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 and liquid pipeline safety requirements in Texas.
Through certification by OPS, the state of Texas regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas and liquid pipeline safety requirements. This work is performed by the Pipeline Safety Section, Gas Services Division of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Texas state regulations can be found at: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/rule.html.
Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in Texas:
Texas Railroad Commission
Capitol Stationa, P.O. Box 12967
Austin, TX 78711-2967
Telephone: 512-463-7288 (Information) / 512-463-6788 (Emergency)
Director, Safety Division: Mary McDaniel
Direct: 512-463-7166; Fax: 512-463-6788
E-mail: Mary.McDaniel@rrc.state.tx.us
Office of Pipeline Safety - Southwest Region Office
8701 South Gessner, Suite 1110
Houston, TX 77074
Telephone: 713-272-2859
Fax: 713-272-2831
Regional Director: Rod Seeley
CATS Manager: John A. Jacobi, P.E./John Pepper
Direct: 713-272-2839 / 713-272-2849
E-mail: John.Jacobi@dot.gov/John.Pepper@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