{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF","title":"Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":null,"summary":"Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF The Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program (Guidelines) contain guidance for how State Pipeline Safety Programs must conduct and execute their responsibilities delegated through certification or agreement by the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to certain sections of Title 49 of the United States Code. Year: 2026 20","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-pdf-751db7bc.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-pdf-751db7bc.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-pdf-751db7bc","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/working-phmsa/state-programs/guidelines-states-participating-pipeline-safety-program-pdf","body":"Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program PDF\n\nThe Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program (Guidelines) contain guidance for how State Pipeline Safety Programs must conduct and execute their responsibilities delegated through certification or agreement by the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to certain sections of Title 49 of the United States Code.\n\n                              Year: 2026\n\n 2026 State Guidelines with Appendices.pdf (9.19 MB)\n\n                  Year: 2026\n\n                              Year: 2025\n\n 2025 State Guidelines Revisions Final with Appendices 2025-03-12 1.pdf (11.47 MB)\n\n                  Year: 2025\n\n                              Year: 2024\n\n                  Year: 2024\n\n                  Description:\n\n           2024-State-Guidelines-with-Appendices-2023-12-18.pdf\n\n                              Year: 2023\n\n                  Year: 2023\n\n                  Description:\n\n           2023-State-Guidelines-Final-Version-with-Appendices-2023-1-12.pdf\n\n                              Year: 2022\n\n                  Year: 2022\n\n                  Description:\n\n           2022-State-Guidelines-January-14-Final-Version-2022-1-14-with-Apendices.pdf\n\n                              Year: 2021\n\n                  Year: 2021\n\n                  Description:\n\n           2021-State-Guidelines-Final-With-Appendices.pdf\n\n                              Year: 2020\n\n 2020-appendix-r1-ntsb-final-report-merrimack-valley-incident.pdf (39.91 KB)\n\n                  Year: 2020\n\n          Effective Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nGuidelines for States\nParticipating in the\nPipeline Safety Program\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nT A B L E O F C O N T E N T S\nGLOSSARY\nv\n__________________________________________________________________\nACRONYMS\nx\n_________________________________________________________________\nPreface _____________________________________________________________________\n1\n1 Federal/State Partnership __________________________________________________\n1\n1.1 Congressional Intent __________________________________________________________\n1\n1.2 Federal Role and Organizational Structure _______________________________________\n1\n1.3 State Role and Organizational Structure __________________________________________\n2\n1.4 Related Organizations _________________________________________________________\n3\n1.4.1 NAPSR\n1.4.2 NARUC\n3\n_________________________________________________________________________\n3\n_________________________________________________________________________\n1.5 Invitational Travel\n3\n____________________________________________________________\n1.6 Mutual Aid\n4\n__________________________________________________________________\n2 State Participation Requirements ____________________________________________\n6\n2.1 Section 60105 Certification\n6\n_____________________________________________________\n2.2 Section 60106 Agreement ______________________________________________________\n7\n2.3 Interstate Agent Agreement ____________________________________________________\n8\n2.4 Time Defined Agreement _______________________________________________________\n8\n2.5 Joint Inspection of an Interstate Operator ________________________________________\n9\n2.6 Certification/Agreement Forms ________________________________________________\n10\n2.7 Progress Report _____________________________________________________________\n10\n2.7.1 Attachment #1: State Jurisdiction and Interstate Agent Status ______________________________\n10\n2.7.2 Attachment #2: Total State Field Inspection Activity _____________________________________\n11\n2.7.3 Attachment #3: Facilities Subject to State Safety Jurisdiction ______________________________\n11\n2.7.4 Attachment #4: Pipeline Incidents/Accidents ___________________________________________\n12\n2.7.5 Attachment #5: State Compliance Actions _____________________________________________\n12\n2.7.6 Attachment #6: State Record Maintenance and Reporting _________________________________\n12\n2.7.7 Attachment #7: State Employees Directly Involved in the Pipeline Safety Program _____________\n12\n2.7.8 Attachment #8: State Compliance with Federal Requirements ______________________________\n12\n2.7.9 [RESERVED] ___________________________________________________________________\n13\n2.7.10 Attachment #10: Performance and Damage Prevention Questions ___________________________\n13\n2.8 Responsibility to Assist OPS in the Work Management System ______________________\n13\n3 State Regulatory Responsibility _____________________________________________\n15\n3.1 Adoption of Federal Regulations and Requirements _______________________________\n15\n3.2 WinDOT\n15\n___________________________________________________________________\n3.3 Waiver of Federal Regulations _________________________________________________\n15\n3.3.1 Interstate Pipelines ________________________________________________________________\n15\n3.3.2 Intrastate Pipelines ________________________________________________________________\n15\n4 Personnel\n18\n______________________________________________________________\n4.1 State Agency Minimum Required Inspection Activity ______________________________\n18\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program i\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nT A B L E O F C O N T E N T S\n4.1.1 Determination of Inspection Activity _________________________________________________\n4.1.2 Peer Review\n_____________________________________________________________________\n4.1.3 Inspection Activity Examples _______________________________________________________\n4.1.4 Updates to SICT _________________________________________________________________\n4.1.5 SICT Examples __________________________________________________________________\n18\n21\n22\n23\n23\n4.2 Allocation of Effort\n28\n__________________________________________________________\n4.3 Training ____________________________________________________________________\n28\n4.3.1 Required Training ________________________________________________________________\n28\n4.3.2 Course Re-Testing ________________________________________________________________\n31\n4.3.3 Training Waivers _________________________________________________________________\n31\n4.3.4 Procedures for Requesting a Training Waiver___________________________________________\n32\n4.4 Individual Qualifications ______________________________________________________\n32\n4.5 Continuing Education and State Inspector Mentoring Program _____________________\n34\n4.6 Changes in State Agency Personnel _____________________________________________\n34\n4.7 Program Manager/Supervisor Training _________________________________________\n35\n4.8 New Program Manager Orientation ____________________________________________\n35\n5 Inspection and Compliance Program ________________________________________\n36\n5.1 Inspection __________________________________________________________________\n36\n5.2 Compliance _________________________________________________________________\n46\n5.2.1 Procedures for State Agencies with a Section 60105 Certification ___________________________\n46\n5.2.2 Procedures for State Agencies with a Section 60106 Agreement or Interstate Agents ____________\n47\n5.2.3 PHMSA Orders to Intrastate Operators ________________________________________________\n47\n5.2.4 Referring Concerns of Possible Criminal Activity to the Office of Inspector General (OIG): ______\n47\n6 Incident/Accident Investigation and Safety-Related Conditions\n48\n___________________\n6.1 Investigation of Pipeline Incidents/Accidents _____________________________________\n48\n6.2 On-scene investigations _______________________________________________________\n49\n6.3 Basic Investigative Procedures _________________________________________________\n52\n6.4 Incident Investigation Procedures ______________________________________________\n52\n6.5 PHMSA AID Daily Telephonic Investigation Report _______________________________\n52\n6.6 Access to NRC Reports _______________________________________________________\n53\n6.7 Safety-Related Conditions\n54\n_____________________________________________________\n7 Damage Prevention Program and One Call Notification ________________________\n55\n7.1 Damage Prevention __________________________________________________________\n55\n7.2 One Call Notification\n56\n_________________________________________________________\n7.3 Damage Prevention and One-Call Grants\n58\n________________________________________\n8 State Agency Program Performance _________________________________________\n59\n8.1 Annual Program Evaluation ___________________________________________________\n59\n8.2 Compliance with Program Requirements ________________________________________\n61\n8.3 Recordkeeping ______________________________________________________________\n62\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\nii\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nT A B L E O F C O N T E N T S\n8.4 Attendance at NAPSR Meetings ________________________________________________\n62\n8.5 State Pipeline Safety Training and/or Seminars ___________________________________\n63\n9 DOT Grant-in-Aid Program _______________________________________________\n64\n9.1 Scope of Grant ______________________________________________________________\n64\n9.2 Address\n64\n____________________________________________________________________\n9.3 