May 2011, Vol. 238 No. 5

Government

Pipeline safety authorization bill passes committee

On May 5, the Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act exited a markup session in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, making it ready for a vote from the full body.

The bill in its recommended form can be seen at the Commerce committee‘s site.

Don Santa, president and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, released a statement commending the committee.

Santa said, “INGAA recognizes the importance of continuous improvement to pipeline safety regulations, standards and procedures. This legislation updates and improves pipeline safety policy in several areas, including integrity management and damage prevention. Combined with regulatory initiatives that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is expected to launch and the initiatives INGAA is undertaking through our board-level pipeline safety task force efforts, we believe the result will be a safer pipeline system nationwide.

The swift proceedings from May 5 may be seen in a webcast online, at minutes 26 through 32.