In addition to understanding how vital carbon capture is, it’s also essential to know more about the rules and agencies that are focused on making sure carbon capture is safe and accountable.

There are regulators at the state and federal levels that have key but different roles in regulating pipelines. Today let’s look at the federal side, what agencies are involved and what they are focused on.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): A Primer

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is part of the United States Department of Transportation. PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety ensures “the safe, reliable, and environmentally-sound operation of the nation’s natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline transportation system.”

PHMSA’s mission is to “protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives.” It “establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents.”

PHMSA regulates America’s 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system and the “nearly 1 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air.”

As part of its regulatory system, PHMSA ensures that pipeline systems are safe and secure. This includes the strict regulation of carbon capture pipelines that employ tested technology to transport and store carbon dioxide emissions underground safely.