By this Order, the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) delegates to the Executive Director, Associate Administrators, Chief Counsel, Chief Financial Officer, and Staff Office Directors of PHMSA certain powers and authorities vested in the Administrator, and certain other powers and authorities the Secretary of Transportation has delegated by Federal regulation or otherwise to the Administrator. This Order also sets forth requirements by which future delegations may be made.

PHMSA was created pursuant to the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act (P.L. 108-426, November 30, 2004). This Act directs that the Administrator of PHMSA “carry out [the] duties and powers related to pipeline and hazardous materials transportation and safety vested in the Secretary by chapters 51, 57, 61,601, and 603 [of Title 49]; and other duties and powers prescribed by the Secretary.” 49U.S.C. § 108(f). In addition, the authority of the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) exercised under chapters 51, 57, 61, 601, and 603 of Title 49 were transferred to the Administrator of PHMSA. P.L. No. 108-426, § 2(b) (Nov. 30, 2004).