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.
The OPS regulates and inspects the interstate gas pipeline operators in Maine. The OPS also regulates and inspects both the intrastate and interstate liquid pipeline operators in Maine.
Through certification by OPS, the state of Maine regulates and inspects the intrastate gas pipeline operators for safety requirements. This work is performed by the Gas Safety Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Maine state regulations can be found at: http://www.state.me.us/mpuc/gas_safety.htm.
Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in Maine:
Maine Public Utilities Commission
242 State Street
18 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0018
Telephone: 207-287-3831
Program Manager/ Gas Safety: Gary Farmer
Direct: 207-287-1385
E-mail: gary.farmer@maine.gov
Office of Pipeline Safety - Eastern Region Office
409-3rd Street, S.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20024
Telephone: 202-260-8500
Director: Byron Coy
Information Contact: Alex Dankanich
Direct: 202-260-8518
E-mail: alex.dankanich@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