Areas of Emphasis
Chris Hoidal is a non-attorney professional in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where he serves as Senior Director of Safety in the Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental and Pipeline and HazMat Safety groups.
Mr. Hoidal is a strategic advisor to clients throughout the United States on the regulation of transportation pipelines, LNG facilities and other regulated energy facilities. He has more than 30 years of experience in various senior roles with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Clients benefit from Mr. Hoidal’s extensive knowledge of the pipeline safety regulations, industry codes and standards, and agency policy. He guides industry stakeholders seeking to improve regulatory compliance and safety performance, conducting transactional due diligence, building remedial programs to address accidents and near-miss events. Mr. Hoidal also advises clients on special permits, inspection preparation, enforcement, rulemaking and policy development.
Mr. Hoidal served as a Senior Technical Advisor in PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety between 2018 and 2021. In this role, he supported PHMSA in the development of recent rules and implementing guidance, including the 2019 Gas “Mega Rule.” Mr. Hoidal worked with federal, state, industry, and public stakeholders to develop enforcement guidance, and conduct informational seminars on these programs.
Prior to this role, Mr. Hoidal served for 20 years as PHMSA’s Western Region Director for the Office of Pipeline Safety. As Director, he was responsible for administering the federal pipeline safety compliance and enforcement program in 12 western states. He oversaw more than 30 staff who conducted safety inspections and accident investigations of Hazardous Liquid, LNG, Natural Gas, and distribution pipeline facilities. Mr. Hoidal issued a wide range of enforcement cases, including corrective action orders and consent agreements. From 1993 to 1995, he directed PHMSA’s OPA 90 Oil Spill Response program. Mr. Hoidal was responsible for development of adequacy criteria and review and approval of more than 1,200 Facility Response Plans. Mr. Hoidal also served as an inspector in PHMSA’s Alaska district office.
Background
Mr. Hoidal worked for the United States Department of Transportation from 1990 to 2021, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Office of Pipeline Safety since 1993. Prior to his government service, he worked as a consulting Geotechnical and Civil Engineer in Colorado, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Mr. Hoidal has his Bachelor of Science in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Nevada (1980), and Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado (1983).
