United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2004-07-20 monographic deposited born digital 22 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-985T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T P0b002ee1803914cb f:d04985t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T GAO-04-985T Financial analysis Hazardous substances Noncompliance Performance measures Pipeline operations Testimony A11041 Interstate pipelines carrying natural gas and hazardous liquids (such as petroleum products) are safer to the public than other modes of freight transportation. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), the federal agency that administers the national regulatory program to ensure safe pipeline transportation, has been undertaking a broad range of activities to make pipeline transportation safer. However, the number of serious accidents-- those involving deaths, injuries, and property damage of $50,000 or more--has not fallen. When safety problems are found, OPS can take enforcement action against pipeline operators, including requiring the correction of safety violations and assessing monetary sanctions (civil penalties). This testimony is based on ongoing work for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and for other committees, as required by the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. The testimony provides preliminary results on (1) the effectiveness of OPS's enforcement strategy and (2) OPS's assessment of civil penalties. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T.pdf GAO-04-985T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-985T Testimony GAO-04-985T; Pipeline Safety: Preliminary Information on the Office of Pipeline Safety's Actions to Strengthen Its Enforcement Program; Financial analysis Hazardous substances Noncompliance Performance measures Pipeline operations