PIPELINE SECURITY: AN OVERVIEW OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES AND CURRENT POLICY ISSUES

Nearly half a million miles of oil and gas transmission pipeline crisscross the United States. These pipelines are integral to U.S. energy supply and have vital links to other critical infrastructure, like power plants, airports, and military bases. While an efficient and fundamentally safe means of transport, many pipelines carry volatile or flammable materials with the potential to cause public injury and environmental damage. The nation's pipeline networks are also widespread, running alternately through remote and densely populated regions; consequently, these systems are inherently vulnerable to terrorist attack. Pipeline operators have had security and emergency response programs in place for decades, but they have recently been taking steps to enhance those programs in response to new terrorist threats. Congress passed legislation to further encourage the pipeline industry to adopt better security practices, and to provide federal oversight of operator security programs (P.L. 107-71, P.L. 107-296, P.L. 107-355). Policy makers are now examining the progress and adequacy of these efforts. This report provides an overview of recent federal activities related to pipeline security, including safety activities with links to security. The report describes the U.S. gas and oil pipeline networks, the industry's safety record and security risks, and the industry's security activities since September 11, 2001. It summarizes recent changes in federal pipeline security law and related changes in the security roles of federal agencies. The report discusses several policy concerns related to federal pipeline security efforts: 1) federal threat information for pipelines, 2) criteria for identifying "critical" assets, 3) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) funding for pipeline security, and 4) federal agency cooperation in pipeline security.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/RL31990.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Congressional Research Service

  Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, SE
  Resources, Science and Industry Division
  Washington, DC  United States  20540-7500
• Authors:
  • Parfomak, P W
• Publication Date: 2004-2-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 29 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperation; Federal government; Federal government agencies; Financing; Gas pipelines; Interagency relations; Laws; Legislation; Oversight; Petroleum pipelines; Pipeline safety; Pipelines; Policy; Security; Terrorism; Threats
• Identifier Terms: Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; U.S. Transportation Security Administration
• Subject Areas: Law; Pipelines; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00976380
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 2004 12:00AM