RRC Open Meeting

RRC has scheduled an open meeting for Tuesday, March 19, beginning at 9:30 a.m. View the webcast here https://www.adminmonitor.com/tx/rcc/

Pipeline Safety

RRC's Oversight & Safety Program, ensuring compliance with safety regulations while promoting public safety & awareness

Pipeline Safety ANNOUNCEMENTS

NTO - Wildfire Danger Outlook


March 05, 2024

The fire danger in parts of Texas is not letting up. The National Weather Service is predicting dry and windy weather for West Texas and western Panhandle for several days this week.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) joined the statewide coordinated response to the wildfires which began last week. For more information, visit the RRC at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/news/022824-railroad-commission-responds-to-dangerous-wildfires/.

The RRC advises all operators under the its jurisdiction in areas of potential danger to exercise precaution and take the following actions:

  • Monitor local, state and national weather reports for updates on potential wildfire impacts;
  • Secure all personnel, equipment, and facilities to protect the safety of personnel; and,
  • Monitor and prepare operations for potential impacts, as safety permits.

If you need any RRC or other state agency’s assistance to respond to a fire threat, please contact RRC safety officers at soc@rrc.texas.gov.

The RRC also maintains a 24-hour, toll-free emergency line, 844-773-0305, to report emergencies, including leaks or spills and damage to gas pipelines.

Please Forward to the Appropriate Section of Your Company

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Overview

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What we do

The Oversight and Safety Division has responsibility for Alternative Fuels, Gas Services and Pipeline Safety.  This reorganization in January 2015 will bring even greater efficiency and consistency to these operations within the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), allowing the agency to better serve the state.

Texas has the largest pipeline infrastructure in the nation, representing about 1/6 of the total pipeline mileage of the entire United States. Texas’ pipelines are divided into the categories of natural gas and LP-gas distribution lines, hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission lines, hazardous liquid and natural gas regulated gathering lines, intrastate production and gathering lines leaving a lease, and interstate lines. The RRC has safety responsibility over the first four categories.

Pipelines that cross between states are considered Interstate and would be under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) - Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The PHMSA southwest regional office located in Houston covers Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The Pipeline Safety department works to enforce compliance with federal and state laws and regulations by pipeline operators. These regulatory responsibilities extend to  operators of intrastate gathering, transmission, distribution, and master-metered systems. The RRC  continues to lead the nation in adopting and enforcing safety rules to enhance the integrity of pipelines throughout the state.

Pipeline Safety rules administered by the RRC are adopted in the Texas Administrative Code, containing State specific requirements and incorporates by reference the minimum Federal safety standards for transportation of gas and hazardous liquids by pipeline and liquefied natural gas facilities.

The RRC  also promotes and enforces an underground pipeline damage prevention program for Texas. The Pipeline Safety department is responsible for the enforcement of damage prevention regulations involving the movement of earth (excavation) surrounding pipeline facilities.

The goal of the Pipeline Safety department is to encourage an efficient, economical, and safe pipeline industry; to that end, we oversee pipeline activities to ensure compliance with state and federal safety regulations and promote public safety and awareness.

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