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 assistance and technical services (CATS) managers operate from each of the five OPS regional offices.
CATS managers are available to assist the public and state or local officials with inquiries concerning pipeline safety-related issues.
OPS enforces the pipeline safety regulations for interstate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Minnesota based on inspections performed by the state.
Through certification by OPS, the state inspects and enforces the pipeline safety regulations for intrastate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Minnesota. Also, by signed agreement with OPS, the state inspects interstate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Minnesota. This work is performed by the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety also enforces the state one-call laws under M.S. 216D and provides education on damage prevention. The state is a member and actively supports the Common Ground Alliance national damage prevention coalition.
Contact information for pipeline safety regulation in Minnesota:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety / Office of Pipeline Safety
445 Minnesota Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101-5155
Chief Engineer: Jonathan C. Wolfgram, P.E.
Office: 651-201-7230; Fax: 651-296-9641
E-mail: Jonathan.Wolfgram@state.mn.us
Office of Pipeline Safety - Central Region Office
901 Locust St., Room 462
Kansas City, MO 64106
Telephone: 816-329-3800
Director: Dave Barrett
CATS Managers: Harold Winnie / Allan Beshore
Direct: 816-329-3836 / 816-329-3811
E-mail: harold.winnie@dot.gov/allan.beshore@dot.gov
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
East Building, Second Floor (PH)
Washington D.C. 20590-0001
Administrator: Cynthia L. Quarterman
Assistant Administrator / Chief Safety Officer: Mark Carr
Media Contact - Deputy Director, Office of Governmental, International and Public Affairs: Patricia Klinger
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety: Jeff Wiese
Phone: 202-366-4595
Date of Revision: 01202015 from http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/FactSheets/States/MN_State_PL_Safety_Regulatory_Fact_Sheet.htm
