Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) welcomed Congressional approval of legislation to reauthorize federal pipeline safety laws. The Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 authorizes federal pipeline safety law through September 30, 2023, and was included in the year-end omnibus appropriations and COVID relief bill.
AOPL WELCOMES BIPARTISAN PIPELINE SAFETY LEGISLATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) welcomed Congressional approval of legislation to reauthorize federal pipeline safety laws. The Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020 authorizes federal pipeline safety law through September 30, 2023, and was included in the year-end omnibus appropriations and COVID relief bill.
"Bipartisan agreement remains the way to get pipeline safety legislation done," said Andy Black, AOPL President and CEO.
The legislation includes a key AOPL priority to create a PHMSA pilot program to field test new pipeline safety technologies. PHMSA can use this program to gather the data necessary to modernize its pipeline safety regulations. The bill also clarifies pipeline operating status requirements and improves due process under PHMSA enforcement proceedings.
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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