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 gas pipeline safety requirements in Montana. OPS also inspects, regulates and enforces both intra- and interstate liquid pipeline safety requirements in Montana.
Through certification by OPS, the state of Montana regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas pipeline safety requirements. The Gas Pipeline Safety Division of the Montana Public Utilities Commission performs this work.
Montana state regulations can be found at: http://www.psc.state.mt.us/Pipeline/
Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in Montana:
Montana Public Service Commission
Department of Public Service Regulations
1701 Prospect Avenue
P O Box 202601
Helena, MT 59620-2601
Telephone: 406-444-6199
Utilities Engineer/Pipeline Safety Representative: G. Joel Tierney
Direct: 406-444-6181
E-mail: jtierney@mt.gov
Office of Pipeline Safety - Western Region Office
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 110
Lakewood, CO 80226
Telephone: 720-963-3160
Director: Chris Hoidal
CATS managers: Kimbra Davis / Ross Reineke
Direct: 720-963-3176 / 720-963-3182
E-mail: Kimbra.Davis@dot.gov/Ross.Reineke@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