PIPES Act heads to president’s desk

The PIPES Act is on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk for final approval after the Senate and House passed the bill last week.

“Although pipelines are by and large out of sight to most Americans, their safe, reliable operation is critical to our economy and to our daily lives,” supporting members of the bill wrote in a statement. “The improvements included in the PIPES Act will advance the safety of the energy transportation network, and strengthen the transparency and efficiency of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that oversees the federal pipeline safety program. We came together, Republicans and Democrats, and got the job done to boost pipeline safety.”

The PIPES Act seeks to ensure the safety and quality of America’s pipelines, which transport more than 64 percent of the country’s energy commodities. The U.S. pipeline network is 2.6 million miles long and is primarily used for the transport of natural gas and hazardous liquid materials. Its quality assurance is critical in ensuring the long-term energy safety in the country.

The PIPES Act would ensure that the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has adequate time to meet its 2011 safety objectives, including the enhancement of PHMSA technology to improve efficiency and improved safety regulations regarding America’s pipes.