Arizona Pipeline Safety Section receives perfect score on annual audit

The Arizona Corporation Commission Pipeline Safety Section recently received a perfect 100-point score on its annual audit by the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHSMA).

The PHSMA acknowledged the commission’s Safety Division for its accomplishment at the beginning of the PHSMA Open Meeting on Tuesday. The department offers reimbursements covering 80 percent of operating costs to agencies that meet or exceed federal safety standards. PHSMA audits ensure that standards are complied with, and offer financial incentives in the form of substantial grant money for divisions that succeed. The Commission Pipeline Safety Division’s reimbursement will amount to $1.2 million.

“The Safety Division’s work is something that impacts every person in the state,” Chairman Doug Little said. “This division has set the bar high and continues to reach higher to ensure the public’s safety and reliable services statewide.”

The Safety Division performs audits of 27 companies across the state each year, which includes the inspection of an area sustaining 38,442 miles of main and service distribution pipeline that connects 1.3 million customers.

Owing in part to efforts including audits such as these, the Safety Division has received a score of 99 points or more on all PHSMA evaluations over the past six years.