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 pipeline safety requirements in North Carolina. OPS also inspects, regulates and enforces both intra- and interstate Hazardous Liquid pipeline safety requirements in North Carolina.
Through certification by OPS, the state of North Carolina regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas pipeline safety requirements. This work is performed by the Pipeline Safety Section of the North Carolina Utility Commission.
Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in North Carolina:
North Carolina Utility Commission
Dobbs Building
4325 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4325
Director: Chris Isley (Acting)
Phone: 919-733-6000
E-mail: anderson@ncuc.net
Office of Pipeline Safety - Southern Region Office
233 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Telephone: 404-832-1140
Director: Linda Daugherty
CATS Managers: 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