Public Utilities Commission Public Utilities Commission State of Colorado DORA

Natural Gas Pipeline Safety

Colorado Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) Pipeline Safety Group is charged with enforcing the state's gas pipeline safety regulations in order to provide for the safety of the citizens of Colorado.

Through its 60105 Agreement with the U.S. DOT, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (OPS), the PUC conducts and carries out the inspection and monitoring activities of intrastate gas pipeline systems. These facilities include transmission, distribution, regulated gathering, master metered, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and propane (LPG) gas systems. Basic pipeline information pertaining to Colorado can be found on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (OPS) website.

The Western Region OPS inspects interstate natural gas and all hazardous liquids pipeline systems located in Colorado. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a document which may assist property owners with an interstate pipeline crossing their property - An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land - What Do I Need to Know? Additional land use information can be found under Educational /Training Guides at left .

The PUC also works closely with the trade organizations representing the pipeline industry and other State and Federal Agencies to effectively carry out its mission of public safety.
Current Topics

Gas Distribution Pipeline Integrity

On December 4, 2009, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published the final rule establishing integrity management requirements for gas distribution pipeline systems (Distribution Integrity Management Programs, or DIMP).  Through the U.S. DOT PHMSA Pipeline Safety Regulations, Part 192 Subpart P (Gas Distribution Pipeline Integrity), pipeline operators have been given until August 2, 2011 to write and implement their DIMP plan.

The DIMP regulation requires all jurisdictional gas distribution pipeline operators in Colorado (i.e., local gas companies) to develop, write, and implement a natural gas distribution system integrity management program that demonstrates the following elements:

  • Knowledge of the pipeline system
  • Identification of  system threats and the risk associated with those threats
  • Evaluation and ranking of risks 
  • Identification and implementation of measures to address risks
  • Provisions for plan measurement and performance, monitoring of results, and evaluation of effectiveness
  • Provisions for program improvement
  • Provisions for program reporting 

PHMSA has developed and continues to enhance guidance to help the public and the distribution pipeline industry understand DIMP and its effects on public safety.  Comprehensive DIMP information can be at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/dimp/ .


Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure and Pipeline Replacement Programs

Staff Presentation at May 18, 2011 Commissioners' Information Meeting -
by Steve Pott, the Commission’s Chief of Gas Pipeline Safety

    White Paper - PDF | Presentation - PPT | PDF
 
Consumer Protection