Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver |
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The Division of Reliability and Security is charged with the reliability and security of all lifeline utility services and critical infrastructure for the State of New Jersey: electric, natural gas, water and telecommunications. This includes responsibility for consequence management of any petroleum shortages as well as cyber security. The Division focuses on the mission critical operational and safety areas required by statute, regulation, federal compacts and partnership protocols. Certain Cabinet Official responsibilities are performed by the Division on the President’s behalf, along with requirements of the State's Emergency Management Plans.
The Division is the Sector Specific Agent responsible for critical lifeline services under both federal and state disaster preparedness and response strategies. Portions of its operations are federally funded and the unit has 24/7 operational obligations. Staff is also charged with maintaining the NJBPU Continuity of Government Plan. The Director sits on the Domestic Security Task Force and the Division continues its initiatives with the NJ Office of Homeland Security, NJSP, other state agencies and our private sector partners. It participates in tabletop exercises, preparedness workgroups, security initiatives, and overall disaster preparedness activities. A major obligation of staff is to maintain preparedness for any utility event or situation and respond to activations of the state Emergency Operations Center at any time. Staff also plans for intentional acts and accidents.
The Division executes its program responsibilities through four separate, but inter-related Bureaus/Units:
Staff also continues to partner with NJOEM, DOT and Treasury to finalize key provisions of the Emergency Fuel Plan. In 2016, GORR (Governor's Office of Recovery and Rebuilding) approved the reallocation of approximately $2 million in FEMA funds to enhance the State’s vehicle fueling facilities providing flexibility and resiliency to the State’s fueling capabilities during an emergency event.
The emergency fueling plan and related initiatives with public and private sector partners is based on lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy and is an action plan for the emergency distribution of fuel during disasters.
The federal government establishes minimum pipeline safety standards under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49 “Transportation”, Parts 190 – 199. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), has overall regulatory responsibility for hazardous liquid and interstate gas pipelines under its jurisdiction in the United States.
The Bureau of Pipeline Safety under the New Jersey Administrative Code – Pipeline Safety Regulations (N.J.A.C. 14:6 and N.J.A.C. 14:7) handles pipeline safety inspections, incident investigations, enforcement and rulemaking, and coordinates the continuing education of gas facility operators, emergency responders, and other stakeholders. It also provides consultation on gas infrastructure issues.
The Pipeline Safety Bureau regulates and inspects the construction, operation, and maintenance activities of four natural gas utility operators (New Jersey Natural Gas Utility Companies), with safety oversight for New Jersey’s intrastate gas infrastructure including 438 miles of transmission pipelines, 35,263 miles of distribution mains and 2,345,135 service lines.
Contact Information for Pipeline Safety Program Manager
Pipeline Safety Office
Staff Member |
Title |
Office Telephone |
Email Address |
Eric Weaver |
Assistant Bureau Chief |
|
|
Andre Moses |
Environmental Engineer 2 |
(609) 292-7485 |
|
Mehnaz Moon |
Environmental Engineer 1 |
(609) 292-4514 |
|
Paresh Trivedi |
Senior Engineer, Utilities |
(609) 913-6285 |
|
James Marmora |
Environmental Engineer Trainee |
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For Enforcement, Incident Reports, Excavation Damage, and Inspection Information, visit the following website: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/StatePages/NewJersey.htm
To visit the National Pipeline Mapping System public map viewer, click here: https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/
This Program has direct oversight of the 24/7 State One Call Center, which processes over 650,000 calls for mark-outs each year. All excavation activity in the state is processed through this center and its operation is important to the protection of underground utility plant and the public from natural gas incidents caused by excavation damage.
This unit conducts on-going enforcement related to underground damage incidents involving all utility systems. Statutorily required customer meter testing is also performed by this Unit. This group also handles meter testing and, in 2016, it conducted a major review of the electric and gas industry’s meter sampling programs.
Contact Information for Office of One Call & Meter Tests
Finally, the Underground Damage Prevention Program continues to utilize public education and awareness, which includes 811 public outreach, radio advertising and billboards.