Pipeline Safety: Federal Program and Reauthorization Issues

The 107th Congress is considering legislation that would amend federal pipeline safety law, which directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to regulate pipeline transportation and storage of natural gases and hazardous liquids. Those bills also would authorize funding for the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which is charged with implementing federal pipeline safety law. Among the topics discussed as part of the process of reauthorizing the OPS program are: state versus federal roles in pipeline safety, increased community involvement, funding amounts to support OPS, and new regulatory directives and authorities intended to improve the OPS program and associated state activities. S. 235, as amended, the "Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2001," passed the Senate on February 8, 2001. This report will be updated as necessary