Section 32 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act (PSRCJCA) of 2011¹ called upon the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) to “carry out a program of research, development, demonstration and standardization to ensure the integrity of pipeline facilities.” Though not officially named in the section, the Department of the Interior (DOI) was invited to participate in the activities described in the interagency 5-year plan because of its relevant offshore activities and vital program expertise. Therefore, DOT, DOC, and DOI shall be referred to as the “participating agencies.”

The development activities by the participating agencies have created an Interagency Research and Development Five-Year Program Plan that incorporates the congressional direction. This plan represents program level areas or strategies where annual coordination and collaborative activities and related research funding will be reported. The success in implementing this plan will be transmitted in two update reports submitted every two years as mandated by the Congress.

¹ Public Law 112-90

• Section 32 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011
• Track PHMSA's Progress on Implementing all of the Mandates here

Interagency Research and Development Five-Year Program Plan For Pipeline Safety and Integrity:

• Five Year Interagency Research and Development Program Plan (FY2012-FY2016)

Interagency Update Reports to Congress:

• FY 2013-FY2014 Update Report

• FY 2015-FY2016 Update Report

Interagency Research Program Links & Contacts:

• Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

• Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology

• Department of Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)