Stakeholder Communications

The federal government establishes minimum pipeline safety standards under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49 "Transportation", Parts 190 - 199. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), within the U. S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), has overall regulatory responsibility for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines under its jurisdiction in the United States. Pertinent regulations can be found here.

OPS is headquartered in Washington, DC, and supported through five regional offices located in Trenton, NJ; Atlanta, GA; Kansas City, MO; Houston, TX; and Denver, CO. OPS Regional Directors, Pipeline Inspectors, State Liaisons, and Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) managers operate from each of the five OPS regional offices.

CATS managers are available to assist the public, the media and state or local officials with inquiries concerning pipeline safety-related issues.

OPS inspects, regulates and enforces interstate gas pipeline safety requirements in Colorado. OPS also inspects, regulates and enforces both intra- and interstate liquid pipeline safety requirements in Colorado.

Through certification by OPS, the state of Colorado regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas pipeline safety requirements. The Gas Pipeline Safety Division of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission performs this work.

Colorado state regulations can be found at: http://www.dora.state.co.us/puc/pipesafetymain

Here is contact information pertaining to pipelines in Colorado:

Date of Revision: 021109_ljc