According to a report from the New York Times, recent pipeline spills have drawn more attention to oversight of the 167,000-mile system of hazardous liquid pipelines crisscrossing the nation. The federal agency charged with monitoring the system and enforcing safety measures – the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration – is chronically short of inspectors and lacks the resources needed to hire more, leaving too much of the regulatory control in the hands of pipeline operators themselves, according to federal reports, an examination of agency data and interviews with safety experts. Our firm has handles numerous cases against various pipeline operators throughout the country. Unfortunately, the devastation from a pipeline failure is usually catastrophic. Many times lives are lost and significant amount of property is destroyed. If you or family have been the victim of a pipeline failure, pipeline rupture, or an explosion please contact our office immediately.