Don Santa, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, issued the following statement in response to pipeline safety legislation introduced by the Chairmen of the House Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees:
“Since the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act was enacted in 1968, every major pipeline safety bill that has become law has enjoyed bipartisan support. And for good reason: ensuring our nation’s critical energy infrastructure remains safe and secure should not be a polarizing issue. Unfortunately, the proposal introduced today is not in keeping with that legacy.
“The ingredients are there for a bipartisan bill that would garner widespread support. Ensuring PHMSA has the resources to do its job, making sure state pipeline safety regulators are adequately funded and reauthorizing emergency responder grants are not controversial. Other items with broad bipartisan support include updating pipeline safety regulations to reflect recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and promoting innovative technologies to further advance our nation’s pipeline safety program. A bill that can win bipartisan, bicameral support is necessary to achieve these common-sense safety improvements.
“INGAA remains committed to working with Members and staff from both parties in both chambers to enact a consensus pipeline safety bill as soon as possible.”
