While pipeline failures are relatively rare, over the past few years there’ve been some devastating – and deadly – pipeline failures in the U.S.

With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking a hard look at the country’s pipeline infrastructure and is reporting the findings to the public in the form of a Pipeline Safety Update.

The update details the actions taken by DOT, the states, communities and pipeline operators, including the passage of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011. It also includes an overview of the nation’s pipeline infrastructure, the factors that affect pipeline safety and the role of stakeholders in pipeline safety.

The DOT says the update is dynamic, and will be updated as new data arrive. It will also become a hub for updates on safety regulations, public comment opportunities and other initiatives, so be sure to bookmark this site. Updates will also be provided on Twitter using #PipelineUpdate.

Access the Table of Contents and the dynamic supplemental information on pipeline safety from the right-side menu or download a PDF of the Pipeline Safety Guide.

The Path Forward: The Call to Action and Other Pipeline Safety Initiatives

The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is aimed at improving pipeline safety and to identifying new initiatives resulting from evaluation of the ideas summarized in this section. The Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 is one of the most important pieces of legislation to affect pipeline safety in recent years. Clickhere for more information about the activities of the PHMSA.