In 1988, in response to a request from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to examine the adequacy of public policies for land use near pipelines, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Research Council funded a study to examine public and private policies and practices to improve public safety near oil and natural gas transmission pipelines.
The TRB formed a study committee to examine land use planning
and measures for controlling development near pipelines.
Subsequently, the committee "broadened its inquiry to include other approaches to reducing intrusions on pipelines, such
as damage prevention programs, and methods of mitigating the consequences of pipeline failures from all causes,
such as more responsive emergency preparedness programs."
The results of the study were published in a
TRB Special Report, SR 219,
entitled "Pipelines and Public Safety".
OPS has since implemented many of the recommendations resulting from SR219.
More recently, OPS is implementing a new Congressional mandate by partnering with the Transportation Research Board to examine model land use practices. The study draws on the expertise of local communities and safety stakeholders to protect communities and pipelines from the leading cause of pipeline failure - mechanical damage from excavation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will work with the OPS on this project.