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Regulatory Fact Sheet: Arkansas

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.

OPS inspects and enforces the pipeline safety regulations for interstate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Arkansas. OPS also inspects and enforces the pipeline safety regulations for intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Arkansas.

Through certification by OPS, the state inspects and enforces the pipeline safety regulations for intrastate gas pipeline operators in Arkansas. This work is performed by the Pipeline Safety Office of the Arkansas Public Service Commission downstream of the custody transfer point between the gas producer and the gas marketer. The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission has jurisdiction over the regulated gas lines that are operated by gas producers. (Reference 49 CFR §192.9).

Contact information for pipeline safety regulation in Arkansas:

For State regulator contact information, go to: https://www.napsr.org/state-program-managers.

Office of Pipeline Safety - Southwest Region Office

8701 South Gessner, Suite 630

Houston, TX 77074

Telephone: 713-272-2859

Fax: 713-272-2831

Region Director: Mary McDaniel

Community Liaisons: Bill Lowry / James "Jay" Prothro

Direct: Phone: (713) 272-2845 / (713) 272-2832

E-mail: Bill.Lowry@dot.gov / james.prothro@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