America's network of energy transportation pipelines delivers vital energy resources to your home, your workplace, and your community. Keeping our energy transportation infrastructure safe is a responsibility we all share.
We’ve added some links for kids and educators to learn more about pipelines and other energy topics.
Preventing excavation damage to this pipeline network is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). Working together with pipeline operators, state and local governments, excavators, property owners, and concerned citizens, OPS continues to focus on the development of comprehensive damage prevention programs to protect underground facilities.
OPS has sponsored and undertaken many initiatives aimed at public education and awareness to help assure the safety of our pipeline infrastructure. These initiatives seek the support and input of all stakeholders. Such initiatives include:
Dig Safely - In June 1999 DOT launched Dig Safely ©, a nationwide damage prevention campaign.
Common Ground Study - This OPS sponsored Study identified over 100 Best Practices in underground facility damage prevention.
Common Ground Alliance - The OPS provided assistance and resources to support the creation of this nonprofit organization dedicated to shared responsibility in damage prevention and the promotion of the damage prevention Best Practices. The OPS continues to sponsor and promote the work of the Common Ground Alliance and the Best Practices.
State Partners - The OPS works in partnership with state agencies to regulate, inspect and enforce intrastate natural gas and petroleum pipelines. This cooperative, collaborative relationship between the federal and state government--the Federal/State Partnership--forms the cornerstone of the pipeline safety program.
One-Call and Damage Prevention Grants - The OPS provides grant funding to qualified states to promote education and development of damage prevention programs.
Public Education and Awareness Rulemaking - The OPS plans to issue a rule to address requirements for pipeline operators' public education and awareness programs.
Introduction to Pipelines - Sponsored by the Pipeline Safety Division of the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), this interactive web site offers an introduction to the basic aspects of transportation pipelines. TSI is a part of the U. S. Department of Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration.