Incident Reporting
Pipeline
If you witness or are involved in a pipeline emergency or you smell gas, move to a safe location and call 911.
HOW TO REPORT A PIPELINE ACCIDENT
Members of the Public, Emergency Responders, Government Officials
Anyone witnessing an oil spill or hazardous material discharge should call 911 from a safe location. If known, notify the pipeline company and or your local emergency response number. Incidents should also be reported to the National Response Center (NRC) hotline at 1-800-424-8802.
For additional guidance on Pipeline Leak Recognition and What to Do.
Pipeline Operators
Pipeline operators have regulatory reporting requirements under Part 191 and Part 195 of PHMSA's pipeline safety regulations.
- Within one hour of a release of hazardous materials meeting reporting threshold operators must call the NRC at 1-800-424-8802;
- Within 48-hours operators must submit an update to the NRC; and
- Within 30-days operators must submit a report on the relevant PHMSA form below. Operators submit the reports online via the PHMSA Portal.
Operators may provide a courtesy call to AID on the NPIC hotline (888) 719-9033 to provide additional information and updates.
What are Incident/Accident Report Forms?
Incident or accident report forms are written reports required by Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations or Pipeline Safety Regulations that must be submitted within 30 days of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material or an incident or accident involving a natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility. The information collected on each report is used by PHMSA and other agencies to mitigate risk, analyze gaps, and enhance safety.
Operator Reports Submitted to PHMSA - Forms and Instructions
Incident Report - Gas Distribution System Form PHMSA F 7100.1 (49 eCFR 191.9)
Incident Report – Natural and Other Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipeline Systems Form PHMSA F 7100.2 (49 eCFR 191.15) (Note that Underground Natural Gas Storage incidents are also reported on this form)
Incident Report - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities Form PHMSA F 7100.3 (49 eCFR 191.15)
Accident Report - Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Systems Form PHMSA F 7000-1 (49 eCFR 195.54)
PHMSA FAILURE INVESTIGATION REPORTS
PHMSA writes Failure Investigation Reports (FIR) upon the conclusion of certain investigations. Each pipeline failure has incident and site specific attributes yet most are the result of seven high level causes: corrosion, excavation damage, incorrect operation, equipment failure, material/weld failure, natural force damage, and outside force damage. FIRS are publicly available at on PHMSA's web site.