Pipeline Safety: Notice to Operators of Gas Transmission Pipelines on the Regulatory Status of Direct Sales Pipelines

SUMMARY: PHMSA advises gas transmission pipeline operators that the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 eliminated the former exception of direct sales natural gas pipelines from the definition of an interstate gas pipeline facility. As a result, direct sales gas transmission pipelines subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) formerly considered to be intrastate pipelines for purposes of the pipeline safety laws are now defined as interstate pipelines. As interstate pipelines, direct sales pipelines are subject to the applicable Federal pipeline safety regulations and PHMSA is responsible for regulatory oversight and enforcement. In some cases, inspections of these pipelines may continue to be conducted by a State pipeline safety agency acting as PHMSA’s representative.

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