"Promoting and Improving Safety and Efficient Pipeline Infrastructure"

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads

2025-02-25

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Summary

The Subcommittee on Rails, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials convened a hearing to discuss the reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and critical issues related to pipeline safety and infrastructure.[ 00:30:09 ] The session emphasized the vital role of pipelines in energy transportation and explored avenues for enhancing safety, adopting new technologies, improving regulatory processes, and addressing challenges in damage prevention and infrastructure development.

Themes

Pipeline Safety and PHMSA Oversight

The committee underscored the critical importance of pipeline safety, noting that pipelines are generally the safest mode of energy transportation, with incident rates declining over the past five years. However, speakers also highlighted a concerning rise in fatalities over the last two years, making it the deadliest period in nearly 15 years, with 30 deaths from pipeline incidents. There was broad support for reauthorizing PHMSA and providing it with the necessary resources and authority to hire additional staff and implement safety policies.[ 00:32:21 ]

The absence of a confirmed PHMSA administrator was noted as potentially contributing to regulatory uncertainty and hindering progress. Concerns were raised about past instances where identified leaks were not repaired, leading to explosions and fatalities, prompting calls for clearer repair criteria and stricter penalties.

Modernization, Technology, and Regulatory Updates

A significant theme was the need to modernize PHMSA's regulations, some of which are over 20 years old, to reflect current technological advancements and safety practices. Speakers advocated for leveraging new technologies such as AI and machine learning for data analysis from smart pigs, satellite-based leak detection, and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping for underground utilities. The Pipeline Safety Technology Demonstration Pilot Program was cited as a valuable initiative that was hampered by bureaucratic red tape in the previous administration, and its proper implementation was urged to gather data for updating regulations. The "Class Location Rule" was highlighted as an outstanding mandate that, if completed, could significantly improve safety and increase capacity within existing natural gas pipelines. The importance of regular meetings for advisory committees like the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) was also stressed to facilitate dialogue and advance safety.[ 00:54:54 ]

Damage Prevention and Public/Community Safety

Discussions emphasized the ongoing problem of damage to underground facilities during excavation, highlighting issues with inaccurate or untimely marking of utilities and the need to strengthen state damage prevention programs. The 811 "one-call" process was central to this, with calls to reduce or eliminate exemptions for various entities (e.g., municipal utilities, agriculture) to ensure comprehensive protection. The potential dangers of inactive but pressurized gas lines, as illustrated by a recent explosion in Youngstown, Ohio, led to calls for clearer regulations on how these lines are marked and discontinued. The installation of fire valves in gas distribution pipelines was suggested as a crucial safety measure, particularly in fire-prone or disaster-prone areas, to mitigate the impact of fires fueled by natural gas.

Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection

The transcript touched upon the critical need to address cybersecurity threats to pipeline infrastructure. The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack was referenced as an example of significant disruption that can occur. Industry representatives stated they are increasing investments in cybersecurity defenses, developing industry standards, and partnering with government agencies to identify and mitigate threats.[ 01:59:41 ]

The integration of cyber threat identification into integrity management plans was also suggested.

Permitting Challenges and Energy Infrastructure Expansion

The discussion also addressed the burdensome permitting process for new pipelines, which can lead to delays, increased costs, and hinder the expansion of essential energy infrastructure. It was argued that expanding pipeline capacity improves safety by reducing reliance on less safe transportation modes like trucks and trains. Calls were made for quicker decisions by permitting agencies, judicial reform, and continued use of processes like the nationwide permit 12 to foster durable permits and allow for necessary infrastructure development. This expansion was linked to ensuring energy affordability, reliability, and maintaining America's economic dominance.[ 02:23:51 ]

Tone of the Meeting

The overall tone of the meeting was characterized by a blend of gratitude for bipartisan efforts and a shared commitment to enhancing pipeline safety, alongside evident frustration regarding bureaucratic obstacles and persistent safety concerns.[ 00:33:23 ]

There was a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders, regulators, and Congress to effectively address the complex issues at hand.[ 01:10:44 ] Speakers expressed appreciation for past legislative efforts but conveyed urgency for more decisive action to prevent future incidents and modernize the regulatory framework.