Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Section

The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Section conducts and carries out inspection and monitoring of all the natural gas pipeline systems operating in North Carolina. This responsibility was given to the Commission in North Carolina General Statutes 62‑50.  G.S. 62-50(c) authorizes the Commission to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Transportation to regulate and inspect the safety standards of all natural gas pipelines in the state.  The statuary basis for the federal pipeline safety program is found in Chapter 601 of Title 49, United States Code, pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968.  The Pipeline Safety Section conducts annual inspections on all of the jurisdictional operators in the State of North Carolina.

As part of the annual safety inspections, the Pipeline Safety Section conducts inspections involving integrity management, operator qualification, operations, maintenance, construction, drug and alcohol, and public awareness on the natural gas operators in North Carolina to ensure compliance with the Pipeline Safety Regulations.  Incident investigations are also conducted as necessary.

The North Carolina Pipeline Safety Section currently regulates 34 distribution systems, 30 transmission systems, 8 municipal systems, 3 housing authorities, 3 LNG facilities and 4 landfill methane recovery sites.  During the calendar year 2011, the Pipeline Safety Section had 466 total inspection days.  Also during the calendar year 2011, 13 compliance actions were cited during the inspections.