Arkansas Receives $618,000 Arkansas For Pipeline Safety Program

Arkansas has received more than $618,000 as part of the U.S. government’s program for state pipeline regulators to better inspect and enforce pipeline safety, federal officials recently announced.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently awarded more than $54 million in Pipeline Safety Base grants to 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

“Not only are these grants imperative for our Federal/State partnership to work, they demonstrate our commitment to the American public that we are serious about helping to make our utility lines the safest and most reliable in the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These grants ensure State programs have the funding they need for resources, including personnel and equipment, to protect communities, carry out inspections and enforce pipeline safety regulations that keep the entire pipeline network as safe as possible.”

The grants provide up to 80% of operating costs for state pipeline regulators that agree to inspect intrastate pipelines on PHMSA’s behalf. Participating states and territories account for 330 inspectors who are responsible for more than 80% of the country’s intrastate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline mileage. More than 2.6 million miles of pipeline transport oil and gas to homes and businesses throughout the country.

“Pipeline Safety Base Grants extend the reach of PHMSA and our State partners into our communities,” said Administrator Dominguez. “These grants allow us to have a strong local presence that is vital to effectively monitor pipelines and help protect the public from pipeline incidents.”

Arkansas has had its profile raised significantly in recent years in terms of pipeline inspections and safety. In 2013, a major oil spill occurred in Mayflower when ExxonMobil’s Pegasus Pipeline burst.