The gas pipeline industry believes the US Congress will pass a pipeline safety bill in 2002. Such legislation, introduced by a bipartisan group of pro-industry House members, awaits the return of congressional members late this month from their month-long holiday break.
The "Pipeline Infrastructure Protection To Enhance Security and Safety Act" was introduced by Don Young (R-Alas.) and W.J. (Billy) Tauzin (R-La.), along with others including Democrats from Texas and Oklahoma.
"While we now have to review the legislation, we are encouraged," said Jerald V. Halvorsen, president of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. "This is an excellent step and a positive sign that the House will pass pipeline safety legislation early in the new year."
INGAA was one of five industry trade associations that have called on Congress to quickly pass "an effective and responsible" bill to promote the safety of more than 2 million miles of oil and gas pipelines (OGJ Online, Nov. 20, 2001).
The Senate passed pipeline safety legislation in 2001, but the House has yet to act (OGJ Online, Oct. 1, 2001).
Lobbyists said there is a chance pipeline safety proposals may be considered as part of broader energy legislation now pending. The Republican-controlled House passed a comprehensive energy bill in August; the Democratic-controlled Senate has not approved a bill yet, although several proposals are pending.
In a letter to US Department of Transportation Sec. Norman Mineta, pipeline industry officials said they want Congress and DOT to work together in a "unified fashion."
In October, the nonpartisan General Accounting Office warned Congress that the DOT's Office of Pipeline Safety still has not met some National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, several of which are a decade old.
