Proposed pipeline safety reauthorization raises penalties
https://www.ogj.com/articles/2019/06/proposed-pipeline-safety-reauthorization-raises-penalties.htmlUS Transportation Sec. Elaine L. Chao submitted a legislative proposal to Congress on June 3 that would reauthorize safety programs at the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) from fiscal 2020 through 2023. It also would strengthen criminal penalties for damaging or destroying a pipeline facility, which the Association of Oil Pipe Lines welcomed.
“Members of the public, surrounding communities, and the environment are put in danger by attacks on pipeline facilities that Congress can deter by updating federal pipeline safety laws,†AOPL Pres. Andrew J. Black said.
Section 18 of the proposed legislation would specify that vandalism, tampering with, or impeding, disrupting, or inhibiting the operation of a pipeline are punishable by criminal fines and imprisonment. It also would specify that pipeline facilities being constructed are included within the scope of the damage prohibitions in addition to facilities already operating.
The proposed legislation’s other provisions include measures to modernize PHMSA’s incident and construction data collection, establish a voluntary safety information sharing program, encourage replacement of aged local pipeline systems, and clarify certain regulatory measures to prevent incidents from occurring on the nation’s oil and gas pipelines....
