Legislation Dingell co-authored will increase safety standards and instill public confidence in our nation’s pipeline safety system
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to voice his support of H.R. 2845, the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011. Congressman Dingell is a cosponsor of H.R. 2845, and is the original cosponsor of H.R. 2937 the Energy and Commerce Committee version which passed unanimously in committee in September. Today’s bill passed the House by a voice vote. Below is his statement as prepared for delivery:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2845. This bi-partisan bill will help instill public confidence in our nation’s pipeline safety system by increasing safety standards without being overly burdensome towards industry. This legislation shows that bipartisanship is possible in this Congress, and that we can conduct the business of the American people if we all sit down and work together. I want to first thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman for their hard work on this legislation. Chairman Mica, Chairman Shuster, and Ranking Member Rahall also deserve recognition for their hard work as our two committees worked to forge an agreement on the final product we have before us today. The inclusive process used in this case is an excellent model for how Congress should move forward on a host of other issues, and I hope it is instructive.
“The recent accidents in California, Pennsylvania, Montana, and my home state of Michigan each highlighted serious deficiencies in our pipeline safety laws. H.R. 2845 incorporates the lessons learned from these incidents and strengthens the law in areas of concern. Specifically, the bill expands the integrity management program to improve inspections while phasing out class location requirements, thereby putting a stronger safety standard in place while taking steps to remove redundant regulations. The leak detection and automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valve standards are a step in the right direction and do much to improve safety. Although the section of the bill which deals with maximum allowable operating pressure does not repeal the grandfathering clause, it is a good start and moves our pipeline safety policy in the right direction.
“Incorporating the lessons learned from the recent oil spill in Marshall, Michigan, pipeline operators are now required to notify Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of a spill within one hour of confirmed discovery. This will ensure that first responders and others are dispatched promptly and can begin dealing with the problem right away. PHMSA is also required to review the adequacy of regulations dealing with cover over buried pipelines, which became an issue after the spill in Laurel, Montana. Both of these changes will have a real, positive impact for safety.
“There are several provisions of the legislation which I would like to clarify for the record. The limitation in Section 12, which deals with transportation-related oil flow lines, does not subtract from PHMSA’s existing authority, but rather is intended to emphasize that no new authorities are granted to the Secretary. Additionally, the imminent hazard provision in the integrity management and leak detection sections of the legislation is very broad and designed to give explicit authority to the Secretary to act if needed. Finally, the “new or novel technologies or design” provision in Section 13 will allow PHMSA to be reimbursed for the work they are already doing, allowing the agency to use more resources for inspections and enforcement.
“Pipeline safety is not a partisan issue, but rather is something that impacts all Americans. We have an obligation to protect the American people and the environment from harm while maintaining a system which transports our energy resources efficiently. It is my hope that the Senate will take up this legislation promptly so that PHMSA and the Obama Administration can implement these changes in a meaningful way. We will all be watching to ensure this happens. Together, we have come up with sound piece of legislation which has the support of both industry and safety advocates, and I urge all members to support this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
To view a video of Congressman Dingell’s floor speech, click here.
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