Pipeline Safety Bill Edges Closer To House Floor

The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill aimed at implementing stronger safety standards for the future of pipeline construction.

In a 51-0 vote, the Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act of 2011 sailed through the committee and is one step closer to being considered on the House floor.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), includes measures that would mandate that all new pipelines be fashioned with manual and automatic shut-off valves, including the potential for retrofitting existing pipelines as a preventative measure.

“The bill expands the integrity management program while phasing out class location requirements, thereby putting a stronger safety standard in place while taking steps to remove redundant regulations,” Dingell said during his prepared remarks. “I believe we should work to send this bill to the President’s desk and urge all members to support this bill.”

Before the bill heads to the floor of the House, it must be consolidated with a version passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill out of the Transportation and Infrastructure excludes a majority of the safety protections standards being sought by House Democrats, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Senate Commerce Committee also passed its own version of the bill but is currently stalled in the upper chamber.

The Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act is expected to be considered by the House within the next month, sources indicate.