- Introduction
- Statutes and Regulations
- Regulated Entities
- Maps
- Inspection Records and/ Accident Reports
- Enforcement Actions
- Excavation Damage Data
- Contact Information
- Additional Links
Welcome to the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s pipeline safety page.
The federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 led to safety standards for pipeline transportation of natural gas. The law established procedures under which states can assume the responsibility for regulation and enforcement. These federal-state partnerships assure uniform nationwide implementation of the pipeline safety program.
In 1970, the Kentucky General Assembly chose the PSC as the state agency that would enforce the federal pipeline safety standards. The PSC is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) as having adopted the minimum federal regulations and established substantially the same enforcement measures as those in the federal pipeline safety statutes. The PSC also must promote damage prevention to underground facilities, cooperate fully in a system of federal monitoring, and maintain and submit required reports. The federal government reimburses Kentucky for up to 80% of the cost of the state pipeline safety program.
STATUTES AND REGULATIONS
The Kentucky Public Service Commission enforces federal and state pipeline safety laws and regulations for intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines and for local natural gas retail distribution systems. The PSC has jurisdiction over 32 intrastate pipeline operators, 32 distribution utilities, 51 municipal distribution systems, and 116 other natural gas operators such as local housing authorities.
Federal pipeline safety regulations are minimum standards to assure safety in design, construction, inspection, testing, operation and maintenance of pipelines. The applicable sections of the Code of Federal Regulations are:
49 CFR Parts 190 - 199- 190 – Enforcement procedures
- 191 – Natural gas reporting requirements
- 192 – Natural gas
- 193 – Liquefied natural gas
- 194 – Response plans for onshore oil pipelines
- 198 – State grants
- 199 – Drug and alcohol testing
Kentucky Revised Statutes
- 278.470-278.502 Oil and Gas Pipelines and Related Facilities
- 278.485 – “Farm Tap Regulation”
- 278.495 – Authority to regulate master meters
- 278.504-278.508 Natural Gas
Kentucky Administrative Regulations
- 807 KAR
- 5:022 – Gas Safety and Service
- 5:026 – Gas Service; Gathering Systems
- 5:027 – Gas Pipeline Safety; Reports of Leaks
Click here and here for the Kentucky regulations.
To see the federal regulations, click here
For the homepage of the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) click here
For Kentucky-specific information on the PHMSA website, go here
REGULATED UTILITIES
For a list of pipeline companies and natural gas distribution entities regulated by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, click here and select categories 300, 310 or 320 and search the selected category. Entities are listed alphabetically within category. For information on a specific entity, including contact information and service area, select the view option for that entity.
MAPS
Under Kentucky law, access to information about pipeline locations is limited. For available geographic information, go here and select the Natural Gas tab.
To access the portion of the federal National Pipeline Mapping System that is available to the public, click here
INSPECTION RECORDS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS
Inspection records and accident reports are not currently available online. They can be obtained by filing a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission under the Kentucky Open Records Act. The request form is available here
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Records of Kentucky Public Service Commission pipeline safety enforcement actions are available online. To locate records for a specific company, go to the docket search page here, choose “Docket for selected utility” and enter the utility name. That will produce a list of cases. All case records from 2004 to present can be found here. Older cases may be obtained by filing an Open Records Act request.
EXCAVATION DAMAGE DATA
Kentucky does not require reporting of all excavation damage incidents. The PSC enforces regulations as they relate to federal and state requirements for natural gas companies concerning damage prevention and public awareness programs. For more information about excavation damage prevention programs in Kentucky, go to the Kentucky 811 website here.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Click here to contact the PSC’s Pipeline Safety BranchFor more information:
Jason Brangers
Manager, Gas and Pipeline Safety Branch
Kentucky Public Service Commission
211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-3940 Ext. 416
Andrew Melnykovych
Public Information Officer
Kentucky Public Service Commission
211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-3940 Ext. 208
Kimra Cole
Director of Engineering
Kentucky Public Service Commission
211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-3940 Ext. 400
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Kentucky Gas AssociationNational Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives:
NAPSR 2011 Compendium of State Initiatives:
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners



