House subcommittee advances Pipeline Safety Act of 2016

The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy and Power Subcommittee advanced a draft of the Pipeline Safety Act of 2016 to the full committee.

“We’ve built upon the draft that we discussed in the legislative hearing and made some significant improvements," U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), chairman of the subcommittee, said. "The discussion draft considered today contains targeted mandates for PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) to increase transparency and accountability, complete overdue regulations, and improve safety. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we refine the bill before full committee and also with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as we prepare for the floor.”

 Rep. Fred Upton, chairman of the full committee, said an aggressive approach to pipeline safety is crucial.

 “The discussion draft considered today is a starting point," Upton said. "As we’ve done before, we’re working on a bipartisan basis to identify weaknesses in our pipeline safety laws and develop solutions. I believe it’s particularly important to tighten inspection requirements for certain underwater oil pipelines such as Line 5, which runs cross the Straits of Mackinac separating Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. We can do better to improve pipeline safety. This draft is an important step forward, but we still have more work to do.”