PHMSA administrator updates lawmakers on long-delayed safety rules

摘要

Amid criticism that his agency has taken eight years to move onCongressional mandated rules, a top US pipeline safety official toldlawmakers April 2 that three long-stalled items soon will be addressed.Democratic leaders of the House of Representatives Transportationand Infrastructure Committee pressed Skip Elliott, head of thePipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, aboutoutstanding rulemakings Congress required in 2011 and 2016.“It remains unacceptable that critical rules like the hazardousliquids rule, gas transmission line rule and the valve and rupturedetection rule, have not been implemented,” said RepresentativeDaniel Lipinski, Democrat-Illinois, chairman of the subcommittee onrailroads, pipelines, hazardous materials. Inaction continues to placelives at risk, he said, adding that incidents increased nearly two-foldfrom 1999 to 2018.