The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 was designed to examine and improve the state of pipeline safety regulation. The Act:

• Reauthorizes PHMSA's federal pipeline safety programs through fiscal year 2015
• Provides the regulatory certainty necessary for pipeline owners and operators to plan infrastructure investments and create jobs
• Improves pipeline transportation ¿ the safest and most cost-effective way to transport natural gas and hazardous liquid products ¿ by strengthening enforcement of current laws and improving existing laws where necessary
• Ensures a balanced regulatory approach to improving safety that applies cost-benefit principles
• Protects and preserves Congressional authority by ensuring certain key rulemakings are not finalized until Congress has an opportunity to act

Since the Act was signed into law one year ago, PHMSA has taken a number of actions to improve pipeline safety, including:

• Initiating rulemaking to update Part 190 of the Pipeline Safety Regulations with newly-increased maximum civil penalties for safety violations
• Issue regulations for enforcement hearings that require a presiding official, implement a separation of functions, and prohibit ex parte communications
• Conducted a study on the use of automatic and remote-controlled shutoff valves
• Initiated several rulemakings aimed at strengthening gas and liquid pipeline integrity management
• Created an online, publicly accessible database to track progress in replacing cast iron inventory
• Promoted public education and  awareness  of safe digging and damage prevention:
  • Produced a public service announcement
  • Partnered with Washington Gas Co. and area first responders for a public safety demonstration in observance of National 8/11 day
  • Conducted a satellite media tour on first day of Spring
• Issued guidance to operators on providing system-specific information about their pipelines to local emergency responders
• Conducted a study on leak detection systems used by hazardous liquid pipeline operators
• Conducted a study of hazardous liquid pipeline incidents at crossings of inland water bodies to determine if depth of cover was a factor
• Issued an advisory bulletin reminding pipeline operators to immediately notify public safety officials when a pipeline emergency occurs
• Awarded a contract to the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on whether current regulations are sufficient to regulate pipelines transporting diluted bitumen
• Issued an advisory bulletin advising pipeline operators to report any exceedance of Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure within 5 days
• Hired additional federal pipeline safety inspectors

Learn more about PHMSA's pipeline safety efforts.

• Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
• Natural Gas Pipelines
• Control Room Management
• Research and Development
• Technical and Regulatory Information
• Automatic/ Remote Controlled Shutoff Valve Research and Development Projects
• Leak Detection Systems
• Integrity Management

• Report to Congress: Completion of Hiring Authorized Inspection and Enforcement Personnel
• Report to Congress: Cast Iron Pipelines
• Interim Guidance: New or Novel Technologies or Design
• Report to Congress: Hazardous Liquid Incidents at Certain Water Crossings
• Results of Study on Hazardous Liquid Incidents at Certain Water Crossings
• Report to Congress: Leak Detection Systems
• Final Report: Leak Detection Study
• Report to Congress: Automatic and Remotely Controlled Shutoff Valves
• Studies for the Requirements of Automatic and Remotely Controlled Shutoff Valves on Hazardous Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines
• PHMSA Tribal Assistance Protocol