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Summary

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the Nation’s 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1 million shipments of hazardous materials that take place in the U.S. each day. PHMSA also responds to congressional mandates and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG), regarding the safe transport of these materials. The Agency’s ability to address these mandates and recommendations, however, has long been an issue of concern. Because of these and other concerns, the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee requested that OIG conduct an audit of PHMSA’s pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs. Our objectives are to assess PHMSA’s (1) progress in addressing congressional mandates and recommendations from NTSB, GAO, and OIG issued since 2005; (2) process for implementing mandates and recommendations, including any impediments to Agency action; and (3) efforts to coordinate and address operating administrations’ safety concerns.