The State's Role in Gas Safety Program

In order to comply with the requirements of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, and federal standards for gas safety, state regulatory agencies must perform the following functions with respect to intrastate gas transmission pipelines; investigate and determine the cause of pipeline accidents; cause the filing of inspection and maintenance plans by the pipeline operators; verify the operator's compliance with the plans; enforce minimum federal safety standards; require record keeping by pipeline operators to inform operators of degree of safety of the pipelines; and report state agency's saftey activities to the Office of Pipeline Safety, Department of Transportation. Accidents occurring on intrastate facilities may also be reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board, Department of Transportation; the Federal Power Commission assumes limited jurisdiction with respect to loss of service. State agencies have a responsibilty to develop new safety standards which are reasonable and proper under correct current circumstances.