Final Comments to PHMSA Docket – Pipeline Safety: Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) Meeting – Safety of Gas Distribution Pipelines

The Protecting Sensitive Operations Information one pager highlights the malicious use of publicly available pipeline operations information. To limit vulnerability, natural gas utilities should engage with state and local government officials to emphasize the risks of disclosure and the importance of appropriate safeguards for sensitive operations information.

The Natural Gas Readiness Forum recommended by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability (GEAR) Working Group explores the reliability of the energy system and how the natural gas system prepares for the high demand periods. A series of regional meetings and an annual summit foster operational education, situational awareness, and peer-to-peer connections across the natural gas value chain and energy sector.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is one of the most important government agencies that many Americans have never heard of. PHMSA oversees the safe operation of our nation’s pipeline system, as well as approximately a million daily shipments of hazardous materials. Congress has a duty to regularly reauthorize PHMSA’s safety programs. This reauthorization has now lapsed – meaning that PHMSA is currently afloat, operating off the prior authorization while needed updates go unmade. It is critical that Congress act swiftly to move reasonable and consensus changes to pipeline safety law and regulation, support PHMSA’s primary role as pipeline safety regulator, and recognize the great strides in pipeline safety engineering and operating practices that pipeline companies are putting into practice across the country.