More than a decade after major pipeline safety reforms, U.S. Congress remains divided on the need for increased oversight amidst persistent safety incidents.
Despite significant pipeline safety laws, 2022 saw 265 major incidents, mirroring numbers from 2010.
The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) faces challenges with underfunding and increased pipeline volume, impacting effective regulation.
Bipartisan efforts aim to increase PHMSA funding, but disagreements persist over the extent and focus of regulations.
Key quote:
"The volume of assets that PHMSA is overseeing has greatly increased and it will increase further as a result of the tens of billions of dollars being invested in the build out of hydrogen and (carbon capture) infrastructure."
More than a decade after Congress passed landmark pipeline safety legislation, lawmakers are at odds over whether the sector is in need of greater oversight.
