent to centralize regulatory oversight for integrity and hazardous materials transportation, addressing fragmented administration that had developed over decades amid growing infrastructure demands and safety incidents, such as failures in the early . PHMSA's operational launch followed shortly after the act's passage, with formal delegations of authority effective February 20, 2005, enabling the agency to assume full regulatory and powers previously divided between entities. The legislative origins trace to earlier statutes laying the groundwork for federal involvement: the of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-481), which first authorized USDOT to regulate interstate and created ; the Hazardous Materials Transportation of 1975 (Pub. L. 93-633), empowering regulation of hazmat shipments; and the Hazardous Liquid of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-129), extending oversight to liquid . These acts had incrementally built federal authority based on evidence of risks from unregulated or poorly maintained , including explosions and leaks documented in congressional hearings, but lacked a dedicated agency until the 2004 reorganization streamlined amid security concerns and energy sector expansion. The Mineta Act's provisions emphasized risk-based regulation and data-driven safety improvements, mandating PHMSA to develop standards grounded in engineering assessments and incident analyses rather than solely prescriptive rules, while preserving state partnerships under certified programs. This structure aimed to mitigate causal factors in accidents—such as corrosion, third-party damage, and excavation errors—identified in prior federal reports, without expanding bureaucracy beyond core safety functions. Initial leadership was appointed in early 2005, with the agency headquartered in Washington, D.C., to oversee approximately 2.6 million miles of pipelines and millions of annual hazmat shipments at inception.

Key Organizational Changes and Expansions

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) underwent nomenclature and technical amendments in early 2005 to reflect its consolidation from predecessor offices within the Research and Special Programs Administration, ensuring regulatory continuity while updating references to the new agency structure. These changes, published in the Federal Register on March 8, 2005, primarily involved substituting "PHMSA" for prior designations in the Code of Federal Regulations without altering substantive authorities or responsibilities. A more substantive internal reorganization took place on January 4, 2021, via Order 1100.74E, aimed at enhancing efficiencies, streamlining operations, and improving program outcomes by realigning functions across the Offices of and Hazardous Materials . In the Office of Hazardous Materials , key shifts included relocating the Cylinder and Energetic Materials Approvals Branch and Special Permits Branch to specialized divisions, eliminating the Approvals and Permits Division, establishing a new Research Branch under the Operations Systems Division, and consolidating field support and registration functions. The Office of saw the elimination of the Outreach and Engagement Division, with community roles transferred to the Operations and Standards Review Division. These adjustments sought to reduce redundancies and bolster technical and enforcement capabilities without expanding overall headcount or statutory mandate. No major structural expansions, such as new regional offices or significant staff increases tied to organizational redesign, have been documented post-2021; instead, changes have emphasized functional optimization amid growing regulatory demands from legislative acts like the , which augmented PHMSA's oversight scope but delegated implementation through existing frameworks.

Organizational Structure and Operations

Office of Pipeline Safety

The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) administers the federal regulatory framework for the safety of the nation's interstate and hazardous liquid pipelines, overseeing approximately 3.4 million miles of that transports resources accounting for 65 percent of U.S. consumption. Established by in 1968 within the to implement initial pipeline safety standards under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, OPS has evolved to enforce comprehensive regulations on , , , , and management while coordinating with state agencies for intrastate oversight. Integrated into PHMSA upon its creation in 2004 via the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, OPS maintains primary responsibility for preventing releases through standards like 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, which specify material , pressure testing, and leak detection requirements. OPS's organizational structure centers on an Associate Administrator—currently serving in an acting capacity—who directs operations through two deputy associate administrators: one for and Programs and one for Field Operations. The and Programs deputy oversees regulatory , such as updates to management protocols and guidelines, alongside and initiatives that disseminate best practices to pipeline operators, state regulators, and communities via programs like public awareness campaigns mandated under 49 CFR Part 192.106. This division also analyzes incident data from the Pipeline Mapping System to identify emerging risks, such as or third-party damage, informing adjustments. Field Operations emphasizes proactive , conducting over 13,000 annually across operator facilities, with authority to civil penalties—totaling $145 million in assessed fines from 2010 to 2020 for violations including inadequate and failure to incidents within required timelines. This includes risk-based targeting of high-consequence areas, emergency response coordination during incidents like the 2010 San Bruno rupture, and administration of drug and alcohol testing under 49 CFR Part 199 to ensure operator qualification and reduce human-error factors in accidents. collaborates with state partners through agreements, delegating routine inspections while retaining federal oversight, and maintains a (202-366-4595) for concerns to facilitate rapid investigations. Overall, these operations prioritize causal risk mitigation, such as through mandatory hydrostatic testing and inline inspection tools, to minimize rupture probabilities empirically linked to aging and external threats.

Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) serves as the federal authority within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for regulating the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air, rail, highway, and water, excluding pipelines. It implements a national program focused on mitigating risks to life, , and the , incorporating measures to address potential threats during transport. OHMS oversees the development and enforcement of standards covering classification, packaging, labeling, handling, and documentation for shipments that include approximately one million daily movements of hazardous materials across these modes. OHMS's core functions are divided between policy development and . The and Programs formulates regulations, such as those in 49 CFR Parts 100-180, which specify requirements for hazardous materials identification, container specifications, and operations; it also directs , , and assistance to , states, and localities to promote . The conducts nationwide inspections, investigations, and actions, including the deployment of specialized teams to high-risk facilities and coordination with regional offices for on-site checks. Key programs include issuing special permits for regulatory deviations when safety is demonstrably maintained, approvals for innovative or processes, and response guidance to minimize incident impacts. As of September 2025, OHMS operates under an acting Associate Administrator, with deputy roles overseeing policy and field activities; the office maintains regional presence through PHMSA's five field offices to facilitate localized enforcement and support. Enforcement efforts emphasize data-driven targeting, such as prioritizing facilities with prior violations or high-volume shipments, and include civil penalties for non-compliance, with annual reports documenting inspection outcomes and regulatory updates. OHMS collaborates with agencies like the and interagency partners to harmonize standards and address cross-jurisdictional risks.

Leadership and Oversight Mechanisms

The and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) is headed by an appointed by the and confirmed by the . Paul J. Roberti was sworn in as the 10th on September 25, 2025, marking the first Senate-confirmed leader since 2021. The is assisted by a Deputy —Ben Kochman, who previously served as —and a senior executive team that includes the Chief Officer, Chief Counsel, and directors of key offices such as and Hazardous Materials . As a operating administration within the U.S. (DOT), PHMSA reports directly to the Secretary of Transportation, who provides high-level policy direction and accountability for the agency's safety and regulatory functions. is exercised primarily through the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which authorize funding via periodic reauthorizations (such as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Extension Act), conduct hearings on program implementation, and scrutinize enforcement and incident response. For instance, in 2018 testimony, the then-Administrator outlined rulemaking priorities under congressional mandates, emphasizing hazardous liquid and gas transmission safety. PHMSA's internal oversight mechanisms include data-driven , such as inspections tied to recent rulemakings and assessments, managed by the Offices of and Hazardous Materials . The agency also maintains a range of corrective action tools, including civil penalties, corrective action orders, and orders, applied to for violations. Externally, PHMSA oversees safety programs by reimbursing up to 80% of eligible costs, evaluating against standards, and certifying inspectors, covering approximately 20% of underground facilities through 14 participating states as of 2024. The Office of Administration further supports internal governance through workforce planning and succession strategies.