Eligibility ___________________________________________________________________\n64\n9.4 Assistance Listing Information _________________________________________________\n64\n9.5 General Obligations __________________________________________________________\n65\n9.6 Grant Application ___________________________________________________________\n65\n9.6.1 Attachment #1: Description of State Pipeline Safety Program. _____________________________\n65\n9.6.2 Attachment #2: Pipeline Safety Program Estimated Budget. _______________________________\n67\n9.7 Annual Funding Level ________________________________________________________\n67\n9.8 Grant Allocation and Percentage of Funding _____________________________________\n67\n9.8.1 Initial Allocation vs. Final Allocation\n68\n_________________________________________________\n9.8.2 Grant Allocation Formula for Grant Award\n69\n____________________________________________\n9.8.3 State Performance Score\n69\n___________________________________________________________\n9.9 Assistance Agreement ________________________________________________________\n72\n9.10 Certification Regarding Lobbying and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities______________\n73\n9.11 Mid-Year Request for Reimbursement __________________________________________\n73\n9.12 Year-end Request for Reimbursement and Cost Summary__________________________\n73\n9.13 Withholding of Grant Funds - Suspension and/or Termination of Grants _____________\n74\n9.14 Deposit of Grant Funds _______________________________________________________\n75\n9.15 Eligibility of Program Costs ___________________________________________________\n75\n9.15.1 Direct Costs\n75\n_____________________________________________________________________\n9.15.2 Indirect Costs\n78\n____________________________________________________________________\n9.15.3 Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses _____________________________________\n79\n9.15.4 Unallowable Costs\n79\n________________________________________________________________\n9.16 Pipeline Safety Grant Program Financial Review _________________________________\n80\n9.16.1 Pre-Review\n81\n_____________________________________________________________________\n9.16.2 Grant Review\n81\n____________________________________________________________________\n9.16.3 Post-Review\n81\n_____________________________________________________________________\n9.16.4 Adjustments and Penalties __________________________________________________________\n81\n9.16.5 Appeal of Findings _______________________________________________________________\n81\n9.17 Procurement Standards\n82\n_______________________________________________________\n9.18 Procurement Procedures\n82\n______________________________________________________\n9.19 Contracts Management _______________________________________________________\n82\n9.20 Internal Controls\n82\n____________________________________________________________\n9.21 Real Property _______________________________________________________________\n82\n9.22 Personal Property ____________________________________________________________\n83\n9.23 Code of Conduct\n83\n_____________________________________________________________\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\niii\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nT A B L E O F C O N T E N T S\n9.24 Conflict of Interest and Mandatory Disclosures ___________________________________\n83\n9.25 Audit Requirements (2 CFR 200 Subpart F) ______________________________________\n83\n9.26 PHMSA Office of Civil Rights Review – Title VI\n84\n__________________________________\n9.27 Grant-in-Aid Program Calendar of Events _______________________________________\n85\n10 FedSTAR\n86\n_____________________________________________________________\n10.1 Purpose ____________________________________________________________________\n86\n10.2 Location and Procedures\n86\n______________________________________________________\n10.3 Facilitating Various Program Documentation ____________________________________\n87\nAppendix Summary __________________________________________________________\n89\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\niv\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nGlossary\nGLOSSARY\nAgreement The State Agency assumes inspection responsibility for facilities\nand reports Probable Violations to PHMSA for enforcement\nactions.\nCertification The State Agency assumes inspection and enforcement\nresponsibility with respect to intrastate facilities over which it has\njurisdiction under State law.\nChapter 601, Title 49\nof the U.S. Code\nThroughout this manual, Sections 60101 – 60140 refer to Chapter\n601, Title 49 of the United States Code Chapter 601 is the\nrecodification of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as\namended (49 U.S.C. app 1671 et seq.), and the Hazardous\nLiquids Pipeline Safety Act of 1979, as amended (49 U.S.C. app\n2001 et seq.).