Pipeline Security
Pipeline Corporate Security Review (PCSR) Program
Conducted by the Pipeline Security Branch staff, the PCSR Program is an on-site security review with a pipeline company. PCSRs help establish working relationships with key security representatives in the pipeline industry as well as provide us with a general understanding of a pipeline operator's security planning and implementation. Data obtained from PCSRs aid in establishing a baseline against which to evaluate minimum security standards in the pipeline industry and identify coverage gaps. PCSRs help to identify and share smart practices observed throughout the industry.
International Pipeline Security Forum
The International Pipeline Security Forum is an ongoing initiative conducted annually by the Pipeline Security Branch in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada. This international forum is a 2-day conference that enhances government and industry pipeline security domain awareness and provides opportunities for discussion of major pipeline security issues, both domestic and international. Approximately 150 - 200 people usually attend the forum, and attendees include representatives and officials from the U.S. and Canadian governments, pipeline related associations and pipeline owners and operators from the U.S. and Canada, and representatives from the security, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The first International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in October 2005. The second International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Chicago, Illinois in November 2006. The third International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in October 2007. The fourth International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Salt Lake City, Utah in October 2008. The fifth International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in October 2009. The sixth International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 2010. The seventh International Pipeline Security Forum was held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in October 2011. It is planned that forum sites will continue to alternate between the U.S. and Canada in the future.
Cross Border Pipeline Assessments
These assessments are required under the Smart Border Accord and the Security and Prosperity Partnership Program, and six cross-border pipeline system assessments have been conducted by joint U.S. and Canadian teams.
Pipeline Security Stakeholder Conference Calls
Monthly stakeholder conference calls allow the Pipeline Security Branch to pass on and discuss pipeline security items of interest with pipeline industry officials and other government representatives. The conference calls also provide pipeline security stakeholders and security partners with the opportunity to ask questions on topics or issues of interest to them. These stakeholder conference calls are chaired by the Pipeline Security Branch Manager, and guest speakers are often brought in to make presentations and discuss important issues, topics and programs that pipeline industry officials may be interested in.
Critical Facility Inspection Program
On Aug. 3, 2007, President Bush signed The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, P.L. 110-53 (2007). Section 1557 of the law requires the TSA to develop and implement a plan for inspecting the critical facilities of the 100 most critical pipeline systems. We are collecting critical facility information from the top 100 pipeline systems and inspections of the facilities has begun.