Environmental Defense Praises House Defeat Of Senate Pipeline Bill

The deaths of 12 campers in New Mexico this August following an interstate natural gas pipeline explosion, one year after three young people died in a gasoline pipeline rupture in Washington state, presented Congress with the urgent need for stricter regulation and oversight of our nation’s aging pipeline infrastructure. Environmental Defense today praised the defeat of the Senate pipeline bill (S. 2438), which lacked provisions to reverse adverse industry trends.

“We need improved pipeline safety legislation as soon as possible. Those living and working near pipelines can’t wait. Environmental and safety groups will continue to work to pass effective pipeline safety legislation,” said Environmental Defense engineer Lois Epstein.

Approximately four major pipeline accidents causing death, injury, and/or property damage greater than $50,000 occur each week, according to a recent US General Accounting Office (GAO) report. GAO also found that major accidents are increasing by approximately 4% annually, at the same time that the federal Office of Pipeline Safety’s fines against the industry are declining. Currently, only one in 25 violators receives a proposed fine. Notably, oil pipelines spill over 6 million gallons annually, more than half the size of the Exxon Valdez release, and average spill size has been increasing since 1993 to over 44,000 gallons in 1999.

According to Epstein effective pipeline safety legislation needs to contain these elements:

1. Strong regulatory standards (including pipeline testing type and frequency, leak detection requirements, etc.), and effective enforcement of those standards;
2. Expanded liability for releases; and,
3. Public accountability through right-to-know reporting and establishment and funding of regional advisory councils (similar to the councils in Alaska created by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990).

“House leadership decided to vote on this bill rather than stronger House bills introduced by members of both parties that contain some or all of these critical pipeline safety provisions. These bills should be voted on this session,” said Epstein.