Core Responsibilities and Programs

Pipeline Safety Initiatives

The Office of Pipeline Safety within PHMSA oversees a national regulatory framework for and hazardous pipelines, emphasizing risk-based assessments, operator accountability, and preventive measures to mitigate threats such as , excavation damage, and material defects. Central to these initiatives are integrity management (IM) programs, which mandate operators to identify high-consequence areas (HCAs)—regions with dense populations or environmentally sensitive locations—and conduct baseline and continual assessments using methods like in-line inspections or pressure testing, followed by threat evaluation and remediation plans. For gas distribution systems, the Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP), finalized in 2011, requires operators to evaluate risks across their networks and implement performance measures to address aging and third-party damage, building on prior records while adapting to site-specific conditions. Enforcement initiatives prioritize data-driven inspections, with PHMSA announcing targeted priorities on July 22, 2025, focusing on incident-prone segments, compliance in HCAs, control room management, leak detection systems, and damage prevention protocols. These include verifying (MAOP) through and testing, installing rupture-mitigation valves on new or replaced lines, and ensuring accurate material property documentation to prevent failures from outdated assumptions. Recent "Mega Rules," such as the updates to gas transmission regulations, expanded IM requirements to moderate-consequence areas, enhanced , and mandated assessments for pipelines lacking traceable , aiming to address gaps exposed by incidents like the 2010 San Bruno rupture. Grant programs support state-level implementation, allocating funds for damage prevention through one-call notification systems and technology development; for instance, $86 million was awarded on September 4, 2025, enabling states to inspect over 85,000 miles of pipelines. PHMSA also fosters advisory committees, including the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) and Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), to solicit industry and stakeholder input on rulemaking, ensuring regulations reflect operational realities while prioritizing empirical risk reduction. Education and outreach efforts, coordinated with states and the Common Ground Alliance, promote public awareness campaigns and operator training to reduce excavation-related incidents, which account for a significant portion of reported damages.

Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations

The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), codified in 49 CFR Parts 171 through 180, establish requirements for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce by all modes, including highway, rail, air, and water, excluding certain exemptions such as small quantities or specific government operations. PHMSA, under the authority of the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law (49 U.S.C. §§ 5101–5128), develops these regulations to minimize risks to health, safety, property, and the environment from the release of hazardous materials during transport. The HMR apply to offerors (shippers), carriers, and manufacturers of packaging, mandating compliance through classification, packaging, documentation, and emergency response planning. Core components of the HMR include hazard classification, which divides materials into nine classes based on primary hazards such as explosives, flammables, corrosives, and radioactive substances, with further subdivisions and packing groups (I, II, III) indicating degree of danger. Packaging specifications require performance-oriented standards tested for drop, stack, and pressure resistance, with approvals for non-standard designs via special permits issued by PHMSA's Approvals and Permits Division. Marking, labeling, and placarding communicate hazards using standardized symbols and UN identification numbers from the Hazardous Materials Table in 49 CFR 172.101, ensuring responders can identify risks without specialized knowledge. Shippers must prepare shipping papers detailing the proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, quantity, and emergency contact information, while carriers verify compliance before acceptance. Training requirements under 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart H mandate general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security training for hazmat employees, refreshed every three years or upon regulatory changes. Security plans address vulnerabilities like unauthorized access, with enhanced measures for high-risk materials such as certain Division 6.1 poisons or Class 7 radioactive materials. The HMR incorporate international harmonization, aligning with the UN Recommendations on the Transport of , International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, and (ICAO) Technical Instructions to facilitate global trade while adapting U.S.-specific provisions. Enforcement involves inspections, civil penalties up to $91,631 per violation (adjusted for as of 2024), and criminal sanctions for knowing violations, with PHMSA coordinating with modal agencies like the . Incident reporting under 49 CFR Part 171 requires immediate notification for releases posing evacuation risks, followed by detailed written reports to track trends and inform rulemakings. Recent updates include proposals in 2025 to reduce recordkeeping burdens for domestic carriers and modernize electronic registration payments, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance safety with regulatory efficiency amid industry feedback on compliance costs. PHMSA continues to evaluate amendments for emerging risks, such as batteries and infectious substances, ensuring regulations evolve based on incident data rather than unsubstantiated advocacy.

Research, Data Collection, and Enforcement

The and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) conducts (R&D) programs aimed at advancing pipeline integrity, hazardous materials risk mitigation, and transportation safety technologies. The agency's Research Program funds projects through mechanisms such as the (SBIR) initiative, partnering with entities to develop near-term solutions like validated control interventions (VCIs) for pipeline monitoring and performance metrics for aging infrastructure. For hazardous materials, PHMSA's R&D branch coordinates applied research to minimize transportation risks, including the Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP), a stakeholder-driven effort focused on practical, mid-term problem-solving for , response, and incident prevention. These efforts are supplemented by grant programs, such as those under the Office of , which allocated funding in fiscal year 2025 for damage prevention technologies and infrastructure improvements. PHMSA's data collection encompasses systematic gathering of pipeline and hazardous materials incident reports, performance metrics, and geospatial information to support regulatory oversight and . The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS), established in 1999 and mandated for submissions since 2015, maintains a (GIS) dataset of approximately 300,000 miles of jurisdictional gas transmission and hazardous liquid , updated annually by operators and used for response, planning, and analysis. Additional datasets include annual incident reports detailing causes such as excavation damage (responsible for about 20% of significant incidents from 2010–2020), mileage inventories tracking like 2.7 million miles of distribution lines, and multi-year trends in leaks and failures, all publicly downloadable for transparency and empirical evaluation. For hazardous materials, PHMSA collects registration and incident data under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, enabling statistical tracking of over 15,000 annual shipments involving high-risk substances. Enforcement activities by PHMSA involve field inspections, incident investigations, and administrative actions to ensure with federal and hazardous materials safety standards, with mechanisms including Notices of Probable Violation (NOPV), Corrective Action Orders (CAO), Warning Letters, and civil penalties. Since 2002, the agency has initiated thousands of cases, such as 29 cases filed in May 2025 following a temporary decline earlier in the year, resulting in penalties exceeding $100 million in assessed fines for violations like inadequate integrity management. In June 2025, PHMSA revised its procedures to emphasize protections, including enhanced operator response timelines and in probable violation assessments, while refocusing resources on high-risk non-. Hazardous materials similarly targets shippers and carriers, with actions addressing failures and improper classifications, tracked via databases that aggregate case statuses, operator-specific violations, and resolution outcomes for . These efforts are informed by collected , prioritizing causal factors in incidents to deter systemic risks without undue regulatory burden.

Safety Performance and Empirical Outcomes

Incident Trends and Statistical Data

PHMSA maintains comprehensive records of pipeline incidents, defined as unintentional releases of gas or hazardous liquids meeting reporting criteria such as death, injury, or property damage exceeding $50,000 (adjusted from 1984 dollars). From to 2022, significant onshore gas transmission incidents averaged 61 per year. Across all systems, over 8,140 incidents were reported from through 2022, averaging approximately 620 annually, resulting in 164 fatalities, 737 serious injuries, and more than $7.57 billion in property damage. Recent data indicate a downward trend in incident frequency for certain segments. Hazardous pipeline incidents declined by 23% over the five years ending in 2023, with 87 fewer incidents reported in 2023 compared to 2019; this includes a 45% reduction in incidents attributed to incorrect operation and a 50% drop in those caused by equipment failure. Overall incidents also decreased by 13% over the same period, with 42 fewer in 2024 relative to 2020 levels. remains a leading cause in older infrastructure, though integrity management programs have contributed to lower rates of significant events per mile of pipeline. For hazardous materials transportation, PHMSA tracks incidents involving unintended releases during shipment, reported via Form 5800.1 if they result in death, injury, or other specified consequences. Fatalities from these incidents decreased from 60 in 2011–2015 to 34 in 2016–2020, reflecting improvements in , handling, and response protocols. Annual incident volumes fluctuate but typically number in the thousands, with highway transport accounting for the majority; common causes include package failures and improper loading, though severe outcomes like large-scale evacuations or environmental occur infrequently relative to shipment volume. PHMSA's 10-year summary reports highlight stable or declining per-incident severity, corroborated by Bureau of Transportation Statistics analyses of 2010–2023 data.

