On July 22, 2025, PHMSA announced pipeline inspection and enforcement (I&E) priorities. This is something new for PHMSA. The memo directs PHMSA I&E staff to concentrate their efforts on five priority areas:
- Incidents and Accidents;
- High and Moderate Consequence Areas;
- Control Room Management and Leak Detection;
- Damage Prevention; and
- Transactions and Due Diligence.
PHMSA I&E staff will also prioritize inspections to confirm operator compliance with recent rulemakings. These include requirements for:
- rupture mitigation valves,
- verification of pipeline materials,
- reconfirmation of Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure, and
- Underground Natural Gas Storage facility safety.