Our commitment to safety

The Western Gateway Pipeline will be operated by two of the largest energy companies in the United States. We recognize the world's energy needs are evolving and expanding, and its mission is to provide energy transportation and storage services in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner for the benefit of people, communities, and businesses. Safety is foundational to all operations—from protecting the workforce and communities to ensuring the integrity of delivered products—and is reinforced by a firm commitment to fostering a culture of compliance with both employees and contractors. Furthermore, the Western Gateway Pipeline  will operate with a deep respect for the environment, guided by a commitment to continuous improvement, responsible stewardship, and heavy investment in integrity management, maintenance, and environmental programs to protect its assets, employees, the public, and the environment.  

Environmental stewardship is a core value and protecting the environment goes hand in hand with our commitment to operating safely.  By utilizing existing pipeline corridors we will minimize new right-of-way.  Co-location also aids in land conservation, preserving natural habitats, wetlands, farmlands, and historical cultural sites. 

The permitting process for the Western Gateway Pipeline project will be comprehensive. The project will obtain and comply with all federal,  state,  and local environmental and construction permitting requirements, and comply with all stakeholder consultation requirements.

Regulatory oversight is layered and continuous. Hazardous-liquid pipelines are regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which sets minimum safety standards for design, construction, operations, integrity management, emergency planning, and spill response.  States can, and most do, add their own requirements through certified pipeline-safety programs and permitting, so operators must comply with both federal rules and any applicable state or local conditions. After construction, the line remains subject to regular inspections, audits, and enforcement by PHMSA and state partners for the life of the asset. Along with third-party agency inspections, the Western Gateway Pipeline will be monitored and regularly inspected by Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan integrity operations teams. 

We make safety our highest priority. We value the relationships we’ve cultivated in the communities where we work and live. We know you expect us to operate safely – and we do.  Our multi-pronged approach to safety is rooted in prevention, maintenance, and emergency preparedness. Elements of these programs include exacting design and construction standards, comprehensive pipeline maintenance, 24-7 remote line monitoring, leak detection, community education programs and strong relationships with emergency response teams across our asset footprint.  Through our monitoring system, controllers watch pressure and flow data. If an anomaly is detected they execute shutdown and valve isolation of the segment, notify local responders if required, and dispatch operations field crews to locate, assess, and fix the problem.   We know that even with robust prevention incidents can happen. If they do, we will activate our approved emergency response plan, notify authorities, and deploy qualified spill-response resources. We also conduct regular coordination and exercises with first responders to  ensure they know the plan, the contacts, and make any specialized equipment available. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pipelines are among the safest, most efficient, and environmentally responsible ways to move energy, and significant failures are uncommon. When issues do occur, the leading causes are third-party excavation and other external forces—risks that are largely preventable with basic coordination. The fix is straightforward: know what’s below—call 811 before you dig—and make sure developers and planning departments incorporate pipeline maps and the locate process into design, permitting, and construction workflows. We will work with local communities through our safety outreach  initiatives to provide pipeline safety education and information.