Natural Gas Pipeline

Pipeline transportation is a cost-effective and efficient means of transporting natural gas compared to other modes of transportation; thus, the network of natural gas pipelines in the U.S. is very extensive and consists of gathering pipelines, interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas distribution pipelines, and associated compressor and metering stations as well as underground storage facilities. The acquisition of rights to use real estate for the installation of pipelines creates a number of legal concerns for landowners of this affected real estate.

According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), there are more than 300,000 miles of interstate and intrastate transmission pipelines and over 15,000 miles of gathering pipelines for approximately 2.1 million miles of distribution pipelines as of January 2017. More specifically, in Pennsylvania, the network of natural gas pipelines accounts for more than 50,000 miles.

The U.S. Natural Gas pipeline network is mainly regulated by two federal agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), acting through the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). Other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), also have an important role to play in the regulation of natural gas pipeline systems.

FERC has statutory authority over interstate natural gas pipeline transportation rates and services under the Natural Gas Act as well as oversight to review applications for the construction and operation of such pipelines. FERC, however, does not regulate the safety of pipelines for the transportation of natural gas, which is the responsibility of the PHMSA. Among others, PHMSA is responsible for setting and enforcing regulations and standards for the design, construction, operation, maintenance or abandonment of pipelines. In addition, state and local governments have responsibility for the approval, permitting, and sitting of intrastate pipelines but also for setting the safety regulations and inspection standards applying to pipelines within the state boundaries. 

This guide is intended to present a collection of primary and secondary legal resources relating to pipeline siting and safety. While the Center for Agriculture and Shale Law makes every effort to maintain and update the content furnished in this guide, no warranty or other guarantee is made regarding the timeliness or accuracy of any information provided.