We’re always excited to see states taking the initiative to strengthen pipeline safety regulations, but Nevada has done several things that really stand out, as outlined in a recent letter from Nevada’s pipeline safety program staff to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Most pipeline safety work in the U.S. happens at the state level. While the federal pipeline regulator, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sets federal standards, state programs do the heavy lifting by handling most intrastate pipelines, including almost all the distribution systems that bring gas into homes and businesses.
States that get certified by PHMSA can set stricter standards than the federal minimums, and many have taken advantage of this. If you’re curious what other states are doing, the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) publishes an annual compendium of state regulations that go beyond federal requirements which you can find here.
Nevada has shown what’s possible when regulators take pipeline safety seriously. Here’s where they’re leading the way on safety:
Beginning in 2011, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUCN) has been working with operators on the accelerated pipeline replacement of Aldyl-A natural gas pipelines. Aldyl-A plastic pipe has long been recognized as a problematic pipe material due to brittle-like cracking issues that have caused fatal failures, like the 2023 West Reading, Pennsylvania factory explosion that killed seven people. From 2011 to 2025, Nevada has since eliminated all the known Aldyl-A pipe within its natural gas distribution system, undoubtedly making communities safer as a result.
Since 2016, Nevada’s pipeline safety program website has received a perfect score in PST’s annual State Pipeline Safety Website Transparency Review. This score represents how accessible, clear, and comprehensive a state’s pipeline safety website is to members of the public and this positive effort from Nevada ensures that the public can be informed and participate in pipeline safety matters.
In July 2021, Nevada became the first state in the country to require annual leak surveys on all intrastate natural gas distribution pipelines. Current PHMSA regulations require most leak surveys on distribution lines to be conducted at intervals of five years, not nearly often enough to find and fix potentially dangerous leaks. Results from the first few years of these annual leak surveys show that operators are finding more leaks and fixing them faster, as compared to a three or five-year leak survey timeline. Nevada is setting an example for other states and operators that annual leak surveys not only improve safety, but can be cost-effective and achievable as well.
Most recently in 2025, the PUCN has begun discussions with key stakeholders regarding a pilot program to evaluate the installation of natural gas detection alarms, also known as in-home methane detectors, in select high-occupancy buildings. This effort is in response to the NTSB recommendations following the UGI Natural Gas Explosion incident in West Reading, PA. These devices have repeatedly been recognized as an essential tool for members of the public to be alerted to the presence of gas before an incident occurs. We are looking forward to seeing the results of this pilot program and hope that it leads to the widespread adoption of these life-saving devices.
Overall, we are inspired to see these proactive and positive efforts by Nevada’s pipeline safety program, and we encourage other states to look to Nevada as an example of how pipeline safety efforts can be done efficiently and effectively, lowering incident rates and protecting lives.
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