\nCode of Federal Regulations, Title 49 (49 CFR)-Pipeline Safety\nPart 40 Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs\nPart 190 Pipeline Safety Programs and Rulemaking Procedures\nPart 191 Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Annual Reports\nIncident Reports, and Safety-Related Condition Reports\nPart 192 Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Federal\nSafety Standards\nPart 193 Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities: Federal Safety Standards\nPart 194 Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines\nPart 195 Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline\nPart 196 Protection of Underground Pipelines from Excavation Activity\nPart 198 Regulations for Grants to Aid State Pipeline Safety Programs\nPart 199 Drug and Alcohol Testing\nCompliance Action A Compliance Action is an action or series of sequential actions\ntaken to enforce federal or state pipeline regulations. One\nCompliance Action can cover multiple Probable Violations. A\nCompliance Action may take the form of a letter warning of future\npenalties for continued violation, an administratively imposed\nmonetary sanction or order directing compliance with the\nregulations, an order directing corrective action under hazardous\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program v\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nGlossary\nDepartment of\nTransportation (DOT)\nconditions, a show-cause order, a criminal sanction, a court\ninjunction, or a similar formal action.\nThe United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is a\nfederal Cabinet department of the U.S. government concerned\nwith transportation. It was established by the Department of\nTransportation Act of Congress on October 15,1966 and began\noperation on April 1, 1967. The Secretary of Transportation is the\nhead of DOT.\nThis is the computer application available over the internet which\nis used by State Agencies to enter the required federal\ndocumentation and information.\nFederal State\nTracking and\nReporting (FedSTAR)\nGrant Funds or aid in kind to carry out specified programs, services, or\nactivities.\nGrant Program Those activities and operations of the State Agency which are\nnecessary to carry out the purposes of the grant, including any\nportion of the program financed by the grantee. This technical\nusage of the phrase should not be confused with the Pipeline\nSafety Grant Program (sometimes shortened to “Grant Program”),\nwhich is the Federal assistance program in support of the State\nAgency’s pipeline safety program.\nInspection Person-Day All or part of a day spent by State Agency\nInspectors)/Investigator(s) (including travel) in on-site or virtual\nevaluation of an operator’s system to determine compliance with\nFederal or State pipeline safety regulations; or in on-site\ninvestigation of a pipeline incident; or in job-site training of an\noperator. (See section 5.1 for description of inspection types) Time\ncounted for such activities should be reported as a maximum of\none Inspection Person-Day per inspector present for each day\ndevoted to safety issues, regardless of the number of operators\nvisited during that day. (e.g., You may evaluate two operators in\nthe same day and record each inspection visit as 0.5 person-day,\nor actual fraction of a day, for each operator provided the total\ndoes not exceed 1.0 person-day). Non-qualified inspectors\npresent assisting a qualified inspector can be included in the\ninspection day count. On a limited basis, the inspector may count\nin-office inspection time to review operator written plans,\nprocedures, programs, and records to effectively use on-site\ninspection time, as approved by the Program Manager, and as\nnoted in the annual progress report. In-office inspection time must\nbe adequately documented and made part of the State Agency’s\ninspection records.\nInspection Unit All or part of an operator’s pipeline facilities under the control of an\nadministrative unit that provides sufficient communication and\ncontrols to ensure uniform design, construction, operation, and\nmaintenance procedures for the facilities.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\nvi\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nGlossary\n• Privately Owned\nDistribution\nSystem\n• Gas\nTransmission\nand Hazardous\nLiquid Pipeline\nSystem\n(including\nEthanol)\n• Liquefied\nNatural Gas\n(LNG) Facility\n• Master Meter\nSystem\nThe application of the Inspection Unit concept will ensure\ninspection coverage of an operator’s entire system and enhance\nFederal/State management of workload and program evaluation.\nDetermination of inspections will be based on the following\nguidelines, but where unique situations exist, good logic and\njudgment must be exercised when identifying the parameters of\nthe Inspection Unit.\nThe Inspection Unit could be an operating area such as a\nspecific city or metropolitan area, a group of towns, or other\ngeographic area, and would include all distribution facilities\nin the defined area. However, because of the greater number\nof pipeline facilities in some large metropolitan distribution\nareas, multiple Inspection Units may be appropriate. In\nselecting the Inspection Unit, consideration should be given\nto the size of the area covered, work location, record location,\nand line of supervision.