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Pipeline Safety: Preliminary Information on the Office of Pipeline Safety's Enforcement Activities

GAO-04-826T Published: Jun 15, 2004. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 2004.
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Highlights

Interstate pipelines carrying natural gas and hazardous liquids (such as petroleum products) are safer to the public than other modes of freight transportation. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), the federal agency that administers the national regulatory program to ensure safe pipeline transportation, has been undertaking a broad range of activities to make pipeline transportation safer. However, the number of serious accidents--those involving deaths, injuries, and property damage of $50,000 or more--has not fallen. Among other things, OPS takes enforcement action against pipeline operators when safety problems are found. OPS has several enforcement tools to require the correction of safety violations. It can also assess monetary sanctions (civil penalties). This testimony is based on ongoing work for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and for other committees, as required by the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. The testimony provides preliminary results on (1) the effectiveness of OPS's enforcement strategy and (2) OPS's assessment of civil penalties.

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Accident preventionFines (penalties)Hazardous substancesPerformance measuresPipeline operationsRegulatory agenciesSafety regulationSafety standardsStrategic planningTransportation safetyProgram management