Obama Approves Pipeline Safety Legislation
President Obama has signed the PIPES Act into law, which:
- Reauthorizes various programs of the Transportation Department’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration through FY 2019
- Requires DOT to develop minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities
- Authorizes DOT to issue emergency orders to impose restrictions on owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities.
According to Don Santa, president and chief executive officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the PIPES Act is an important piece of legislation that will help improve pipeline safety in the United States.
“We appreciate the president, the House, the Senate, the committees of jurisdiction and the bill’s sponsors for working together in a bipartisan fashion to move this important piece of legislation into law. “This legislation, which continues to authorize the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, focuses PHMSA to complete the regulatory mandates under the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011 and requires that PHMSA set minimum federal safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities will complement our efforts.”
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