The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is the state agency that oversees the safe operations of pipelines by working with operators. OPS performs that function through various inspections: field and records, O&M, operator qualifications, integrity management, damage prevention, and more. OPS has about 15 inspectors that cover the entire state. Their main office is in St. Paul with two remote offices in Fosston and Granite Falls.
OPS also enforces the state’s One Call law – Call 811. Like other states, Gopher State One Call ensures that anyone excavating in Minnesota stays safe while digging and avoids damaging underground facilities.
Regarding emergency response, the Minnesota Duty Officer typically notifies OPS about pipeline-related incidents. In turn, OPS contacts the pipeline company to gather more information and assists with secondary response. If the incident requires OPS to dispatch staff or resources, they will contact the Incident Commander and establish a liaison with the emergency response team and the pipeline company.