Bipartisan legislation strengthens pipeline safety
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. With last nights Senate passage of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act (PIPES Act) bipartisan legislation to strengthen pipeline safety clarify safety oversight efforts and provide greater regulatory certainty in the transportation of energy commodities the four-year reauthorization of the federal pipeline safety program now heads to the President to be signed into law.
In the House the work of negotiating the final measure (
House amendment to S. 2276) was spearheaded by leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. The House unanimously passed the bill last week.
The United States has the most expansive network of energy pipelines in the world and it powers nearly every facet of our daily activities" said
Rep. Gene Green Senior Democratic Member of the Energy & Power Subcommittee. This important legislation puts in place safeguards for workers and communities across the State of Texas and our nation so that pipelines remain a safe way to transport natural gas and hazardous liquids."
The PIPES Act of 2016 ensures that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finishes out the 2011 Act requirements; reforms PHMSA to be a more dynamic data-driven regulator; and provides regulatory certainty for citizens the safety community and the industry.
I am particularly pleased the legislation includes two provisions that protect Houstonians safety. First the section of workforce management gives PHMSA the flexibility to hire field inspectors when shortfalls occur." said Rep. Gene Green. Second the Emergency Order Authority gives the Department the ability to respond quickly in emergency situations. Our goal is always to prevent accidents by thorough inspections but in case of an accident we are able to act without delay."
Click
here for a more detailed fact sheet about the PIPES Act.
