Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) cheered senate adoption of legislation to reauthorize federal pipeline safety laws. The bipartisan bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
AOPL CHEERS SENATE PIPELINE REAUTHORIZATION PASSAGE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2020—Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) cheered senate adoption of legislation to reauthorize federal pipeline safety laws. The bipartisan bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
"Senate passage of this bipartisan bill shows it is possible to come together to improve pipeline safety," said Black, AOPL President and CEO.
The Senate bill 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. Additionally, the bill creates new programs for PHMSA oversight of LNG facilities and additional requirements on gas distribution systems in response to the 2018 Merrimack Valley, MA pipeline tragedy.
AOPL appreciates the hard work of Sens. Fischer and Wicker, along with their Democratic colleagues Sens. Duckworth and Cantwell and committee staffs resolving outstanding issues with the bill and obtaining unanimous support in the Senate. AOPL hopes Senate passage of pipeline safety legislation will provide momentum for an agreement with the House that can move pipeline safety forward and be enacted into law.
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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