Critical Infrastructure Protection: Actions Needed to Address Weaknesses in TSA's Pipeline Security Program Management

More than 2.7 million miles of pipeline transport and distribute natural gas, oil, and other hazardous products throughout the United States. Interstate pipelines run through remote areas and highly populated urban areas, and are vulnerable to accidents, operating errors, and malicious physical and cyber-based attack or intrusion. Pipeline system disruptions could result in commodity price increases or widespread energy shortages. Several federal and private entities have roles in pipeline security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is primarily responsible for the federal oversight of pipeline physical security and cybersecurity. This statement by William Russell, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, summarizes previous Government Accountability Office (GAO) findings related to TSA’s management of its pipeline security program. It is based on a prior GAO product issued in December 2018, along with updates as of April 2019 on actions TSA has taken to address GAO’s recommendations from the report. To conduct the prior work, GAO analyzed TSA documents, such as its Pipeline Security Guidelines; evaluated TSA pipeline risk assessment efforts; and interviewed TSA officials, 10 U.S. pipeline operators—a non-generalizable sample selected based on volume, geography, and material transported— and representatives from five pipeline industry associations. GAO also reviewed information on TSA’s actions to implement its prior recommendations. GAO made 10 recommendations in its December 2018 report to strengthen TSA’s management of its pipeline security program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agreed and has described planned actions or timeframes for addressing these recommendations.

• Record URL:
  https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/698835.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/698837.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Government Accountability Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Authors:
  • Russell, William
• Publication Date: 2019-5-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer security; Implementation; Oversight; Pipeline safety; Recommendations; Risk management; Security
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Transportation Security Administration
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Pipelines; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01705696
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO-19-542T
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 23 2019 4:29PM