API LEPA Publish CO2 Safety Guide

Guidelines Developed with Input from National Association of State Fire Marshals

WASHINGTON, August 17, 2023 – Building on the oil and natural gas industry’s commitment to ensuring safe operations, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) today released a carbon dioxide (CO₂) pipeline safety tactical guide for pipeline operators and emergency response personnel. CO₂ pipelines have operated safely in the U.S. for decades, with thousands of miles of pipelines across the country. This guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO₂ pipeline safety and emergency preparedness. 

“As our industry advances CO₂ pipeline infrastructure to support local economies and reduce emissions, the safety of our workforce, our communities and the environment remains a top priority. Working with industry leaders and emergency personnel, this guidance document is a continuation of our commitment to robust safety measures and proactive emergency preparedness,” said API Vice President of Midstream Policy Robin Rorick.

“While government data shows CO₂ pipeline incidents are rare, this new tactical guide will help pipeline operators and first responders prepare in advance and respond to a CO₂ pipeline release,” said LEPA President and CEO Andy Black.

“We are pleased to work with the oil and natural gas industry on a guide for CO₂ pipeline safety, helping ensure CO₂ operations remain safe and secure,” said National Association of State Fire Marshalls Chief of Operations and Training Phillip Oakes. 

Transporting carbon dioxide by pipeline for years has supported commercial and industrial uses from supplying carbonated beverages to fire extinguishers to inflatable life jackets. CO₂ pipelines will now allow us to fight climate change by delivering captured CO₂ emissions to permanent underground storage thereby avoiding impacts on the atmosphere. As new CO₂ pipeline systems are built, pipeline operators will share with first responders readiness tools like this tactical guide and online pipeline emergency response training funded by API and LEPA.

A copy of the full CO₂ emergency response tactical guidance document is available here.

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports more than 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

The Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) represents over 50 owners and operators of pipelines delivering liquid energy and related products. LEPA members range from small operators focused on a local region to operators with multi-state systems supporting energy production, refining and carbon capture, to large midstream transmission companies operating across the nation.

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