Measurable Achievements in Risk Reduction

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has documented reductions in incident rates through integrity management (IM) programs, which require operators to assess and mitigate in high consequence areas (HCAs). For hazardous pipelines, IM has correlated with fewer large spills and incidents in HCAs, as tracked in PHMSA's performance measures. Liquids pipeline incidents decreased by 23% from 2019 to 2023, with 87 fewer events reported in 2023 compared to 2019, including declines in incidents affecting people or the . Total pipeline incidents impacting people or the fell 13% from 2020 to 2024. A 2021 Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of PHMSA's regulatory framework identified a 28% reduction in pipeline accidents since 2015, alongside decreases in accident-related fatalities, injuries, and environmental impacts, attributing these partly to enhanced oversight and compliance standards. For distribution systems, PHMSA data and analyses show a decreasing trend in incident frequency and severity over the past 30 years, with minimal year-to-year cost correlations but sustained improvements in leak repairs and eliminations under IM requirements. In hazardous materials transportation, PHMSA's enforcement and regulatory updates have contributed to low and stable fatality rates, with annual deaths typically in the single digits despite over 15,000-20,000 reported incidents per decade; for example, one recent year recorded only 9 fatalities and 631 injuries across all modes. Modernization efforts, including and communication enhancements, aim to further minimize releases, building on historical showing consistent outcomes relative to shipment volumes. These metrics reflect PHMSA's focus on preventive measures, though total incident counts remain influenced by expanded and reporting changes.

Documented Failures and Systemic Shortcomings

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has faced criticism for regulatory weaknesses exposed in major pipeline incidents, including the 2010 , rupture that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes, where the (NTSB) identified PHMSA's inadequate regulations for assessing and repairing crack defects in pipelines as a contributing factor. Similarly, the 2018 Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts, explosions, which caused one , injured 23, and damaged or destroyed over 130 structures, stemmed from overpressurization due to a regulator station failure; the NTSB recommended PHMSA require relocation of interior service regulators outside occupied buildings and enhance overpressure protection, highlighting gaps in existing federal standards for distribution systems. In the Keystone Pipeline's operational history, PHMSA approved repairs following multiple spills, such as the pump station leak releasing over 9,000 barrels, but a (GAO) review found inconsistent application of integrity management requirements and limited transparency in oversight processes. Systemic delays in implementing congressional mandates and safety recommendations have undermined PHMSA's effectiveness, with a 2016 (OIG) report documenting insufficient guidance, oversight, and coordination that hindered progress on statutory requirements, including untimely rulemaking on pipeline safety enhancements. As of 2016, PHMSA had failed to implement 20 of 81 mandates from prior legislation, encompassing eight pipeline safety and five hazardous materials provisions, such as improved response planning and standards, despite repeated congressional directives. The NTSB has issued multiple unimplemented or partially addressed recommendations to PHMSA, including full compliance with 2011 and 2022 directives on automatic shutoff valves and rupture detection systems, where PHMSA's 2022 final rule fell short of requiring rapid isolation for all high-consequence areas, potentially prolonging incident durations. Enforcement and resource constraints represent ongoing shortcomings, with PHMSA experiencing net staff losses—such as nine employees in a recent —due to retention challenges, despite recruitment successes, which limit capacity across 2.7 million miles of regulated pipelines. A 2017 OIG audit noted improvements in hiring but persistent deficiencies, including inadequate of new engineers and analysts, contributing to uneven enforcement prioritization. GAO evaluations have criticized PHMSA's models for lacking documented rationale in assessments and special permit oversight for procedural gaps, allowing potential risks in hazardous materials approvals without rigorous reviews. In hazardous materials transportation, flawed incident reporting—such as incomplete capture of cargo tank "wetline" failures—has led to questioned regulatory justifications, as highlighted in a 2013 GAO report on underreported accidents involving tank compartments. These issues persist amid annual averages of approximately 628 incidents since 2010, often attributed to , excavation damage, or material failures under PHMSA .

Regulatory Framework and Debates

Integrity Management and Compliance Standards

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration establishes integrity management programs primarily for pipeline operators to systematically identify, assess, and mitigate risks to pipeline integrity, focusing on threats such as , defects, issues, and external . For gas pipelines, these requirements are outlined in 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart O, mandating operators to develop and implement a written program that includes baseline integrity assessments—via inline inspection tools, pressure testing, or direct assessment methods—followed by continual evaluations, especially in high-consequence areas (HCAs) defined by , , or navigable waterways. Operators must prioritize segments based on risk, perform remedial actions on identified anomalies, and incorporate performance measures to validate program effectiveness, with records retained for the pipeline's operational life. Gas distribution pipeline integrity management, governed by 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart P, requires operators to evaluate risks across their entire systems, develop threat-specific mitigation strategies, and measure outcomes through metrics like leak incident rates and excavation damage indices, with programs updated at least every five years or following significant changes. Hazardous liquid fall under 49 CFR Part 195, Subpart F, where operators must identify all HCA segments, conduct risk assessments incorporating factors like operating pressure and soil conditions, and execute integrity assessments at intervals not exceeding five years for most , integrating data from surveys and close-interval surveys to address risks. These standards emphasize data-driven , with operators required to integrate lessons from incidents and third-party validations into ongoing program refinements. Compliance standards extend to hazardous materials transportation, enforced through the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) in 49 CFR Parts 100-185, which specify requirements for classification, packaging integrity, hazard communication via labeling and placarding, and emergency response planning to minimize release risks during shipment by highway, rail, air, or water. Operators must ensure containers meet performance standards tested under simulated transport conditions, such as drop and stack tests for packagings, and maintain documentation verifying compliance, with periodic updates aligned to international standards like the UN Model Regulations to facilitate global consistency without compromising safety thresholds. Training mandates under 49 CFR 172.700-704 require hazmat employees to complete initial and recurrent instruction on regulatory compliance, function-specific tasks, safety obligations, and emergency procedures, with employers certifying training completion and retaining records for three years post-employment. PHMSA's 2022 Gas Transmission Pipeline Safety Rule enhanced these frameworks by tightening immediate repair criteria for anomalies, expanding integrity assessments to moderate-consequence areas, and mandating management of change processes for operational modifications, aiming to reduce rupture risks based on empirical data from prior incidents showing assessment gaps as causal factors. Non-compliance triggers enforcement actions, including civil penalties up to $103,735 per violation per day as of 2023 adjustments, underscoring the agency's emphasis on verifiable adherence over self-reported assurances.

