Initiatives and Programs
Pipeline Security
Pipeline Security Division Initiatives and Programs
Corporate Security Review (CSR) Program — Conducted by the Pipeline Security Division staff, the CSR Program is an on-site security review with a pipeline company. CSRs help establish working relationships with key security representatives in the pipeline industry as well as provide TSA with a general understanding of a pipeline operator's security planning and implementation. Data obtained from CSRs aid in establishing a baseline against which to evaluate minimum security standards in the pipeline industry and identify coverage gaps. CSRs help to identify and share smart practices observed throughout the industry. Over 90 pipeline CSRs have been completed since the start of the program.
Cross Border Pipeline Assessments – These assessments are required under the Smart Border Accord and the Security and Prosperity Partnership Program, and four cross-border pipeline systems have been assessed by joint U.S. and Canadian teams.
Pipeline Security Guidelines – The Pipeline Security Division reviews and revises, as appropriate, existing government pipeline security guidelines.
International Pipeline Security Forum - The International Pipeline Security Forum is an ongoing initiative conducted annually by the Pipeline Security Division in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada. This international forum is a 2-day conference that enhances government and industry pipeline security domain awareness and provides opportunities for discussion of major pipeline security issues, both domestic and international. Approximately 150 - 200 people usually attend the forum, and attendees include representatives and officials from the U.S. and Canadian governments, pipeline related associations and pipeline owners and operators from the U.S. and Canada, and representatives from the security, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The first International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in October 2005. The second International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Chicago, Illinois in November 2006. The third International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in October 2007. It is planned that forum sites will continue to alternate between the U.S. and Canada in the future.
Pipeline Security Stakeholder Conference Calls – Monthly stakeholder conference calls allow the Pipeline Security Division to pass on and discuss pipeline security items of interest with pipeline industry officials and other government representatives. The conference calls also provide pipeline security stakeholders and security partners with the opportunity to ask questions on topics or issues of interest to them. These stakeholder conference calls are chaired by the Pipeline Security Division General Manager, and guest speakers are often brought in to make presentations and discuss important issues, topics and programs that pipeline industry officials may be interested in.
Information Sharing and Interagency Coordination – The Pipeline Security Division participates in the Transportation Government Coordinating Council (GCC), the Energy GCC, and the Oil & Natural Gas (ONG) Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) Joint Sector Committee to ensure both interagency and cross-jurisdictional coordination with other governmental departments and agencies and to engage with private sector security partners in joint critical infrastructure protection discussions and activities.
