The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is shifting from wide-reaching inspections to a more targeted, data-informed regulatory strategy. This new approach prioritizes oversight where safety risks are highest, marking a meaningful change in how the agency monitors and enforces pipeline safety standards.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy emphasized that the goal is public safety, saying “PHMSA regulations should be used to ensure the safe transportation of energy products — not as a tool to drive fossil fuels out of business. Our new transparent, data-driven approach to enforcement will pinpoint key areas of concern, keep communities safe, and refocus PHMSA on its core mission – improving pipeline safety."
The enforcement focus now centers on five key areas: managing control rooms and detecting leaks, preventing infrastructure damage, analyzing incident trends, addressing high-risk geographic zones, and scrutinizing corporate transactions and due diligence related to pipeline assets.
This strategy builds on several rulemakings introduced after major pipeline incidents. PHMSA will concentrate compliance checks on requirements such as rupture mitigation valves, verifying pipeline material and operating pressures, and enhancing standards for underground natural gas storage. These updates reflect the agency’s commitment to learning from past failures.
Acting Administrator Ben Kochman stressed that PHMSA's enforcement efforts remain rigorous. “We won’t hesitate to use every enforcement tool at our disposal when those standards aren’t met.”
In parallel with its regulatory overhaul, PHMSA has finalized the creation of the National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety, a new research and training hub located at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Backed by a 20-year lease agreement, the Center will lead efforts in LNG safety innovation, regulatory coordination, and workforce training. Lake Charles was selected due to its strategic relevance to the U.S. LNG supply chain and proximity to key infrastructure.
The facility was developed in response to directives from the PIPES Act of 2020, which aimed to strengthen U.S. leadership in safe LNG operations through institutional expertise and stakeholder collaboration. With support from federal and academic partners, the Center will coordinate efforts across agencies and with international partners to confront emerging safety challenges.
Senator John Kennedy underscored the national security and economic significance of LNG production, framing the Center as a long-term investment in safe energy expansion. “LNG production is one of the most critical ways our nation can unleash our energy dominance and protect our national security, and Louisiana is leading the way. I’m proud to see the U.S. Department of Transportation take this major step forward in building our National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Lake Charles. This Center will be a game changer for our region and be the tip of the spear for LNG innovation, operations, and safety in the U.S.”
McNeese State University President Dr. Wade Rousse described the two-year development effort as a collaborative milestone, emphasizing the Center’s role in anchoring future safety standards. "We believe having PHMSA right here in Lake Charles—working alongside us—will serve as a powerful catalyst for securing the future of our region’s vital industries.”
