The committees provide peer reviews of all proposed pipeline safety rules to assure technical feasibility, reasonableness, cost-effectiveness and practicability. They also evaluate cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment information on each proposal.

These committees are chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C § 9 (c) (App 2). The charters describe each committee’s mission, goals, and objectives as specified by the FACA. The FACA governs advisory committee activities, and requires the Department to review the pipeline technical advisory committee charters every two years to determine the need for continuing the committees. The Secretary of Transportation and the General Services Administration (GSA) must approve each charter. For more information on the requirements of the FACA, contact GSA’s Committee Management Secretariat.

Each pipeline safety advisory committee has 15 members – with equal representation from Government, industry, and the public. Members’ qualifications must include: (1) knowledge of the Pipeline Safety Regulations addressing transportation of hazardous liquids or natural gas, and experience with operating pipeline facilities; or, (2) technical training, experience, or knowledge in at least one field of engineering applicable to the safe operations of pipeline facilities. The charter includes a description of the composition and duties delineated in current legislation 49 U.S.C. § 60115.