Enforcement Practices and Legal Challenges

PHMSA's enforcement practices for pipeline safety involve routine inspections of facilities and construction projects, investigations of incidents, and issuance of administrative actions to ensure compliance with federal regulations under 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195. These actions are guided by risk-based criteria outlined in the , which prioritize violations posing significant risks, such as inadequate integrity management or failure to report incidents promptly. Common tools include Notices of Probable Violation (NOPV), which allege regulatory breaches and propose civil penalties; Corrective Action Orders (CAO), mandating immediate remediation; and Compliance Orders, requiring long-term fixes with periodic reporting. Warning Letters serve as lesser measures for minor or inadvertent violations, while Final Orders assess penalties after operator responses and hearings. Civil penalties represent a core deterrent, with maximum amounts set at $2,000,000 per series of related violations occurring after January 3, 2012, adjusted for inflation. In fiscal year 2023, PHMSA initiated 120 cases with proposed amounts totaling over $10 million, resolving 85 cases that year through settlements or judicial referrals. Notable examples include a 2022 NOPV against Company, proposing nearly $1 million for management failures linked to a incident, and multiple CAOs against Tennessee Gas for lapses. Enforcement data indicate a focus on high-consequence areas, with interstate pipelines receiving disproportionate scrutiny due to their scale, though GAO audits have highlighted inconsistencies in tracking intrastate versus interstate violations. In June 2025, PHMSA revised its calculation policy to enhance transparency and , incorporating factors like operator size, violation intent, and economic benefit from non-compliance, while refocusing resources on over procedural burdens. These changes responded to criticisms that prior procedures risked arbitrary penalties, aligning with broader efforts to limit administrative overreach. Legal challenges to PHMSA enforcement and regulations have primarily arisen from industry groups contesting rulemaking adequacy rather than individual actions. In August 2024, the D.C. Circuit Court vacated four pipeline safety standards in Interstate Natural Gas Association of America v. PHMSA, ruling that PHMSA failed to conduct sufficient cost-benefit analyses under the , as benefits were not quantified against estimated compliance costs exceeding $1 billion annually. Earlier cases, such as v. PHMSA (2012), involved stays on inspections pending of regulatory scope. Direct challenges to enforcement constitutionality emerged in 2025, with appointees under the Trump administration arguing PHMSA's administrative penalty systems resemble unconstitutional "administrative courts," echoing precedents like . These claims posit that agency adjudication without jury trials for civil penalties violates Seventh Amendment rights, potentially requiring referral of all cases to Article III courts or the Department of Justice. PHMSA has referred select cases to DOJ for resolution, but systemic reform remains pending litigation outcomes. Environmental advocates have occasionally sued for lax enforcement, though courts have upheld PHMSA's discretion absent clear arbitrary action.

Controversies Over Overregulation and Industry Impact

Critics from the sector and regulatory advocates have contended that certain PHMSA regulations impose disproportionate costs on operators and hazardous materials shippers, potentially elevating prices and delaying projects without achieving proportional reductions in risks. For instance, the 2016 Gas Mega Rule, which expanded integrity management requirements for gas transmission , prompted objections from the Gas Processors Association Midstream, which argued the rule would impose significant operational and financial burdens on midstream without adequate justification for the added benefits. In August 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated portions of PHMSA's updated safety rules, citing the agency's failure to properly assess compliance costs under the , including unexamined increases in assessment thresholds that heightened operator burdens. The court noted PHMSA's inadequate evaluation of how changes from proposed to final rules amplified economic impacts, such as expanded mandates, underscoring broader concerns that regulatory expansions often prioritize over cost-effective safety measures. These regulatory demands have been linked to project delays and higher capital expenditures in the ; for example, PHMSA's siting review processes for (LNG) facilities, including proposed cost-recovery fees introduced in August 2024, have drawn criticism for extending timelines and inflating upfront costs for new export terminals critical to U.S. energy exports. In response to such critiques, PHMSA issued Advance Notices of Proposed in June 2025 to review and potentially repeal or amend pipeline and hazardous materials regulations deemed unduly burdensome, aiming to align requirements more closely with verifiable needs and reduce impositions on the energy sector. Policymakers under the second administration have amplified these concerns, with Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announcing in April 2025 initiatives to update outdated regulations, projecting potential savings of hundreds of millions of dollars in costs for stakeholders. Proponents of argue that such reforms would accelerate expansions and hazardous materials transport efficiencies, fostering in domestic energy production while maintaining baseline safety standards informed by empirical incident data rather than precautionary expansions. Opposing views, such as those from pipeline safety advocacy groups, maintain that easing regulations risks reversing declines in incident rates, though these claims often rely on correlations without isolating regulatory causation from technological advancements.

Recent Developments and Policy Shifts

Post-2020 Incident Responses

Following the February 12, 2023, rupture of a Gulf South Pipeline Company transmission line in , attributed to earth movement as a , PHMSA conducted a detailed , culminating in a report released on June 13, 2024, that analyzed the incident's causes and recommended enhanced monitoring for geohazard-prone areas. Similarly, for the December 7, 2022, rupture involving TC Oil Operations, PHMSA issued a report identifying operational and material factors, leading to targeted recommendations for the operator to improve integrity assessments. These investigations exemplify PHMSA's standard post-incident protocol, which involves on-site examinations, , and public reporting to inform broader safety enhancements, with over 500 pipeline incidents reported annually in recent years despite a 23% decline in liquid pipeline incidents from 2019 to 2023. In the hazardous materials domain, PHMSA responded to the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in —which released and other chemicals—by deploying officials alongside the for site assessments and coordinating with the . This involvement prompted PHMSA to issue a safety advisory on March 3, 2023, urging railroads to review and update emergency response plans for hazardous materials shipments, emphasizing better coordination with local responders to mitigate evacuation and remediation delays observed in the incident. Building on this, PHMSA finalized a rule on June 24, 2024, mandating electronic tracking systems for hazardous materials on rail to enable real-time location data during emergencies, directly addressing gaps exposed by East Palestine where manual tracking hindered response efficiency. PHMSA's enforcement responses post-2020 have included issuing notices of probable violation (NOPV) for incidents involving non-compliance, such as inadequate or repair delays, with 2023 showing multiple cases leading to civil penalties assessed based on violation severity and operator history. In parallel, the agency advanced rulemaking under the 2020 PIPES Act, finalizing a rule to reduce ruptures by strengthening management and requirements, calibrated from analyses of incidents with significant environmental releases between 2010 and 2021. By June 2025, PHMSA revised its civil penalty calculation policies to apply rates in effect at the time of violation—rather than escalated post-incident amounts—enhancing while maintaining accountability for operators in rupture cases. These measures reflect a data-driven approach, prioritizing causal factors like material defects (involved in 20-25% of significant incidents) over unsubstantiated regulatory expansions.

2025 Deregulatory Reforms and Energy Priorities

In 2025, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) undertook a series of deregulatory initiatives under the second administration, directed by emphasizing regulatory review and energy production. On January 23, 2025, President issued orders including "Unleashing American Energy" and declaring a national energy emergency, instructing agencies like PHMSA to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations impeding domestic development and . These actions built on a January 31, 2025, mandating comprehensive reviews of existing rules to prioritize and energy independence over prior administrations' expansions. A key mechanism was the June 4, 2025, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on safety regulations, soliciting public input on repealing or amending provisions deemed outdated or overly burdensome, with explicit goals of facilitating American production. This followed an April 29, 2025, announcement by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to overhaul decades-old rules, targeting reductions in red tape for (LNG) exports and maintenance to support job creation and U.S. competitiveness in global markets. Complementing this, a parallel ANPRM on hazardous materials regulations sought stakeholder feedback by August 4, 2025, to streamline transport rules and bolster domestic resource extraction. These reforms prioritized traditional energy infrastructure, evidenced by PHMSA's withdrawal of proposed pipeline safety rules initially advanced in January 2025, shifting focus from carbon capture initiatives toward , gas, and LNG pipelines critical for growth. The September 22, 2025, deregulatory agenda formalized ongoing reviews, aiming to align PHMSA enforcement with data-driven priorities that minimize compliance costs without compromising core safety standards. stakeholders, including operators, welcomed the changes as correcting prior overregulation that had delayed projects and raised costs, though environmental groups criticized them for potentially elevating risks; PHMSA maintained that empirical incident data supported targeted relief over blanket mandates.