\nIf the distribution system contains transmission lines where\ntransmission integrity management plans are required, those\nsystem(s) should be considered separate intrastate\ntransmission Inspection Unit(s).\nThe Inspection Unit should include up to 500 miles of pipeline\nright-of-way including any compressor stations or pumping\nfacilities within the designated limits. In some circumstances,\nsuch as densely populated areas and/or environmentally\nsensitive areas, and/or where judged necessary based on\nlocal conditions, a separate Inspection Unit can be\nestablished.\nEach LNG facility should be considered a single Inspection\nUnit.\n• Municipal • Petroleum Gas\nSystem\nEach Master Meter System should be considered a single\nInspection Unit. However, more than one Master Meter\nSystem should be considered a single Inspection Unit if all\nfacilities involved are owned, operated, and maintained\nunder common supervisory control.\nEach Municipal operator should be considered a single\nInspection Unit unless its system, similar to privately owned\ndistribution systems, contains transmission lines where\ntransmission integrity management inspections are done in\nwhich case the transmission system should be a separate\nInspection Unit. Also operating conditions/characteristics\ncould suggest additional Inspection Units be considered.\nEach system should be considered a single Inspection Unit.\nHowever, more than one petroleum gas system should be\nconsidered a single Inspection Unit if all facilities involved are\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\nvii\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nGlossary\n• Regulated\nGathering\nPipeline System\nInterstate Agent owned, operated, and maintained under common\nsupervisory control.\nEach regulated gathering pipeline system can be considered\nas a single Inspection Unit. Circumstances may exist when\nan operator has more than one regulated gathering system\nseparated into individual Inspection Units.\nThe State Agency assumes inspection responsibility for interstate\nfacilities and reports Probable Violations to PHMSA for\nenforcement actions.\nNational Response\nCenter (NRC) (1-800-\n424-8802)\nNational\nTransportation Safety\nBoard (NTSB)\nNon-compliance The federal government’s national communications center, which\nis staffed 24 hours a day by U.S. Coast Guard officers and marine\nscience technicians. The NRC receives all reports of releases as\nrequired by 49 CFR 191 and 49 CFR 195, Subpart B. This\n“telephonic” report data is shared with PHMSA as well as other\nfederal agencies such as Homeland Security, EPS, NTSB via an\ninformation system.\nThis Federal agency was created by Congress in the DOT Act of\n1966. Although NTSB’s authority is limited to transportation failure\ninvestigations, its mission relating to pipeline safety is to:\n1. Investigate significant failures and report the\ncircumstances relating to each failure and its\nprobable cause.\n2. Make recommendations to the Secretary, the\npipeline operators, manufacturers, associations, and\ninterested parties to minimize the possibility of\nrecurrence of similar failures.\n3. Release reports deemed to be in the public interest.\n4. Conduct special studies and investigations on\nmatters regarding safety in pipeline transportation\nand failure prevention.\nA violation or Probable Violation of any Federal or State pipeline\nsafety regulations.\nOPS is the office that handles pipeline safety for PHMSA\nOffice of Pipeline\nSafety (OPS)\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n(PHMSA)\nPHMSA is the agency under DOT that is responsible for pipeline\nsafety oversight.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\nviii\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nGlossary\nOPS Inspector\nTraining and\nQualifications Division\n(TQ)\nProbable Violation The safety training organization operated by OPS located at 3700\nS. MacArthur Blvd, Suite B, Oklahoma City, OK 73179-7612. The\ncontact telephone number is 405-686-2310.\nProgram Manager Region Director Region Office A Probable Violation is a potential Non-compliance with any Title\n49, Chapter 601 section or, where a section is divided into\nsubsections (a), (b), (c), etc., any subsection of federal or state\npipeline regulations. Each numbered section should be counted\nseparately. Multiple Non-compliances of a numbered section\ndiscovered on the same inspection should be counted as one\nProbable Violation with multiple pieces of evidence (i.e., during a\nunit inspection it was discovered that an operator failed to check and\nservice 6 distribution valves, in reference to 49 CFR 192.747 Valve\nmaintenance: Distribution systems, this is one Probable Violation of\n192.747(a) with six pieces of evidence and not six Probable Violations).\nThe person designated by the State Agency as responsible for all\nactivities of the pipeline safety program\nThe individual responsible for all activities of the designated OPS\nregion\nOne of five offices delegated the authority to carry out the field\nactivities for OPS\nA tool used to determine the required number of annual Inspection\nPerson-Days for a State Agency.\nState Inspection\nCalculation Tool\n(SICT)\nSpecial Initiatives State Agency Initiatives occasionally issued by PHMSA for a limited purpose.