The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) – Part of the US Department of Transportation, it provides the most extensive coverage of any government organization regarding pipelines. The many roles of the PHMSA include, but are not limited to: establish and enforce national pipeline regulations and policies, conduct research to be made available for the public, educate the public and first responders of handling pipeline failure, and protect the environment. They watch over private companies and receive reports on pipeline incidents when their regulations require companies to send in said reports. If a report shows that the company might be guilty of breaking a regulation, a PHMSA inspector will be sent out to determine if the company did anything wrong, and will give out citations or fines accordingly. Information on pipelines and hazardous liquids is distributed through their website. To contact the PHMSA, visit www.phmsa.dot.gov or email phmsa.pipelinesafety@dot.gov for information related to pipelines.
Pipeline and Gas Journal – Provides a resource for the peer-review and publishing of new reports on a variety of topics. Papers can range from in-depth looks into new materials being used for the construction of pipelines, new types of pressure stations, improvements to leak detection technology, information about public and environmental impacts of proposed pipelines, and updates on the current happenings around areas traversed by high amounts of pipelines such as the Marcellus Shale or Gulf Coast. The publisher of the Pipeline and Gas Journal, Oliver Klinger, can be contacted at oklinger@oildom.com.
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) – Provides independent statistics and analysis of every energy source being used in the United States, including petroleum and natural gas. They provide both short- and long-term outlooks on US energy; what kinds of energy are being used today, what kinds of energy will be used in a year, and what kinds of energy will be used in a decade and further from now. The EIA provides graphics to go along with their statistical analysis. Graphics can be used to supplement information about the locations of energy production, refinement, or situations such as petroleum spills and natural gas leaks. The EIA also explores domestic issues such as energy used during travel seasons. The EIA can be contacted for general information at InfoCtr@eia.gov or their automated information line, (202) 586-8800.
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners – One of many companies that is involved in the collection, refinement, and transportation of natural gas and liquid products. According to their website, they own and operate 14,190 miles of natural gas pipelines. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners’ headquarters is located in Houston, Texas. It operates six subsidiary companies: Texas Gas Transmission, LLC, Gulf South Pipeline Companies, LP, Gulf Crossing Pipeline Company, LLC, Boardwalk Field Services, LLC, Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream, LLC, and Boardwalk Petrochemical Pipeline, LLC. They connect directly from the Gulf of Mexico to the Northeast, and from there also distribute natural gas and liquid to unaffiliated companies. The numbers for Boardwalk Pipeline Partners primary facilities are (731) 479-8000 (Houston, TX) or (270) 926-8686 (Owensboro, KT)
Pipeline Safety Coalition (PSC) – A Pennsylvania based nonprofit, the Pipeline Safety Coalition is focused on providing unbiased information to increase public participation in the pipeline planning and building process. The PSC website provides subheadings for landowners and community members to visit and learn more about land rights and what recourse they might have in the event of a leak or other incident. As a Pennsylvania based group, the PSC focuses on Marcellus Shale gas and other active sections of Pennsylvania. The primary focus of the PSC is to act as a mediator between the public and pipeline companies, providing information on both the benefits and potential hazards of pipelines. The Pipeline Safety Coalition can be contacted through a form submission on their website, or by telephone at (484) 340-0648.