Nevada’s pipeline safety program run by the state’s regulatory commission earned a perfect score for the fourth time in five years last year in an annual evaluation done by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). The Nevada PUC operates as an agent for the federal OPS, enforcing federal safety provisions for liquid propane and natural gas pipeline operators.

The PUC oversees pipeline operators that include local distribution utilities, intrastate transmission pipeline systems, master-meter mobile home parks, and direct sales operators.

“The (Nevada) commission’s program has achieved the maximum possible score awarded by OPS during its audit,” said Craig Steele, Nevada PUC’s safety/quality assurance manager. “This is no small task given the ever-increasing federal regulations and rapid population growth in the state.”

PUC Chairman Don Soderberg lauded Steele and his staff for improving the program in recent years and keeping up with Nevada’s continued growth, which is the fastest population increase rate in the nation.

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