\nThe division of each State, including the District of Columbia and\nPuerto Rico, authorized through a Certification or Agreement with\nPHMSA to administer a pipeline safety program. Also referred to\nas “grantee” or “recipient.”\nThe OPS division that provides technical assistance, support and\nevaluates State Agency programs.\nPHMSA State\nPrograms\nSupervisor Individual in a State Agency supervising pipeline safety\ninspectors/investigators as designated in Attachment 7 of the\nannual Progress Report. This does not include individuals solely\nsupervising damage prevention/technical staff.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program Revised January 2026\nix\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nAcronyms\nACRONYMS\nAID Accident Investigation Division\nCFR Code of Federal Regulations\nLPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas\nNAPSR National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives\nNARUC National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners\nOMB Office of Management and Budget\nPDM Pipeline Data Mart\nRCFA Root Cause Failure Analysis\nU.S.C. United States Code\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program x\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\nPreface\nThe Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program\n(Guidelines) contain guidance for how State Agencies must conduct and\nexecute their responsibilities delegated through Certification or Agreement by\nthe Secretary of Transportation pursuant to Title 49 of the U.S.C. The Secretary\nof Transportation has delegated the administration of the Certifications and\nAgreements to PHMSA. These Guidelines are not regulations or rules\npromulgated by PHMSA.\nGuidelines are provided to promote consistency among the many State\nAgencies that participate under Certifications and/or Agreements. The\nguidance contains expectations for the execution of a State Agency’s\nresponsibilities which are evaluated annually. The performance evaluation\nresults are utilized to determine continued Certification/Agreement with a State\nAgency and annual grant funding amounts to the State Agency.\nThe Guidelines and performance of expectations are administered by PHMSA\nState Programs. The Guidelines are periodically reviewed and revised after\ninput and review by NAPSR.\n1 Federal/State Partnership\n1.1 Congressional Intent\n49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 provides the statutory basis for the pipeline safety\nprogram and establishes a framework for promoting pipeline safety through\nexclusive Federal authority for regulation of interstate pipeline facilities and\nState authority for all or part of the intrastate pipeline facilities under annual\nCertification or Agreement. 49 U.S.C. 60107(a) authorizes Federal grants-in-\naid of not more than 80 percent of a State Agency’s personnel, equipment,\nactivities, and other allowable costs for its pipeline safety program. The resulting\nFederal/State partnership is the cornerstone for ensuring uniform\nimplementation of the pipeline safety program nationwide. 49 U.S.C. Chapter\n601 can be found in Appendix A.\n1.2 Federal Role and Organizational Structure\nPHMSA’s mission is to protect people and the environment from the risks\ninherent in transportation of hazardous materials - by pipeline and other modes\nof transportation. The agency’s goals are:\n• Safety: To reduce the risk of harm to people due to the transportation\nof hazardous materials by pipelines and other modes.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 1\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\n• Environmental Stewardship: To reduce the risk of harm to the\nenvironment due to the transportation of oil and hazardous materials by\npipeline and other modes.\n• Reliability: To help maintain and improve the reliability of systems that\ndeliver energy products and other hazardous materials.\n• Global Connectivity: To harmonize and standardize the requirements\nfor pipeline and hazardous materials transportation internationally, to\nfacilitate efficient and safe transportation through ports of entry and\nthrough the supply chain.\n• Preparedness and Response: To reduce the consequences (harm to\npeople, environment, and economy) after a pipeline or hazmat failure\nhas occurred.\nUnder delegation from the Secretary of DOT, OPS directly administers the\nprogram and develops issues and enforces minimum safety regulations for\ninterstate and intrastate pipelines. These regulations are written to ensure\nsafety in (1) the design, construction, testing, operation, and maintenance of\ngas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and in (2) the siting, construction,\noperation, and maintenance of LNG facilities. OPS ensures compliance with\nregulations through operator inspections, enforcement actions, and accident\ninvestigations. In addition, TQ conducts training in application of the regulations.\nPHMSA also administers grant-in-aid funding to State Agencies, conducts\nresearch, and collects and analyzes safety data.\nPHMSA State Programs administers the grant-in-aid program to support State\nAgencies conducting gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety programs.