Analysis of the US legislative process for oil/gas pipeline safety

This paper presents the legislative process for oil and gas pipeline safety in the US Through the analysis of pipeline safety acts passed by the US Congress over the years, the characteristics of pipeline safety legislations are summarized for the following stages: (1) 1968-1978, the early stage of pipeline safety legislation, when all authorities, from the federal government to state governments, placed increasing emphasis on the pipeline safety, and the management content began to be refined; (2) 1979-2001, the improvement stage of pipeline safety regulations, when a coordination mechanism for emergencies was established, more efforts were taken on supervision, and the regulations then became more strict and meticulous; and (3) 2002 to now, the mature stage of legislation, when the oil and gas pipeline integrity management model was proposed, risk management has been intensified for the pipeline in high consequence areas, and the content of regulations is more systematic and scientific, which combines the modern security management ideas from the "cure" to "prevention", and the advanced pipeline safety management concept and its development trend to some extent. Oil and gas pipeline safety issues are of long standing, and relevant safety management problems encountered in developed countries also exist in China. Therefore, it will be a long-term task for us to improve oil and gas pipeline regulations and standards and management systems.