House committee approves bipartisan pipeline safety bill

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's previous authorization expired in September.

December 06, 2023

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee easily passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday to reauthorize the nation's pipeline safety regulator.

The "Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act," H.R. 6494, would extend safety programs for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for four years and inch the agency closer to developing standards for hydrogen service and carbon storage. It passed by voice vote.

"This bill ensures the right balance between environmentally-friendly United States production and the safe transportation of our energy resources," said Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.).

Graves is leading the legislation with ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and ranking member Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.).

Other than reauthorizing PHMSA for four years, the bill would increase the agency's work on hydrogen, including through a study of composite materials for possible use in transporting the gas.

CO2 pipelines, environmental justice

Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) also tried to add a number of amendments that committee member saw as untenable for the bipartisan package.

For example, Huffman tried to add one amendment that would have require PHMSA to conduct a study on the safety issues associated with carbon dioxide pipelines.

"In this bill, we see all kinds of boosterism for more CO2 pipelines and a lot of other fossil fuel infrastructure," Huffman said. "They're not safe, and that's what this amendment is all about."

Huffman's worries about carbon dioxide and hydrogen pipelines echoed environmental organizations who sent a letter Tuesday roasting the "egregious" reauthorization bill.

Conversely, Perry introduced several amendments to limit PHMSA's ability to consider emission reduction goals and environmental justice. All of Perry and Huffman's amendments failed in roll call votes.

The committee also passed H.R. 6278, the "Maximizing Office Value and Efficiency (MOVE) Act,” in a 34-29 vote, and the H.R. 6276, the “Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies (USE IT) Act," in a 35-26 vote.

Both bills build on Republican efforts to push federal workers back into the office and reduce unused space, and passed with little Democratic support.

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By:  Nico Portuondo
Source: E&E News