• Statute 216.G Pipelines

• Statute 216.D One Call Excavation Notice System

• Statute 299.J Office of Pipeline Safety

• Statute 299.F Fire Marshal

Pipeline Permitting & Routing

The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) acts as a regulatory agency ensuring Minnesota’s pipeline infrastructure is in compliance with applicable pipeline safety standards.  State Statutes do not give MNOPS regulatory oversight over pipeline routing and permitting.

State Statutes (Minnesota Statute 216G) do give routing and permitting authority to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regarding the following:

• Pipelines with a diameter of six inches or more that are designed to transport hazardous liquids like crude petroleum
• Pipelines designed to carry natural gas and be operated at a pressure of more than 275 pounds per square inch

State Statutes do not apply to interstate natural gas pipelines regulated under the federal Natural Gas Act and to pipeline owners or operators who are defined as a natural gas public utility under Minnesota Statute 216B.02.  Rules for the administration of pipeline route permits are found in Minnesota Rules Chapter 7852. Routing and permitting of interstate natural gas pipelines fall under the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Rules

Minnesota Rules Related to Pipeline Safety

• Chapter 7530 Pipeline safety enforcement and sanctions
• Chapter 7535 Model pipeline setback ordinance
• Chapter 7560 Excavation notice system 

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the agency that develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system. Follow this link for the federal regulations, standards and rulemaking page.

Policies

Office of Pipeline Safety Policies

Telephonic Notification and Reporting Policy

Alert Notices

Associated Pipeline Safety Notice or Policies