AOPL WELCOMES ADMINISTRATION PIPELINE SAFETY PROPOSAL
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) welcomed the legislative proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reauthorize federal pipeline safety laws administered by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
“AOPL is thankful for the leadership Transportation Secretary Chao is bringing to further improve pipeline safety, with legislative proposals to harness technology and improve PHMSA’s ability to protect the public,” said Black, AOPL President and CEO.
The DOT legislative proposal embraces innovation by promoting research and development initiatives aimed at deploying new technologies to enhance pipeline safety and reliability. The proposal would establish a voluntary safety information sharing program, provide for regular review of regulations and updated standards, and clarify certain regulatory measures to prevent incidents from occurring on our nation’s pipeline system.
Congress is currently considering legislation to reauthorize the federal statute setting requirements for the safe operation of pipelines. This spring, Black testified before Congress that pipelines are the safest way to deliver the energy American families and consumers use every day. However, there is more Congress can do to allow PHMSA and pipeline operators to improve safety by adopting new technologies and best practices, prevent threats to public safety and the environment from dangerous activity around pipelines, and encourage PHMSA to modernize its regulations and take advantage of newly developed pipeline safety best practices.
AOPL represents liquids pipeline owners and operators transporting crude oil, petroleum products like gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, home heating oil, industrial feedstocks like ethane and rural fuels like propane. AOPL represents over 50 pipeline companies with over 200,000 miles of pipelines across America delivering affordable, reliable and plentiful energy to American drivers, families, farmers, workers and shoppers.
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