References

  1. [1]
    https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa
  2. [2]
    Adoption of Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental ...
    Jul 3, 2024 · PHMSA is a United States Department of Transportation (DOT) agency created in 2004. PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by ...
  3. [3]
    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
    **Summary of PHMSA:**
  4. [4]
    Ensuring Safety and Reliability: Examining the Reauthorization ...
    May 7, 2024 · PHMSA is responsible for overseeing the safe transport of hazardous materials—through pipelines and also via other modes of transportation— ...
  5. [5]
    Pipeline Incident 20 Year Trends | PHMSA
    Aug 27, 2025 · PHMSA has collected pipeline incident reports since 1970. The reporting regulations and incident report formats have changed several times over the years.<|control11|><|separator|>
  6. [6]
    PUC Pipeline Safety Programs Earn Top Marks from Federal ...
    Jun 18, 2025 · PHMSA's evaluation also highlighted significant progress in the removal of high-risk pipeline materials, including over 100 miles of cast and ...
  7. [7]
    General FAQs | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jan 20, 2021 · It was created under the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act (P.L. 108-426) of 2004. What does PHMSA do? PHMSA ...Missing: establishment | Show results with:establishment
  8. [8]
    Agencies - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
    ... (PHMSA) was established on November 20, 2004 under the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act of 2004 (Pub. L ...
  9. [9]
    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and to the ...
    Feb 18, 2005 · SUMMARY: Two new administrations, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Research and Innovative Technology ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  10. [10]
    DOT's Federal Pipeline Safety Program: Background and Issues for ...
    PHMSA made integrity management programs mandatory for most oil pipeline operators with 500 or more miles of regulated pipeline as of March 31, 2001 (49 C.F.R. ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  11. [11]
    Federal/State Legislative Authorities | PHMSA
    Jun 27, 2024 · The Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act authorized the formation of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety ...
  12. [12]
    S.2952 - 108th Congress (2003-2004): Norman Y. Mineta Research ...
    Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act - Amends ... Establishes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) ...
  13. [13]
    Operator Qualification History & Milestones | PHMSA
    The Operator Qualification (OQ) Program stems from a mandate in 1992 and continues through present Pipeline Safety Acts.
  14. [14]
    Office of Hazardous Materials Safety | PHMSA
    Jun 5, 2025 · PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety carries out a national safety program, including security matters, to protect against the risks to life and ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
  15. [15]
    Agency Reorganization: Nomenclature Change and Technical ...
    Mar 8, 2005 · Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, which reorganized the Department's pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs into ...Missing: restructuring | Show results with:restructuring
  16. [16]
    [PDF] DOT-1100.74E-PHMSA-Organizatioal-Manual.pdf
    Jan 4, 2021 · This order revises the organization of PHMSA by realigning portions ofthe. Offices of Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Safety to create ...
  17. [17]
    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Key Grant ...
    Mar 17, 2025 · It is in charge of overseeing the nation's approximately 3.4 million miles of pipelines—accounting for 65 percent of the energy consumed in the ...
  18. [18]
    A brief history of federal pipeline safety laws
    The first statute regulating pipeline safety was the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, which Congress amended in 1976.
  19. [19]
    49 CFR Part 190 -- Pipeline Safety Enforcement and ... - eCFR
    This part prescribes procedures used by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in carrying out duties regarding pipeline safety.190.1 – 190.411 · Special permits. · 190.201 – 190.243 · Title 49
  20. [20]
    Office of Pipeline Safety | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jun 5, 2025 · PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety is responsible for carrying out a national program to ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally-sound operationMissing: history | Show results with:history
  21. [21]
    OQ History | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Office of Pipeline Safety Hotline: 202-366-4595 or phmsa.pipelinesafety@dot.gov. Pipeline Safety Concerns or Feedback on our Performance and Conduct: 202-366 ...
  22. [22]
    Pipeline Enforcement Overview | PHMSA
    Jun 4, 2025 · The Pipeline Safety Enforcement Program is designed to monitor and enforce compliance with pipeline safety regulations and confirm operators are meeting PHMSA' ...
  23. [23]
    [PDF] PIPELINE SAFETY Fully Implementing Key Practices Could Help ...
    Nov 14, 2022 · Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) officials inspect pipelines and investigate accidents. These officials can issue ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  24. [24]
    Historical Pipeline Incidents | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    In its commitment to safety awareness and outreach, OPS has provided a historical look at high-profile pipeline incidents.
  25. [25]
    PHMSA Portal - Department of Transportation
    The Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) is the Federal safety authority for the transportation of hazardous materials by air, rail, highway, and water ...
  26. [26]
    [PDF] Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
    Sep 7, 2023 · PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and hazardous materials. It oversees 3. ...
  27. [27]
    PHMSA Regulations - Department of Transportation
    May 5, 2021 · PHMSA is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation.Regulations and Compliance · Notices and Rulemaking... · Letters of Interpretation
  28. [28]
    Field Operations | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jun 18, 2024 · PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) Field Operations division serves to ensure transportation safety and security.Missing: responsibilities | Show results with:responsibilities
  29. [29]
    Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Organization Chart | PHMSA
    Sep 8, 2025 · Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Organization Chart ... DOT is committed to ensuring that information is available in appropriate alternative ...
  30. [30]
    Offices | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Feb 3, 2025 · PHMSA offices are located in five regions across the country and headquartered in Washington, DC. The Training Center is centrally-located in Oklahoma City.Office of Hazardous Materials · Office of Pipeline Safety · Central Region
  31. [31]
    Administrator | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Sep 25, 2025 · The Honorable Paul J. Roberti was sworn in as Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on September ...
  32. [32]
    PHMSA gets first confirmed head since 2021 - POLITICO Pro
    Sep 19, 2025 · The Senate voted 51-47 Thursday to confirm Paul Roberti as the pipeline safety agency's new administrator. Avatar of Carlos Anchondo. By: Carlos ...
  33. [33]
    Leadership | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    PHMSA is headed by a Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed Administrator. The PHMSA Administrator is supported by a senior leadership team.Deputy Administrator · Acting Associate Administrator... · Chief Counsel
  34. [34]
    Hazardous Matters April - June 2025 | PHMSA
    ... PHMSA Portal at: https://portal.phmsa.dot.gov. ... Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau, the EHS represents a significant expansion of the 2022 ...
  35. [35]
    PHMSA's Mission - Department of Transportation
    PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  36. [36]
    OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAMS
