The U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the federal agency responsible for regulating the safety of the more than 3 million miles of pipelines that transport oil, gas, and other energy products in the United States. As the primary pipeline safety regulatory authority, PHMSA stands at the crossroads of various domestic policy considerations, including the Biden administration’s emphasis on climate change and environmental issues, as well as the renewed focus on energy reliability and security concerns.

In this session, Keith Coyle, a former PHMSA attorney and shareholder with the Washington, D.C. office of Babst Calland, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based law firm that represents various clients in the energy industry, will discuss recent developments and trends in pipeline safety during the Biden Administration. Areas of discussion will include recently completed PHMSA rulemakings for onshore gas gathering lines and transmission lines and upcoming rulemakings for gas pipeline leak detection and repair technologies and changes to the regulations for liquified natural gas facilities. Mr. Coyle will also discuss the U.S. Congress’ efforts to pass legislation reauthorizing PHMSA’s federal pipeline safety program, which is expected to occur in 2023 or 2024.