About Pipelines
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.
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/investigators, and community liaisons operate from each of the five OPS regional offices.
Community Liaisons (formerly known as CATS Managers) are available to assist the public, state or local officials, and other stakeholders with inquiries concerning pipeline safety-related matters.
A dozen state and federal agencies cooperate within Alaska’s Joint Pipeline Office (JPO) to "work proactively with Alaska's oil and gas industry to safely operate, protect the environment, and continue transporting oil and gas in compliance with legal requirements". The JPO website contains information for students, industry participants, whistle-blowers and anyone else interested in Alaskan energy issues -- past, present and future.
OPS inspects and enforces the pipeline safety regulations for interstate and intrastate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Alaska.
Contact information for pipeline safety regulation in Alaska:
Office of Pipeline Safety - Western Region Office
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 110
Lakewood, CO 80226
Telephone: 720-963-3160
Region Director: Dustin Hubbard
Community Liaisons: Tom Finch / Dave Mulligan
Direct: 720-963-3175 / 720-963-3193
E-mail: thomas.finch@dot.gov / david.mulligan@dot.gov
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
East Building, Second Floor
Washington D.C. 20590-0001
Administrator: Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Media Contact: Director, Office of Governmental, International and Public Affairs
Office of Pipeline Safety: Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety
Phone: 202-366-4595
Email: PHMSA.Pipelinesafety@dot.gov
Date of Revision: 01092017