    Jun 21, 2018 · The PIPES Act of 2006 mandated that PHMSA establish criteria to determine the adequacy of state enforcement of damage prevention laws. Through ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  37. [37]
    Pipeline Safety: Federal Oversight and Stakeholder Perspectives
    Apr 10, 2019 · The hearing will examine federal pipeline safety and federal oversight as the Commerce Committee considers reauthorization of the Pipeline and ...
  38. [38]
    USDOT Introduces Data-Driven Enforcement Priorities to Strengthen ...
    Jul 22, 2025 · PHMSA I&E staff will also prioritize inspecting to confirm operator compliance with recent rulemakings developed in response to significant ...
  39. [39]
    PHMSA Enforcement - Department of Transportation
    Jun 15, 2024 · The Offices of Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Safety perform the regulatory oversight of the transportation of hazardous materials.Missing: mechanisms | Show results with:mechanisms
  40. [40]
    State Oversight | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jun 27, 2024 · PHMSA is authorized to reimburse a State agency up to 80 percent of the agency's actual cost for carrying out its pipeline safety or underground natural gas ...
  41. [41]
    State Programs Overview | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Aug 5, 2024 · Fourteen States participate in PHMSA's underground natural gas storage program providing oversight for approximately 20 percent of the ...Missing: mechanisms | Show results with:mechanisms<|control11|><|separator|>
  42. [42]
    Office of Administration | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jun 5, 2025 · The Office also provides leadership and general direction for succession and workforce planning for PHMSA.
  43. [43]
    GT IM Fact Sheet | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jan 7, 2021 · A written integrity management program and records that demonstrate compliance with Subpart O must be maintained for the life of the pipeline ...
  44. [44]
    HL IM Fact Sheet | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Dec 23, 2020 · Hazardous liquid pipeline operators must develop a written Integrity Management Program that includes: Identification of all pipeline ...
  45. [45]
    Gas Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) | PHMSA
    Aug 23, 2018 · These regulations aim to assure pipeline integrity and further improve the safety of pipeline transportation of energy products. Congress and ...
  46. [46]
    USDOT Introduces Data-Driven Enforcement Priorities to Strengthen ...
    Jul 22, 2025 · PHMSA today announced pipeline inspection and enforcement (I&E) priorities, a first for the agency, focusing its regulatory oversight efforts on activities ...
  47. [47]
    Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $86 ...
    Sep 4, 2025 · The funds, administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), will help state partners inspect more than 85 ...
  48. [48]
    Pipeline Advisory Committees | PHMSA
    PHMSA informally refers to the committees as the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) and the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC).
  49. [49]
    Safety Awareness Overview | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jul 10, 2025 · An important component of OPS's mission is to promote pipeline safety through education, safety awareness, and outreach.
  50. [50]
    Hazardous Materials Regulations | PHMSA
    Jun 28, 2017 · PHMSA is responsible for regulating and ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation.
  51. [51]
    49 CFR Chapter I Subchapter C -- Hazardous Materials Regulations
    eCFR Content ; Subpart B · Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation · 173.21 – 173.41 ; Subpart C · Definitions, Classification and Packaging for Class ...
  52. [52]
    Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Law: An Overview
    Hazardous Materials Standards & Rulemaking Overview, International Program Overview, PHMSA's Online CFR (oCFR) Rulemakings Overview, Recently Published ...
  53. [53]
    [PDF] Federal Hazmat Law
    PHMSA enforces the shipment of hazardous materials and the manufacture, fabrication, marking, maintenance, reconditioning, repair, or testing of multi-modal ...
  54. [54]
    49 CFR Part 173 Subpart D -- Definitions Classification, Packing ...
    (1) An aerosol must be assigned to Division 2.1 if the contents include 85% by mass or more flammable components and the chemical heat of combustion is 30 kJ/g ...
  55. [55]
    Hazardous Materials Approvals and Permits Overview | PHMSA
    Sep 10, 2025 · PHMSA's Approvals and Permits Division is responsible for the issuance of DOT Special Permits and Approvals.Energetic Materials · Pressure Vessels Overview · Special Permits Search
  56. [56]
    [PDF] HOW TO USE THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS
    The HMR are issued by PHMSA and govern the transportation of hazmat in all modes of transportation–air, highway, rail, and water. The HMR are divided into four ...
  57. [57]
    [PDF] HAZMAT TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS
    Aug 24, 2018 · The Basic Description of a hazardous material includes the Identification. Number, the Proper Shipping Name,. Hazard Class, and Packing Group.
  58. [58]
    [PDF] HAZMAT TRANSPORTATION TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
    In this guide you will find details on training regulations as well as definitions of terminology found in the HMR, such as hazmat employer.<|separator|>
  59. [59]
    Hazardous Materials Standards and Rulemaking Overview | PHMSA
    Jan 23, 2025 · To develop regulations governing the safe and secure transportation of hazmat in commerce and provide guidance and assistance to the regulated community.Missing: OHMS key
  60. [60]
    Hazardous Matters January March-2025 | PHMSA
    PHMSA is evaluating whether to adopt the updated ICAO Technical Instructions and new Amendment to the IMDG Code in a future rulemaking.
  61. [61]
    Hazardous Materials: Reducing Recordkeeping Requirements for ...
    Jul 1, 2025 · PHMSA proposes to revise certain outdated and unduly burdensome recordkeeping provisions for its registration program found at Title 49 Chapter ...
  62. [62]
    Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Payments to and from America's ...
    PHMSA proposes to modernize the payment system for hazardous materials registration to require electronic submissions via the Department of Transportation (DOT) ...
  63. [63]
    Transporting Infectious Substances Overview | PHMSA
    Oct 17, 2022 · PHMSA develops and enforces the HMR to ensure the safe transport of hazmat in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce by aircraft, railcar, ...
  64. [64]
    SBIR Program | Research & Development | PHMSA
    PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Research Program provides research funding through our participation in the Department of Transportation SBIR program administered ...
  65. [65]
    Active Research & Development Projects
    The PHMSA stated objective is to develop methods and standards to qualify (VCIs), establish performance metrics, and develop monitoring best practices for their ...Missing: subsequent | Show results with:subsequent
  66. [66]
    Research and Development Branch | PHMSA
    Jan 23, 2025 · The Research & Development Branch leads and coordinates innovative research projects that are focused on near-term solutions to hazardous materials ...
  67. [67]
    Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program Overview
    The HMCRP is intended to be a stakeholder-driven, problem-solving, practical oriented, near- to mid-term research and development program.<|separator|>
  68. [68]
    Office of Pipeline Safety Grant Programs | PHMSA
    Mar 6, 2025 · PHMSA provides grant opportunities designed to improve damage prevention, develop new technologies, and improve pipeline safety.
  69. [69]
    About NPMS - National Pipeline Mapping System
    The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) is a dataset containing locations of and information about gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines.
  70. [70]
    Why Must I Submit - National Pipeline Mapping System
    The NPMS program began in 1999 and was populated with data that was voluntarily submitted by pipeline facility operators. Effective October 1, 2015 the ...
  71. [71]
