PHMSA 04-20

Contact: Ben Kochman

(202) 366-4831

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today executed an updated annex to the 2004 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which defines the agencies’ respective authorities and responsibilities regarding pipeline safety and security.

“This action will improve the safety and security of our nation’s energy infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The updated annex provides for interagency information-sharing regarding incidents, security threats, and the inspection of pipeline infrastructure that crosses the U.S.-Canadian border.  The annex facilitates strategic planning for natural and man-made disasters and memorializes best practices for interagency engagement.

“The revised annex to the MOU between PHMSA and TSA will enhance our agencies’ ability to coordinate efforts to advance the security and safety of pipelines, including sharing information on security incidents,” said PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott.  “We have committed to reviewing it at least once every five years to ensure that our safety efforts remain effective.”

The revised annex also satisfies two 2019 Government Accountability Office recommendations to review and update the 2006 annex.

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The mission of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) 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.  PHMSA develops and enforces regulations for the safe operation of the nation’s 2.8 million-mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly one million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air.  Please visit https://www.phmsa.dot.gov or https://twitter.com/PHMSA_DOT for more information.