OPS and its State Partners inspect about 2.6 million miles of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines transporting the products from their origins to customers throughout the U.S. The map shown here is part of a secure mapping system. You can learn about the National Pipeline Mapping System and pipelines in your county by clicking on the following links:
PHMSA's mission is to protect people and the environment from the risks inherent in pipline transportation of energy products. Our mission cannot be accomplished in isolation. We are committed to working with all stakeholders to improve pipeline safety.
Learn How to Recognize Where a Pipeline Is, How to Recognize a Pipeline Release, and What to DO in the event of a suspected or detected leak. Click here to learn more.
What are pipelines? Where are they? And why do we need them in the first place? Those are good, basic questions. Click here to read about Pipeline 101.
OPS and its State Partners conduct safety inspections of pipelines transporting natural gas from gathering fields (where natural gas is harvested from the earth) to homes and businesses. The blue line in this picture shows the portion of the nation’s natural gas system that the Federal regulators typically inspect. Learn more about the OPS inspection program.
Up-to-date information detailing pipeline operators’ efforts to replace aging cast or wrought iron gas distribution pipelines, including the amount cast or wrought pipe in use per state or pipeline operator.
The Pipeline Safety Update provides the actions taken by USDOT, the states, communities and pipeline operators.
Hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines are constructed out of a variety of materials. Cross country pipelines, which typically operate with higher pressures, are manufactured from steel plates in short 40-ft sections, called “joints”. Welders connect the joints end to end to create long lengths of pipeline. Steel pipelines come in a variety of longitudinal seams, including a spiral weld or straight, and some have no seam at all (seamless pipe).
More than 2.6 million miles of pipelines deliver energy to homes and businesses across America, and our job at the U.S. Department of Transportation is to ensure that every mile is safe. Doing this job right is important because protecting the infrastructure is critical to the U.S. economy and our everyday lives. read more
Under the Obama Administration, PHMSA continues to provide strong safety
and environmental oversight of the pipeline network that delivers energy fuels
to the American public. An overview of the actions taken by this
administration, can be found
here.
PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman requested the Office of Chief Counsel to launch an outreach effort to increase ties between pipeline state counterparts and pipeline program attorneys. PHMSA's Office of Chief Counsel hosted a State Pipeline Legal Forum webcast on December 8, 2011. Recent pipeline incidents have highlighted the need for both federal and state pipeline regulators to beef up their pipeline safety programs and to prevent similar accidents in the future. The webcast allowed the Office of Chief Counsel staff to introduce themselves, meet state legal colleagues, explain the pipeline work Counsel does, and solicit input on how PHMSA and state offices can more effectively work together.