    National Pipeline Performance Measures | PHMSA
    PHMSA tracks incidents by cause, including excavation damage to pipelines. We also collect data on the causes of leaks and excavation damages. Incidents ...
  72. [72]
    Data and Statistics Overview | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Jul 1, 2025 · PHMSA provides downloads of the raw data, yearly summaries, multi-year trends of safety performance metrics, and inventories tracking the removal of aging.Data Visualization · Source Data · Pipeline Mileage and Facilities
  73. [73]
    PHMSA - Enforcement Data
    PHMSA enforces pipeline safety through field inspections, incident investigations, and various enforcement mechanisms, including reports on cases and actions.
  74. [74]
    Listing of Cases Initiated | Enforcement Data | PHMSA
    This report lists PHMSA enforcement cases since 2002, including operator, region, open/closed dates, status, and case number.
  75. [75]
    USDOT Enhances Pipeline Enforcement Policies to Protect Due ...
    Jun 4, 2025 · The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  76. [76]
    Summary | Enforcement Data | PHMSA
    This report provides a high level summary of PHMSA's overall enforcement activity. It indicates how many enforcement cases are both initiated ("opened") and ...
  77. [77]
    Actions: Orders | Enforcement Data | PHMSA
    This report represents the issuing of orders for the various types of enforcement actions against operators.
  78. [78]
    [PDF] GAO 24-106690, Gas Pipeline Safety: Better Data and Planning ...
    Apr 3, 2024 · PHMSA data show that significant onshore gas transmission pipeline incidents have averaged 61 incidents per year from 2010-2022 (see fig. 2) ...
  79. [79]
    2022 Pipeline Incidents Update: Is Pipeline Safety Achievable?
    Feb 1, 2023 · Since 2010, there have been 8,140 pipeline incidents, averaging 1.7 per day, with 164 deaths, 737 injuries, and $7.57 billion in property ...
  80. [80]
    Government Data Shows Pipeline Incidents Down 23% Over Last 5 ...
    May 6, 2024 · Total liquids pipeline incidents are down 23% over the last 5 years. There were 87 fewer incidents involving liquids pipelines in 2023 compared ...
  81. [81]
    [PDF] LIQUIDS ENERGY PIPELINE SAFETY
    Total pipeline incidents dropped 13% as well over the last five years, with 42 fewer incidents in 2024 compared to 2020. A full description of the specific ...
  82. [82]
    PHMSA Incident Statistics Portal | ICC Compliance Center
    Jan 6, 2022 · From 2011-2015 there were 60 fatalities, while between 2016 and 2020, 34 fatalities were recorded due to dangerous goods incidents. Almost all ...Missing: trends | Show results with:trends
  83. [83]
    Incident Statistics | PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    Aug 15, 2025 · PHMSA produces a series of reports which provide statistics on incidents by type, year, geographical location, and other factors.Missing: trends | Show results with:trends
  84. [84]
    Hazardous Materials Transportation Incidents 2010 2017-2023
    Hazardous Materials Transportation Incidents 2010 2017-2023 ... phmsa.dot.gov/ as reported in National Transportation Statistics, table 2-6, as of July 2024.
  85. [85]
    GAO Report Pushes for PHMSA Regulatory Assessment
    Jul 2, 2021 · GAO found a 28 percent reduction in accidents from 2015 with a decline in accident-related fatalities, injuries, or impacts to the environment.
  86. [86]
    A statistical perspective on natural gas distribution pipeline incidents ...
    This study conducts a statistical analysis of the incident characteristics of natural gas distribution systems in the US<|separator|>
  87. [87]
    Hazardous Materials Fatalities, Injuries, Accidents, and Property ...
    9 people died and 631 people were injured. For more information, see the PHMSA Incident Report Database at https://hazmatonline.phmsa.dot.gov/ ...
  88. [88]
    Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations To Improve Safety ...
    Jul 5, 2023 · PHMSA is considering that may modernize the Hazardous Materials Regulations and improve efficiencies while maintaining or improving a current high level of ...
  89. [89]
    DCA10MP007.aspx - NTSB
    Contributing to the accident was the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) weak regulation for assessing and repairing crack ...
  90. [90]
    [PDF] Overpressurization of Natural Gas Distribution System, Explosions ...
    Dec 31, 2018 · Current federal regulations require a gas distribution company to install such a device on new or replacement service lines for single-family ...
  91. [91]
    Pipeline Safety: Information on Keystone Accidents and DOT Oversight
    Jul 22, 2021 · GAO was asked to review PHMSA's oversight of the Keystone Pipeline. This report discusses: (1) PHMSA's actions to approve the Keystone ...Missing: shortcomings | Show results with:shortcomings
  92. [92]
    Insufficient Guidance, Oversight, and Coordination Hinder PHMSA's ...
    Oct 14, 2016 · PHMSA has faced criticism from Congress for its lack of timeliness in implementing mandates and recommendations.
  93. [93]
    DeFazio Demands PHMSA Implement Long-Delayed Pipeline and ...
    On October 18, 2016, the DOT Inspector General (IG) released a report, which found that 20 of PHMSA's 81 mandates remain unimplemented, including eight pipeline ...<|separator|>
  94. [94]
    NTSB Issues Response to PHMSA's Valve and Rupture Detection ...
    Apr 1, 2022 · “PHMSA's final rule does not meet the criteria specified in NTSB safety recommendations regarding valve and rupture detection completely,” said ...
  95. [95]
    PHMSA Report on Staffing and Hiring - RCP Inc.
    While PHMSA is successful in recruiting and hiring, it continues to be challenged with employee retention. In total, PHMSA lost a net of 9 (23 hires less 32 ...
  96. [96]
    [PDF] PHMSA Has Improved Its Workforce Management but Planning ...
    Nov 21, 2017 · PHMSA, however, is taking actions to improve its hiring practices and the way it integrates new staff, for example, by upgrading its training.
  97. [97]
    Cargo Tank Trucks: Improved Incident Data and Regulatory Analysis ...
    Sep 11, 2013 · PHMSA requires carriers to report hazardous material incidents, but the reporting form does not specifically capture wetline incidents. PHMSA ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
  98. [98]
    Pipeline Incidents Are a Daily Occurrence - FracTracker Alliance
    Apr 7, 2025 · Pipeline incidents are a daily occurrence, averaging 1.45 incidents per day in 2024 (based on incomplete data) and around 1.7 per day since 2010.
  99. [99]
    49 CFR Part 192 Subpart O -- Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity ...
    This subpart prescribes minimum requirements for an integrity management program on any gas transmission pipeline covered under this part.
  100. [100]
    49 CFR Part 192 Subpart P -- Gas Distribution Pipeline Integrity ...
    49 CFR Part 192 Subpart P covers minimum requirements for an Integrity Management (IM) program for gas distribution pipelines, including a written IM plan.<|separator|>
  101. [101]
    Gas Distribution Integrity Management Program | PHMSA
    Sep 5, 2025 · The effective date of the rule is February 12, 2010. Operators are given until August 2, 2011 to write and implement their program. PHMSA ...
  102. [102]
    Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards
    Apr 10, 2024 · PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by adopting various amendments.
  103. [103]
    Hazardous Materials Training Requirements | PHMSA
    Jan 15, 2025 · Each hazmat employer must train and test their hazmat employees, certify their training, and develop and retain records of current training.<|separator|>
  104. [104]
    PHMSA Final Rule - Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines
    Aug 4, 2022 · PHMSA issued the following Final Rule on August 4, 2022, and it has been submitted to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.<|control11|><|separator|>
  105. [105]
    Gas Integrity Management Enforcement Guidance | PHMSA
    Dec 7, 2015 · This guidance document describes the practices used by PHMSA pipeline safety investigators and other enforcement personnel in undertaking their ...
  106. [106]
    Pipeline Enforcement Procedures | PHMSA
    Jan 28, 2022 · The Enforcement Procedures include detailed risk-based criteria for selecting enforcement actions. Pipeline Enforcement Procedures: Section 1 ...
