At this morning’s Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing on the “Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act of 2011,” Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called for bipartisan support of legislation to improve our nation’s vast pipeline infrastructure.  Upton is committed to passing a law to make overdue updates and improvements in U.S. pipeline safety.  (Click HERE to view Upton's full opening statement)

“Pipeline safety is a serious matter of protecting human life and our environment,” said Upton.  “Our nation’s 2.5 million miles of pipeline infrastructure deliver essential and affordable energy supplies every day to southwest Michigan and the rest of the country.  Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the unacceptable costs of a pipeline failure with last year's Enbridge rupture – one accident is too many and we must take the necessary steps to update current pipeline safety laws and work to ensure the integrity of our nation's pipeline network.  As Chairman, this is an issue of great importance, and one that I hope we can all agree upon.”

The July 25, 2010, oil pipeline rupture in Marshall, Michigan, a city east of Upton’s congressional district, resulted in the spill of 20,000 barrels of oil into the Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River.  Upon receiving notification of the spill, Upton worked aggressively with local officials and state and federal agencies to mitigate the incident’s impact on public health, property, and the environment.

Pipeline safety and integrity are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  PHMSA regulations set standards on the construction, operation, and spill response for the nation’s pipelines, and inspection and enforcement activities rely upon partnerships with state agencies.

Congress last addressed comprehensive pipeline safety legislation with the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006, which contained authorization levels that expired in December 2010.  However, as PHMSA is funded by industry user fees, safety and inspection programs remain active.

To watch a video of Upton’s full opening statement, click HERE.