\nThe OPS Region Offices serve as the focal point for interstate pipeline\ncompliance activities and intrastate facilities not under state jurisdiction. The\nregion staff provides technical assistance and support to State Agency\nprograms. State Agencies are encouraged to contact their respective State\nLiaison or Region Director if they have any questions about technical or other\ninspection issues. The PHMSA Director of State Programs should be\ncontacted if the State Liaison or Region Director cannot be reached.\n1.3 State Role and Organizational Structure\nA State delegates responsibility for pipeline safety to a State Agency. The State\nAgency may be a public utility commission, a state fire marshal, a public service\ncommission, or other state authority or office. State Agencies under existing law\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 2\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\nhave jurisdiction over most intrastate gas, LNG, and hazardous liquid facilities\nwithin their respective States. State Agency duties normally consist of operator\ninspections, compliance and enforcement, safety programs, accident\ninvestigations, pipeline design, testing and construction inspections, and record\nmaintenance and reporting.\n1.4 Related Organizations\n1.4.1 NAPSR\nNAPSR, established in 1982, is an organization of State Agency pipeline safety\nmanagers, inspectors, and technical personnel who support, encourage,\ndevelop, and enhance pipeline safety. NAPSR provides an effective\nmechanism for fostering the Federal/State partnership. The NAPSR Articles of\nAssociation set forth the purpose and objectives of the organization and the\nprocedures for electing national and region officers. The Articles of Association\nestablish the steps for adopting resolutions to raise pipeline safety concerns of\nnational scope for PHMSA consideration in regulatory and enforcement\nactivities.\n1.4.2 NARUC\nNARUC is an organization of Federal and State agencies engaged in the\nregulation of utilities and carriers. Its chief objective is to improve the quality and\neffectiveness of utility regulation in the United States. Through its Staff\nSubcommittee on Pipeline Safety under the Committee on Gas, NARUC\nprovides a communication channel among State public utility agencies,\nProgram Managers, and Federal agencies. Like NAPSR, the NARUC Staff\nSubcommittee on Pipeline Safety holds regular meetings, issues resolutions,\nand establishes working groups to deal with safety issues.\n1.5 Invitational Travel\nIn support of NAPSR and NARUC initiatives, PHMSA may provide invitational\ntravel (100% funding) for the following:\n1. The current NAPSR Chair and/or Vice-Chair to attend the NAPSR\nNational meeting and five NAPSR region meetings excluding the\nmeeting(s) held in their respective region. In the absence of the\nChair or Vice Chair, the Secretary may attend under Invitational\nTravel.\n2. GAC: The current NAPSR Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Past Chair\nand five State Agency representatives (one from each region). An\nalternate representative may attend in the absence of the region\nrepresentative provided the NAPSR Chair consults with PHMSA\nDirector of State Programs on the appointment and notifies the\nPHMSA State Programs point of contact (POC) about the selection.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 3\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 15>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\n3. NARUC Staff Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety: Five State Agency\nrepresentatives (one from each NAPSR Region) as designated by\nthe NAPSR Chair may receive Invitational Travel to attend NARUC\nStaff Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety functions.\n4. NAPSR Committees, Task Groups, and or other special projects: As\ndeemed necessary and agreed to by PHMSA Director of State\nPrograms in concurrence with NAPSR Chair.\nEach NAPSR/NARUC committee representative that has not traveled under\nfederal invitational travel orders shall complete the E-2 User Profile Request\nform. The form shall be completed prior to submitting the PHP Travel Request\nForm. All travel requests will need to be submitted at least one month prior to\neach tentative meeting. All Travel Requests and Travel Vouchers are submitted\nusing the following e-mail address: PHMSAStateInvitationalTravel@dot.gov.\nAll forms are available on NAPSR website, by contacting the NAPSR\nAdministrative Manager or by contacting PHMSA State Programs Point of\nContact (POC). Once the POC has reviewed and concurs with the request,\neach committee member will be provided additional details on travel\narrangements. Requests may be denied if not submitted within the time frame\nmentioned above or prior travel reimbursement voucher has not been\nsubmitted by the representative to PHMSA Headquarters for process.\nIn general, PHMSA will provide airline tickets for the approved travel and\nreimburse the traveler (not the State Agency) for other expenses at the\nstandard government per diem rates. See the GSA travel website for more\ninformation - Travel resources | GSA.(Rental car transportation is not typically\na reimbursable expense.)