Pipeline Safety Division Staff
To contact a member of the Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division, click the link below
Report a Pipeline Safety Incident
To report a pipeline safety incident, please FIRST call the Commission's Pipeline Safety Division at the number below, then contact the National Response Center after speaking with the Division. If you witness or are involved in a pipeline emergency or you smell gas, move to a safe location and call 911.
- What to do if you smell gas?
If you smell gas:
If indoors, leave your home/building immediately!
- Do NOT turn on or off lights
- Do NOT make calls from your cell phone or landline while at home.
- Do NOT cause a spark.
- Leave windows and doors open while exiting to allow gas to vent outside.
If outdoors, move away from the area and follow these steps.
Call 9-1-1 and your natural gas utility (if you know the number) from a safe distance, away from the odor. Gas Company service personnel will be dispatched immediately.
Wait for the Gas Company service personnel or emergency services personnel to tell you it's safe to return to your home/building.
How to Recognize Where a Pipeline is Located
Many buried pipelines used in the transportation of petroleum products and natural gas are identified by above ground pipeline markers. Pipeline makers help to identify the approximate location of the pipeline and provide critical information to the general public and emergency responders such as the company that operates the pipeline, product transported, and a phone number that should be called in the event of an emergency.
At the link below, you can find additional information from PHMSA about how to recognize pipeline markers and what to do in the event a suspected leak is detected.
- Incident Response & Agency Coordination
After an incident occurs, local emergency departments and first responders will take the lead with support from gas operators to assess the situation. Once the incident site is considered safe, the Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division may be responsible for investigating the failure and could be on-site after an emergency for that reason. Depending on the situation, other state and federal agencies may also get involved such as the Environmental Protection Agency to help with remediation or possibly the National Transportation Safety Board for certain large-scale incidents.
About the Pipeline Safety Division
In 1968, Congress passed the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, which was the first federal statute regulating pipeline safety in the nation. The legislation also established the Office of Pipeline Safety, now under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), to oversee and implement the various regulations.
Due to the vast number pipelines across the U.S., with some crossing state boundaries (interstate) and others running within (intrastate), the law included a framework that allows for states to assume regulatory authority over intrastate gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and underground natural gas storage, under a certification agreement with PHMSA. This was designed to ensure the uniform implementation of the pipeline safety program nationwide. To participate in the program, states must adopt the minimum federal safety standards; however, they can always pass more stringent state regulations.
Federal Jurisdiction
PHMSA has jurisdiction over all interstate pipeline operators. Interstate pipelines are those that transport gas or liquids that cross state boundaries.
State Jurisdiction
The Commission has authority over intrastate pipeline operators only. Intrastate pipelines are those that transport gas or liquids within state boundaries.
In 1971, the Indiana General Assembly created the Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division to serve as the state’s pipeline safety authority. In partnership with PHMSA, the Division is responsible for enforcing state and federal regulations to ensure the safe and reliable operation of Indiana’s intrastate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline transportation system. This is accomplished largely through inspections, training, education and outreach, investigation of incidents, enforcement of compliance requirements, and monetary sanctions. The Division is also responsible for investigating alleged violations of Indiana's 811 law (Indiana Code chapter 8-1-26) and reporting its findings to the Underground Plant Protection Advisory Committee. To learn more about this process, visit our Damage to Underground Facilities page.
As a PHMSA certified state program, the Division receives most of its funding (up to 80% of program costs) through federal grants, which can be used to reimburse for personnel, equipment, and activity costs. Grant amounts are primarily determined through annual evaluations of the state’s program, alignment with federal rules and regulations, its annual reporting, and the availability of federal grant dollars.
During any given year, the Division conducts around 900-1,000 inspections days of approximately 80+ jurisdictional natural gas pipeline operators. This includes distribution, gathering lines, hazardous liquid, liquified natural gas (LNG), master meter, and transmission operators. To learn more about the Division’s role in regulating gas operators, click the link below.
The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) Public Viewer enables the user to view NPMS pipeline, liquefied natural gas plant and breakout tank data in one county or federal waters area at a time, including attributes and pipeline operator contact information.
View here
National Pipeline Mapping System
This is an interactive map of Indiana buried pipeline damages that have completed the IURC's review process.
View here
Indiana Gas Line Damages Map
This map highlights the number of tickets submitted through Indiana 811. The information is sortable by location, year, and season, and can show trends and percent change over time.
View here
Map of Indiana 811 Tickets
Events
The Commission's Pipeline Safety Division serves as an educational resource and participates in a variety of events to share information on the rules, regulations, and topics concerning pipeline safety.
- Pipeline Safety Conference
2024 Pipeline Safety Conference
Hosted by the Indiana Energy Association, the 2024 Pipeline Safety Conference was held July 8-10 in downtown Indianapolis. The conference, which focused on the regulatory and operational requirements associated with the distribution of natural gas and hazardous liquids, covered a variety of topics including updates on the gas mega rule, leak detection and repair, new damage reporting criteria, and so much more. Below are links to the presentations.
Presentations
- Construction Site Visits, GIS, and Mapping | PDF
- Distribution Integrity Management Programs | PDF
- IN811 Excavator Damage Prevention Partnership | PDF
- Instrument Calibration | PDF
- Liquid Pipelines Section | PDF
- PHMSA - Accident Investigation Division | PDF
- PHMSA - LDAR Brief | PDF
- PHMSA and New Damage Reporting Criteria | PDF
- PHMSA TQ - Mega Rule update | PDF
- Pipeline Safety Rules Update | PDF
- Pipeline Safety Updates | PDF
- SCADA and Control Rooms | PDF
- Telemetering and Reporting Gauges | PDF
- Public Awareness vs Emergency Liaison | PDF
- Master Meter Seminar
2024 Master Meter Seminar
In May 2024, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division hosted two regional seminars for master meter operators to expand their knowledge of the rules and regulations related to pipeline safety. Each seminar included an overview of the compliance inspection and preparation process, how to efficiently work with the PSD, damage prevention safety tips, and a review of important pipeline safety-related regulatory requirements. Click the link below to learn more.