The Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act was signed into law on Wednesday June 22 by President Obama.
This act reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pipeline safety program for four years and requires the agency to update safety regulations, report to Congress on outstanding mandates, and provides for research and adoption of emerging technologies in areas like corrosion control and data sharing.
It gives PHMSA the power to issue emergency orders in crisis situations, like other DOT agencies, and includes special provisions for pipelines in unusually sensitive areas (USA’s) near or under water, and includes the Great Lakes as a USA.
The act directs that standards for underground natural gas storage facilities must be issued in two years and establishes the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak Task Force.
Click to read the full text of the bill.
This fact sheet provides an overview of key issues addressed by this legislation.