Safety of nation’s natural gas pipelines focus of hearing

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The day before the federal government said it wanted improved safety rules for U.S. pipelines carrying natural gas, the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security heard testimony on the topic at length on Tuesday. 

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Christopher Hart; Susan Fleming, director of physical infrastructure at the Government Accountability Office; and representatives of pipeline inspection technology and pipeline operators were among those who testified before the subcommittee. 

In addition to approximately 75
percent of the nation’s crude oil and 60
percent of its  refined petroleum products, half a million miles of pipeline transport natural gas, oil and hazardous materials to
critical infrastructure around the U.S., including power
plants, military bases and airports, Subcommittee Chairwoman Deb Fischer (R-NE) said during the hearing.

Fisher went on to discuss major pipeline accidents, including one in her home state of Nebraska that burned in a corn field for nearly four hours, as well as a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno,
California, which killed eight people, injured 60
people and destroyed 37 homes.

“America’s pipelines move critical energy resources to homes and businesses across Nebraska and throughout the country,” Fischer said. “Today, we heard from industry stakeholders on best practices and the challenges facing our pipeline infrastructure. While our pipelines have been lauded as the safest way to transport energy, Congress must continue robust oversight over this important network.”