  107. [107]
    Actions: Cases Initiated | Enforcement Data | PHMSA
    This report represents the range of civil administrative enforcement case types that PHMSA brings against pipeline owners and operators.
  108. [108]
    Pipeline Safety: General Policy Statement; Civil Penalties
    Oct 17, 2016 · The maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations is $2,000,000 for violations occurring after January 3, 2012. For an administrative ...
  109. [109]
    Civil Penalty Cases Initiated | Enforcement Data | PHMSA
    For a given year, this table shows the number of civil penalty cases initiated (or opened) and the total amount of civil penalties proposed. Proposed civil ...
  110. [110]
    PHMSA Issues Proposed Civil Penalty of Nearly $1 Million to ...
    May 5, 2022 · PHMSA issued a Notice of Probable Violation (NOPV) and Proposed Compliance Order to Colonial Pipeline Company, which includes multiple probable violations.
  111. [111]
    120181001 | Enforcement Data | PHMSA - Enforcement Action Details
    TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY. This report lists key information pertaining to a particular enforcement case. For cases initiated after January 1, 2007, ...Missing: court | Show results with:court
  112. [112]
    PHMSA Revises Pipeline Safety Enforcement Procedures to ...
    Jun 10, 2025 · PHMSA has revised its policy for calculating proposed civil penalties in pipeline safety enforcement proceedings.
  113. [113]
    Interstate Natural Gas Association of America v. PHMSA, No. 23 ...
    Aug 16, 2024 · The court found that four of the five challenged standards were inadequately justified. Specifically, PHMSA failed to properly analyze the costs ...
  114. [114]
    D.C. Circuit Vacates New PHMSA Rules Related to Natural Gas ...
    Aug 28, 2024 · Ultimately, the court agreed with INGAA that PHMSA had failed to perform an adequate cost-benefit analysis of four of the proposed rules, a ...
  115. [115]
    [PDF] Oneok v. PHMSA - Department of Transportation
    On. December 10, 2012, this Court ordered the inspection of the Bushton Plant stayed pending the. Case 4:12-cv-00660-JHP-FHM Document 46 Filed ...
  116. [116]
    Trump ally seeks to topple pipeline safety enforcement - E&E News
    Mar 26, 2025 · And the Trump administration's Justice Department has already said it considers enforcement systems similar to PHMSA's to be unconstitutional.
  117. [117]
    Civil Penalty Cases Resolved by the US Department of Justice
    Civil penalty cases resolved by the Department of Justice are listed below. Civil Penalties Resolved by DOJ: 2002–2025
  118. [118]
    PHMSA Requests Comments on Repealing or Amending Pipeline ...
    Jun 4, 2025 · PHMSA issued two Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting comments whether to repeal or eliminate requirements in the federal pipeline safety ...
  119. [119]
    USDOT Seeks Comment on Pipeline and Hazmat Regulatory Relief
    Jun 3, 2025 · ... regulatory burdens imposed on the energy sector. These ANPRMs are ... cost of compliance,” said PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman.
  120. [120]
    GPA Midstream raises concerns with gas mega rule comments
    Jul 7, 2016 · This proposed rule as drafted will have significant impacts on the midstream industry, and we hope to work with PHMSA to lessen those impacts,” ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  121. [121]
    Federal court throws out parts of new pipeline safety rule because of ...
    Aug 23, 2024 · Federal court throws out parts of new pipeline safety rule because of faulty cost-benefit analyses. A federal appeals court told the Pipeline ...
  122. [122]
    Pipeline Safety: Cost Recovery for Siting Reviews for LNG Facilities
    Aug 19, 2024 · PHMSA is proposing a new fee for cost recovery for siting reviews of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility project applications where the design and ...
  123. [123]
    Pipeline Safety: Cost Recovery for Siting Reviews for LNG Facilities
    Aug 19, 2024 · PHMSA is proposing a new fee for cost recovery for siting reviews of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility project applications where the design and ...
  124. [124]
    Pipeline Safety: Mandatory Regulatory Reviews To Unleash ...
    Jun 4, 2025 · However, PHMSA expects that further improvements to its regulations can be made to reduce burdens. The PSR contain requirements that have ...
  125. [125]
    Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Effort to ...
    Apr 29, 2025 · ... regulatory burdens on industry and the general public. These rulemakings could save hundreds of millions of dollars in regulatory costs. The ...
  126. [126]
    https://pstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/US-Docket-PHMSA-2018-0047-Liquid-reg-reform-comments.pdf
  127. [127]
    Pipeline Failure Investigation Reports | PHMSA
    Data and Statistics · Incident Reporting · National Pipeline Mapping System ... MS, Feb 12, 2023, Jun 13, 2024. Denbury Gulf Coast Pipelines, LLC, 32545.
  128. [128]
    Pipeline Failure Investigation Reports | PHMSA
    PHMSA is sharing its Failure Investigation Report following an investigation into TC Oil Operations' December 7, 2022... PHMSA Failure Investigation Report ...
  129. [129]
    Readout of Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline and ...
    Feb 22, 2023 · Officials from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) traveled to East Palestine, OH.
  130. [130]
    [PDF] PHMSA-Safety-Advisory-Railroad-Emergency-Response-Plans
    Mar 3, 2023 · In light of the recent train derailment incident in East Palestine, Ohio, its impacts, and the related response efforts, the Pipeline and ...
  131. [131]
    PHMSA Issues New Rule Requiring Electronic Tracking of ... - IHMM
    Jun 24, 2024 · PHMSA Issues New Rule Requiring Electronic Tracking of Hazardous Materials on Trains After East Palestine Incident. In a final rule that will ...
  132. [132]
    Notice of Probable Violation Cases Initiated | Enforcement Data
    Notices of Probable Violation (NOPVs) inform the operator that PHMSA is charging the operator with probable violations of pipeline safety statutes or ...
  133. [133]
    https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-035-0856?transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
  134. [134]
    Trump Signs Executive Orders Directly Impacting APGA Members
    Jan 23, 2025 · Three of the orders directly influence APGA's priorities: Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, Unleashing American Energy, and Declaring a National Energy ...Missing: deregulatory reforms<|separator|>
  135. [135]
    Federal Register :: Department Regulatory and Deregulatory Agenda
    Sep 22, 2025 · On January 31, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14192 ... Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) ...
  136. [136]
    Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Effort to ...
    Apr 29, 2025 · PHMSA is laying the groundwork to revamp decades-old regulations and slash red tape to increase LNG exports, generate good-paying jobs, and allow the US to ...Missing: deregulatory reforms
  137. [137]
    Hazardous Materials: Mandatory Regulatory Reviews To Unleash ...
    Jun 4, 2025 · PHMSA is publishing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit stakeholder feedback on whether to repeal or amend any requirements.<|separator|>
  138. [138]
    PHMSA Seeks Feedback on Reform of Hazardous Materials ...
    Jun 16, 2025 · To further the Trump administration's deregulatory efforts and increase domestic energy resources, PHMSA requests stakeholder feedback on ...
  139. [139]
    DOT Withdraws Proposed Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Safety Rules
    ... (PHMSA) has withdrawn its proposed rule on carbon dioxide pipeline safety requirements. The proposal was initially released by PHMSA on January 10, 2025 and ...
  140. [140]
    Pipeline Safety Regulatory Initiatives Under the Trump Administration
    This article will provide a brief overview of the initiatives that will impact operators subject to PHMSA's pipeline safety regulations. Operators can engage ...
  141. [141]
    Tracking regulatory changes in the second Trump administration
    Rules are up to date as of October 20, 2025. As the Trump administration returns to office for a second term with renewed deregulatory ambitions, the executive ...