Pipeline Safety Program

The Pipeline Safety Program has existed in the State of Louisiana since the early 1970s. It was granted and is now authorized under the Federal certification process found in Chapter 601, Title 49 of the United States Code. The Federal/State partnership in developing and maintaining the program in Louisiana has helped improve public safety and preserve the environment in the State of Louisiana. This Program is responsible for regulating over 400 different intrastate pipeline operators to ensure that safety and compliance with the regulations are achieved. Our duties consist of pipeline operator inspections, compliance and enforcement, safety programs, accident investigations, and record maintenance and reporting.

Pipeline Safety Inspection Forms

Louisiana Pipeline Safety Statistics Page

Louisiana Damage Prevention Information

The Pipeline Safety Hazardous Liquids program has been in existence since the late 1980s. The program regulates the liquid pipelines for over 40 different operators and incorporates more than 4,800 miles of jurisdictional piping.

The Gas Transmission program has existed since the inception of the Pipeline Safety program in the early 1970s. It regulates the gas transmission facilities for over 90 different companies and incorporates over 6,400 miles of jurisdictional piping.

In 1999, the Pipeline Safety Section merged these two programs together to establish a consistent inspection practice for our main transmission and liquid trunklines throughout the State.

The Gas Distribution program has existed since the inception of the Pipeline Safety program in the early 1970s. It has grown to incorporate municipal-owned and parish-owned local gas distribution systems. It regulates the gas distribution facilities for 15 private companies, as well as, almost 100 political subdivisions and incorporates approximately 39,000 miles of jurisdictional piping.

Our master meter program was merged into our distribution program to establish a consistent inspection practice because of the fact all master meter systems basically have to comply with the same requirements as distribution operators. The majority of the master meter operators under Pipeline Safety jurisdiction are comprised of private schools, state-owned facilities like hospitals, prisons, DOTD district offices and other state-owned complexes, housing authorities, and parish school systems.

The transportation and distribution of natural gas, crude oil and petroleum products can threaten public safety and the environment. The Pipeline Safety program's mission is to provide regulation surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure the safety of the public and the integrity of the environment and to ensure sound operation and maintenance of the pipelines and facilities in the State's transportation system.

When the new school exploded in 1937, in New London, Texas killing over 500 teachers and students it rocked the nation. The cause of the accident was determined to be a leaking natural gas distribution service line in the recently built school. The school was receiving unodorized gas from some nearby gas wells. The entire school had no warning because you can not smell natural gas in it's raw state. This led the nation to take a hard look at pipeline safety and primarily the aspect of adding odorant to natural gas, and so began the initiative for comprehensive pipeline safety programs in the nation.

On March 4, 1965, a 24-inch natural gas pipeline owned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline ruptured near Natchitoches, Louisiana, killing 17 people. This accident is said to be responsible for the enactment of the 1968 Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act. This accident, described by the Federal Power Commission, was the worst pipeline accident since 1950.

In 1972, the Federal Department of Transportation prescribed a "Model State Gas Pipeline Safety Act" to allow for the authorization of States to adopt safety standards for the transportation of natural and other gas by pipeline. The original program in Louisiana was to be implemented by the Public Service Commission, however the job of establishing a Pipeline Safety program in Louisiana fell upon the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in 1974.

When the initial safety program started, the State only had jurisdiction over a small number of intrastate natural gas transmission and distribution companies. The regulatory requirements were basically the same as provided under the Federal CFR 49 Parts 191 and 192. The State program received jurisdiction of the municipally owned systems from the Federal government around the mid 1980s. The State legislature passed Act 22 and Act 250 in the late 1980s to give the state authority over master meter systems and schools. At the same time, Pipeline Safety was granted authority to collect a user fee from each jurisdictional pipeline operator. Also, during the 1987 legislative session, the State received authority to develop a hazardous liquids pipeline program. Both the natural gas and hazardous liquids programs are certified under the Federal grant and certification agreements.

In the early 1990s, the Federal DOT passed and promulgated rules for drug testing of pipeline personnel performing operations, maintenance and emergency response functions on pipelines. This was known as Part 199 and is a part of the State's regulatory jurisdiction over our intrastate operators. In 1994, Alcohol testing was added to Part 199 for the same personnel.

Siting and Right of Way for Pipelines

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates interstate natural gas transmission pipelines and reviews proposals to build new interstate natural gas pipelines.

New construction of intrastate carbon dioxide or natural gas pipelines under the jurisdiction of the Office of Conservation - Pipeline Division may require the pipeline operator to request a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or Certificate of Transportation along with a companion docket to Construct and Operate the pipeline or that portion of the pipeline as required by Louisiana Code LAC:43.XI.703 or LAC:43.XI.121 & 125, respectively, from the Commissioner of Conservation.

The Office of Conservation – Pipeline Division does enforce safety regulations for intrastate hazardous liquids pipelines within the State, but the siting and location of routes is handled by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Other state and local agencies may also be involved in regulatory matters for intrastate natural gas pipelines.

Below are some links to agencies with permitting authority:

Regulated Intrastate Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines are required to submit a Notice of Construction to the Pipeline Safety Office. The form for this notice is found below.

Louisiana Gas Association