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. Pertinent regulations can be found here.
OPS is headquartered in Washington, DC, and supported through five regional offices located in Trenton, NJ; Atlanta, GA; Kansas City, MO; Houston, TX; and Denver, CO. 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 Natural Gas and Hazardous Liquid pipeline safety requirements in South Carolina. OPS also enforces intrastate Hazardous Liquid pipeline safety requirements in South Carolina.
Through certification by OPS, the state of South Carolina regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate Natural Gaspipeline safety requirements. By signed agreement with OPS, South Carolina also inspects and regulates intrastate Hazardous Liquid pipeline safety requirements. This work is performed by the Pipeline Safety office of the South Carolina Public Service Commission.
South Carolina state regulations can be found at www.psc.sc.gov/laws/regulations.asp
Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in South Carolina:
South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff
P.O. Box 11263
Columbia, SC 29211
Pipeline Safety Supervisor: Vernon L. Gainey
Phone: 803-737-0914
Fax: 803-737-0986
Cell: 803-917-0487
E mail: vgainey@regstaff.sc.gov
Office of Pipeline Safety - Southern Region Office
233 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: 404-832-1140
Director: Linda Daugherty
CATS manager: Michael J. Khayata/Joseph Mataich
Direct: 404-832-1155 / 404-832-1159
E-mail: michael.khayata@dot.gov / joseph.mataich@dot.gov
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
East Building, Second Floor (PH)
Washington D.C. 20590-0001
Administrator: Carl T. Johnson
Deputy Administrator: Krista Edwards
Assistant Administrator & Chief Safety Officer: Stacey Gerard
Media Contact - Director, External Communications : Patricia Klinger
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety: Jeff Wiese
Phone: 202-366-4595
Date of Revision: 031208_ljc