What does the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 provide?
Signed into law in December 2002, the new legislation provides for the following advancements: • Requires operators of natural gas transmission pipelines to complete baseline assessments in 10 years, with the riskiest pipelines completed in 5 years, and reassessment within 7 years. • The successful technology partnership in effect with DOT and Department of Energy will be expanded to include the National Institute for Standards and Technology. These three will collaboratively build on the Administration’s current efforts to develop innovative inspection and monitoring technologies that measure the integrity of pipelines, improve reliability, and strengthen pipeline materials • The legislation allows states to enter into partnering agreements with DOT to supplement federal oversight of interstate pipeline operations in the following ways: • States would monitor new construction and investigate accidents. States would be active in local preparedness and damage prevention activities • Sta