\nTo ensure invitational travel voucher requests are processed in a proper and\ntimely manner, committee members need to submit the PHP Invitational\nVoucher Form as soon as they return from the meeting. The individual traveler,\nor group/committee designee, shall also submit a written summary of the\nmeeting events within 30 days after the meeting to the NAPSR Administrative\nManager and PHMSA Director of State Programs.\nFunding is also subject to PHMSA budgetary constraints.\n1.6 Mutual Aid\nJust like natural gas utilities that rely on mutual aid provided by other gas\ncompanies during certain events, a State Agency may need support from\nOPS or other State Agencies during large incidents, outages, or\nrestorations. Any need for OPS support shall be requested through\nPHMSA State Programs. Any need for other State Agency support must\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 4\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 16>>>\n\nThe Federal/State Partnership\nbe requested through the requesting State’s department that handles the\nEmergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The EMAC\nprocess details the needs of the requesting State Agency, the process for\nresponding State Agencies to estimate their available resources including\ncosts and the process for responding State Agencies to be reimbursed by\nthe requesting State Agency. In addition to the EMAC process, PHMSA\nState Programs must be consulted to ensure that State Agencies\nproposing to provide mutual aid are suitable to provide assistance.\nThe following conditions apply to mutual aid:\nInspection days can only be counted for inspecting facilities in\naccordance with the State Certification and therefore NO inspection\ndays can be counted by the responding State Agency performing\ninspections on behalf of the requesting State Agency.\nState Agencies that do not meet their required number of inspection\ndays will lose points on the Progress Report score unless waived by\nthe PHMSA Director of State Programs for good cause. Although a\nresponding State Agency could request a waiver for failing to meet the\nrequired number of inspection days, there is no guarantee that the\nwaiver would be approved.\nThe number of days spent supporting a State Agency in need of\nmutual aid would be a consideration for waiving the points for the\nrequired number of inspection days. A simple spreadsheet\ndocumenting the inspector’s name and dates providing support to the\nrequesting State Agency would be necessary to consider the waiver of\nrequired inspection days.\nA State Agency should consider the impact to safety in their home\nstate before rendering aid to another state.\nCosts for the responding State Agency CANNOT be charged to the\nBase Grant by the responding State Agency. Costs for the responding\nState Agency can be reimbursed by the requesting State Agency\nthrough the EMAC process. Costs reimbursed to responding State\nAgencies by the requesting State Agency can be charged to the Base\nGrant by the requesting State Agency.\nGuidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program 5\nRevised January 2026\n\n<<<PAGE 17>>>\n\nState Participation Requirements\n2 State Participation Requirements\nState Agency participation in the pipeline safety program is based on voluntary\nsubmission of a Certification pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60105, or of an Agreement\npursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60106. State Agency participation may also include\nacting as an Interstate Agent on behalf of PHMSA.\nUnder a 60105 Certification, the State Agency assumes inspection and\nenforcement responsibility with respect to intrastate facilities over which it has\njurisdiction under State law. With a Certification, the State Agency may adopt\nadditional or more stringent standards for intrastate pipeline facilities provided\nsuch standards are compatible with Federal regulations. Under a60106\nAgreement or an Interstate Agent Agreement, the State Agency assumes\ninspection responsibility for facilities and reports Probable Violations to PHMSA\nfor enforcement.\nUnder a Certification, Agreement, or Interstate Agent Agreement, the State\nAgency may not subcontract pipeline safety-related work activities without prior\napproval from PHMSA. If the State Agency does not apply for annual\nCertification or Agreement, all intrastate facilities remain the responsibility of\nPHMSA.\n2.1 Section 60105 Certification\nTo qualify for 49 U.SC. 60105 gas or hazardous liquid Certification, the State\nAgency must meet the following requirements. Separate Certification is\nnecessary for gas and hazardous liquid programs. PHMSA’s procedures to\nmonitor, evaluate and reject a State Agency’s Certification are described in\nAppendix P.\n1. The State Agency must have adopted each Federal safety standard applicable to\nintrastate pipelines under its jurisdiction as of the date of the Certification. When a\nfederal standard is established within 120 days before the date of Certification, the State\nAgency must be taking steps pursuant to State law to adopt the standard.\nIf the State Agency is not eligible to submit a Certification at the beginnin","truncated":true,"body_characters":6649586}