State Receives Perfect Score Three Years in a Row from Federal Pipeline Safety Agency
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) received another perfect score from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for its pipeline safety oversight program in 2024.
This evaluation marks the third consecutive year that the DPU's Pipeline Safety Division has received a perfect score for the enforcement and implementation of federal pipeline safety standards.
"The Pipeline Safety Division is one hundred percent committed to vigilant oversight of the gas utilities and the safety of our state's natural gas system," said Chair Jeremy McDiarmid. "Under its current leadership, the Division has stepped up, increased its staff, and is ever focused on core safety operations. That dedication is reflected in our track record of receiving the highest scores possible for PHMSA's annual evaluations. The Pipeline Safety Division will continue its efforts, working hard every day to ensure the safety of gas operators, workers, and the public."
The DPU's Pipeline Safety Division is dedicated to the safety and integrity of intrastate pipelines in Massachusetts. Through rigorous enforcement, the Division ensures that the investor-owned gas utilities, municipal gas departments, steam distribution companies, and operators of intrastate Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilities comply with both state and federal safety laws. In recent years, the Pipeline Safety Division, which is led by its Director Richard Enright, increased its staffing by over 300 percent to now include three attorneys and a total of 20 total engineers, with three dedicated damage prevention engineers and one engineer dedicated to the inspection of steam distribution systems. Mr. Enright has managed the Division since September 2019 and is an esteemed professional with 26 years in the gas operations industry at nearly every major utility. Under his leadership, the Division's team of committed engineers, attorneys, and support staff have transformed the safety culture within the DPU and the gas industry, ensuring that the state's gas infrastructure is safe and reliable.
PHMSA is the federal agency tasked with regulating the safety of the transportation of energy and other hazardous materials. It must review annual Progress Reports, pipeline program procedures and records, and observe on-site inspections done by state safety regulators to adequately assess each state's pipeline safety program when conducting evaluations. Since 2022, the Pipeline Safety Division has scored the maximum possible points for both portions of PHMSA's evaluation.
By increasing its oversight of gas utilities and contractors, the Pipeline Safety Division has led a transformative shift in educating and enforcing the laws. With legislative changes increasing penalties for gas operators who violate pipeline safety laws and regulations, the Pipeline Safety Division drove the reduction in damages through its enforcement, an increased field presence, and education. Its Damage Prevention Program provides educational seminars across the state throughout the year. The implementation of new pipeline and damage prevention databases has helped to maintain accurate and reliable data and record-keeping of gas infrastructure. The Pipeline Safety Division continues to collaborate with Dig Safe, Inc. to promote awareness in New England and help educate excavators, contractors, and property owners on the safety laws that must be followed before outdoor digging projects can commence.
