Page 7 - Louisiana 811 Magazine 2020 Issue 3

Dig Laws, Regulation Changes, & Enforcement Data
An Overview with Steven Giambrone
Louisiana Department of Natural Resource’s Pipeline Division Director, Steven Giambrone works hard to oversee safety in the Pipeline Division’s five programs. “The main programs are Pipeline Safety Programs. We certify yearly with
the U.S. Department of Transportation to regulate
the Intrastate Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
in Louisiana,” explains Steven. “We do that through
an inspection program where we audit the pipeline operators. Then there’s the Pipeline Operations Program which regulates the Intrastate Natural Gas Transporters and it is more about operations and ensuring adequate natural gas supplies for Louisiana businesses and citizens than safety. We also have our Underground Natural Gas Storage Inspection Program where the Injection and Mining Division regulates and permits the storage caverns and the Pipeline Division inspects the wellheads. That’s also through a federal program with the U.S. Department of Transportation. And lastly, we have our Damage Prevention Program where we enforce the damage prevention laws on pipeline right-of-ways only. We don’t have authority for the other types of utilities.”
by Melissa Hancock 811 Magazines
Steven became the Director of the Pipeline Division
in February of 2015. He started his career with the Department of Natural Resources in the Engineering Division in June of 2002 after graduating from LSU
in Petroleum Engineering. He moved to the Pipeline Division in 2008 and has been there ever since. An important part of Steven’s role as Pipeline Division Director is to stay aware of and help implement the changing legislation around damage prevention laws and enforcement in Louisiana. “Our division took over enforcement during the 2017 regular session,” explains Steven. “The Legislature passed House Bill 389 that granted the Commissioner of Conservation (Richard Ieyoub) the authority to enforce on pipeline right-of- ways. The Commissioner of Conservation is over our office and has the final say over everything we do as far as regulating the oil and gas industry. He is appointed by and answers directly to the Governor.”
“Later, Senate Bill 82, which was introduced in 2019, granted the Commissioner the authority to extend the mark-by time and the expiration dates on locate requests that were in marine environments.” Steven explained
the intricacies of how this bill is a helpful addition to
the law. “It’s a little more difficult to get out there and mark in the water and it might take a little more time to locate. 48 hours is not always possible to do. In Louisiana
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2020, Issue 3 Louisiana 811 • 5