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South Dakota Pipeline Safety Program
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, through the Pipeline Safety Program, is responsible for regulating hazardous gas intrastate pipelines to ensure the public is provided safe and dependable gas service.
The Office of Pipeline Safety, within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, has overall regulatory responsibility for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines under its jurisdiction in the United States. Through certification by OPS, the PUC regulates, inspects, and enforces intrastate gas pipeline safety requirements.
The PUC staff has pipeline safety authority to inspect and investigate intrastate natural gas pipeline operators, master meter operators, jurisdictional propane systems and liquefied natural gas facilities for compliance with statutes and administrative rules.
The program is funded through an inspection fee on the pipeline operators and by reimbursements from the federal pipeline safety program. The commission has rulemaking authority to calculate, assess and collect the fee on the pipeline operators.
The Pipeline Safety Program has jurisdiction over 304 miles of transmission and 5,367 miles of distribution pipelines that serve 224,841 South Dakota customers. The South Dakota operators subject to the program's jurisdiction include four natural gas distribution system operators, four municipal natural gas system operators and seven intrastate transmission pipeline operators.
Staff
Two staff engineers, with support from staff attorneys, carry out the primary duties of the Pipeline Safety Program. They receive assistance from the PUC's management, administrative and communications staff as needed.
Pipeline Operators
The PUC's safety jurisdiction covers intrastate gas transmission operators, municipal and investor-owned intrastate gas distribution operators, intrastate gas master meter operators and intrastate propane operators.
Inspections
Trained staff members from the PUC's Pipeline Safety Program conduct a number of inspections throughout the year to ensure pipelines are operating safely and adhering to federal and state laws and rules. Inspections involve physical testing and visual examinations of pipeline facilities as well as reviews of records maintained by the pipeline operator to verify scheduled maintenance is being performed and operator training and certification are current.
Forms
The PUC provides examples of forms used by its Pipeline Safety Program inspectors.
Training and Seminars
The PUC Pipeline Safety Program provides training and qualifications seminars and operator assistance visits upon request. Training may be conducted on location or at a common site for multiple operators. Types of on-location assistance include public awareness program development and gas integrity management program development; training on additional regulations is available. Call the PUC at (605) 773-3201 to inquire about training assistance from Pipeline Safety Program staff. .
Pipeline Informational Filings (includes incident investigations)
The PUC posts non-docketed information regarding pipeline safety issues.
South Dakota Significant Incidents and Mileage Overview, PHMSA
State of South Dakota Helpful Links- PUC pipeline safety dockets
- South Dakota Statutes, Pipeline Safety, SDCL 49-34B
- South Dakota Administrative Rules, Pipeline Safety, ARSD 20:10:37
- South Dakota Administrative Rules, Assessment of Fees for Intrastate Gas Pipeline Operators ARSD 20:10:31
- South Dakota One Call
- Landowner's Guide to Pipelines
- National Pipeline Mapping System
- Code of Federal Regulations 49 Part 191, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline; Annual Reports, Incident Reports and Safety-Related Condition Reports
- Code of Federal Regulations 49 Part 192, Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline; Minimum Federal Safety Standards
- Common Ground Alliance (CGA)
- U.S. Dept. of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR)
