Pipeline Specific Information
UTC Laws and Rules
- Gas and Hazardous Pipelines Law - RCW 81.88
- Gas Pipeline Leak Reporting - RCW 81.88.160
- UTC Safety Rules - Natural Gas - WAC 480-93
- UTC Safety Rules - Hazardous Liquid - WAC 480-75
- Underground Utilities - Damage Prevention Law - RCW 19.122
Federal Rules and Information
- Federal Pipeline Rules and Regulations
- PHMSA - Stakeholder Communications
- PHMSA - Office of Pipeline Safety
- PHMSA - WA Damage Prevention Information
- PHMSA - Pipeline Safety Awareness
- PHMSA - Pipeline News
- NAPSR - National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives
- NARUC - National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
Stakeholders and Partners
About the Pipeline Safety Program
The commission is responsible for developing and enforcing safety standards for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines located within the state. The commission also inspects the portions of interstate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines located within Washington state; the standards and enforcement actions are the responsibility of the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Washington State Pipelines
There are 39 pipeline operators in Washington operating over 47,000 miles of pipelines. 29 of the pipelines carry natural gas and 10 carry hazardous liquids such as gasoline and jet fuel. There are 11 interstate pipelines in Washington - six carry liquid and five carry natural gas. Interstate lines typically are large-diameter lines operating at very high pressure.
The commission also regulates a liquefied natural gas facility, propane storage sites, and natural gas master meters. Master meters are small natural gas distribution systems operated by schools, hospitals, or by residential complexes such as apartment buildings and mobile home parks.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Pipeline Safety Program is to ensure public health, safety, and environmental quality by:
- Conducting quality inspections of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipeline companies
- Improving safety laws and regulations
- Educating local communities on pipeline safety issues
- Providing technical assistance to pipeline operators, local governments and communities, and
- Enforcing laws and regulations in a fair & equitable manner
Program History
The pipeline safety program began inspecting natural gas systems operating within the state of Washington in 1955. Intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines were added to UTC's authority in 1996.
In 2000, the Legislature approved the Pipeline Safety Act - HB 2420 (.pdf) directing the program to seek federal approval to include inspections of all interstate pipelines. In 2001, the Legislature adopted the Pipeline Safety Funding Bill - SB 5182 (.pdf)
In 2003, after working closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for two years, the pipeline safety program became the lead inspector for all interstate pipeline inspections and incidents within the state of Washington. The UTC can make recommendations to PHMSA but does not have enforcement authority over interstate pipelines.
The program is supported through a combination of federal grants and pipeline fees.
Program Organization
The pipeline safety director manages the pipeline safety program. The chief pipeline safety engineer directs all compliance activities by the program’s eight pipeline inspectors. The operations manager oversees administrative support functions, budget work, and program policies development and management, and the program’s damage prevention efforts.
There is diversity among the inspectors from engineers to inspectors with extensive work experience with pipeline companies. All inspectors are federally certified, having completed training in all federal and state pipeline safety regulations, as well as advanced investigator training.
Pipeline Fees
The pipeline safety program is funded through a combination of federal base grants from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and pipeline company fees established by the commission.
In accordance with state laws and commission rules, WAC 480-75-240 and WAC 480-93-240, company fees are allotted among gas and hazardous liquid pipeline companies based on the total pipeline miles reported each year to the commission. The remaining program overhead costs are assigned to the company using an effort-based allocation system. The program requires staff to track all hours that are spent directly with the specific pipeline company and allocates fees based on each company’s percentage of hours worked.
Pipeline fees are determined each year before Sept. 1.
Pipeline Safety Contacts
Director, Scott Rukke, scott.rukke@utc.wa.gov, (360) 870-4923
Chief Engineer, Dennis Ritter, dennis.ritter@utc.wa.gov, (360) 402-0066
Operations Manager, Marina Rathbun, marina.rathbun@utc.wa.gov, (360) 664-1135
UTC Pipeline Safety Program
Phone - (360) 664-1160
Email - pipelinesafety@utc.wa.gov
The UTC’s offices are at 621 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, Washington. Map and Directions