Comparison of US and Canadian Transmission Pipeline Consensus Standards

A coordinated effort between the pipeline regulatory entities in the United States and Canada is paramount for reducing energy congestion across the border. The interconnected nature of the pipeline infrastructure in North America and the growing demand for energy in the US are clear drivers for cross border coordination and collaboration. Regulatory agency cooperation by the Canadian National Energy Board (NEB) and the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recognizes this dependency and the continued safe operation and expansion of the pipeline infrastructure. To achieve these goals, much is dependent on the adequacy and effectiveness of safety and specification consensus standards covering a wide range of pipeline transportation activities. Pipeline regulations in the US and Canada rely largely on the partial or complete incorporation of industry standards by reference. The US and Canadian national pipeline regulations are compared in this paper in design and construction areas, noting the important differences.