[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6052435,"mediaKeyId","3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023","parentId",3396907,"title","Senator Peters, Witnesses Cite Repeated Damage to Enbridge Line 5 and Call for Standards","audioSeconds",3825,"startMs",1511000,"endMs",5336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023&start=1511&end=5336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023/thumbnail_1511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6052435/Senator-Peters-Witnesses-Cite-Repeated-Damage-to-Enbridge-Line-5-and-Call-for-Standards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6052435-3144b2363881384bf2aadabfcb608570/orig.mp4?Expires=1775519593&Signature=fGWgkX9gCABCQp5vNhLB4rcpRXsy3FcZ2k16X4Yk6urK7nIH3-8yb-NmByM2YR08TVRKCo-xT7Au2zPhMMIWh6gUDOIfNYlz16Gv5I2GMcAqD-aOCAD5hNiEMvYHHLiy2AuJaw11cf6K~VjrRfvx6AO5ESI4CBRs2vlduNc-AYCWBDV3HCe8lcFTne6130s6QrBRjz5M2ykLKkpgHxGdDf55u1SViuWclYciNDR5jWLyyGwa8Bxsy25UNnUVoAP4z-ESPr~uLEAzaIFsqGWzPdeQWRY7-Xd8p0fqFG7HHFsZXeRz24A81OErf6HLqDBt-RwZytxsOoR1LDmv36k~hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Gary Peters used the Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing to highlight the risks posed by Enbridge Line 5 as it crosses the Straits of Mackinac and to urge stronger standards and continued research on response capability.

The matter is urgent for Michigan and other Great Lakes states because Line 5 runs beneath the Straits and the Great Lakes provide drinking water for tens of millions of people.

Peters described a series of incidents on Line 5 and elsewhere to illustrate the danger. He reminded the committee that a 2010 pipeline rupture in Marshall, Michigan, released more than 1,000,000 gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River and that response and cleanup took years and more than $1 billion. Peters then summarized Enbridge’s Line 5 integrity issues: gaps in protective coating found in 2014, gouges from a dragged boat anchor in 2018, and discovery in 2020 that an anchor support had been mangled and a section of protective coating removed.

Peters said those incidents, together with a U.S. Coast Guard assessment that the agency was not prepared for a Great Lakes spill, led him to help establish the Great Lakes Center of Expertise. The center, he said, “will conduct research and develop responses to ensure that we're prepared to quickly and effectively address an oil spill in the Great Lakes.” Peters emphasized prevention: “Simply put, we need standards. We need standards in place to ensure that these sorts of events never happen.”

Other senators asked about the regional economic impacts if Line 5 were shut down. Witnesses noted the pipeline moves crude and refined products used across the Midwest and that a proposed tunnel to carry Line 5 has been under review for several years; one senator reported that the State of Michigan has delayed approval of the tunnel proposal.

The committee did not take formal action on Line 5 but lawmakers included the topic as a key example of why national pipeline safety standards and timely rulemaking matter for regional public-safety and economic resilience.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commerce Committee Announces Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Gary Peters and witnesses recounted recurring integrity issues with Enbridge Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, warned of catastrophic risk to the Great Lakes and described the Great Lakes Center of Expertise as part of the response framework.","taxTitle","Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1990,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6052440,"Lawmakers, Watchdogs Press for Updated Leak-Detection Rules and Action on Risky Pipeline Materials",4881,6392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023&start=1511&end=6392","/articles/6052440/Lawmakers-Watchdogs-Press-for-Updated-Leak-Detection-Rules-and-Action-on-Risky-Pipeline-Materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6052440-00e0e56169ff7d9ef649345efcd33d9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775519593&Signature=byxxeepjUaPiftcM~r9g8IGvXP0Qxag4PRhKBL9lfgFkuBEQISQjHE8IzOqxcOEDARLyTiz6sHmTyMuv96p1ObLq4NjYWNd7SZJqcz5by13Fw13AB0vyJnae4zpHa9QxRvGCTPdWHXjcoWJ7NRDFw6REuRk-GhL0tzIlKPJUoEi8JMeumoouhY0VfMuppTvETAAqvruA8rVk21Ui6jQAvijWuHiVEZAumyfvjhPaUFtP1XVlo3gLh1CEF3qw5zYogPe2g9fV3UMQ76y29bbjyNf4wbX2GCVRVYg6nKxivtRjTcDwJWxebPnUQqNnokzWlkdnvg6TqzuKo7zB29NUPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and witnesses at the Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing said existing rules on leak surveys and several pipeline materials and geohazard vulnerabilities are out of date and have contributed to fatal incidents.

The matter is significant because witnesses tied decades-old regulatory gaps and material failures to recent deaths, injuries and high-emission events that affect public safety and the environment.

Senator Gary Peters summarized the stakes in Michigan: “The Great Lakes is a source of drinking water for over 40,000,000 people,” he said, and described repeated integrity issues on Enbridge Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac. Peters also cited national incident statistics: “Over the past 20 years, the pipeline incidents have caused 257 deaths, over 1000 injuries, and over $11,000,000,000 in damages.”

Witnesses said leak-detection requirements in the federal code have not kept pace with available technology. Andrew J. Black noted that PHMSA produced an initial rulemaking on leak detection and repair but that it was withdrawn late in the previous administration. Richard Leger said his company has deployed vehicle-mounted methane detection systems and is willing to share data to encourage wider adoption.

Witnesses and members repeatedly raised material failures and geohazards. Bill Karam pointed to past deadly failures and recommended taking Aldyl A plastic out of service, saying the material “has been known to be... a material prone to failure for decades.” Senator Maria Cantwell and others urged stronger, specific geohazard regulations; Karam said recent incidents can be attributed increasingly to landslides, seismic movement and other ground-shift risks and recommended PHMSA adopt mandatory geohazard mitigation standards rather than voluntary guidance.

Karam also highlighted in-home methane detectors as a low-cost, high-impact intervention. He told senators that natural gas alarms or methane detectors “would undoubtedly save lives” if installed in homes and businesses served by gas distribution systems, echoing a recent NTSB recommendation cited in testimony.

Senators said they will consider legislative fixes, including requirements for updated leak-detection rules, clearer repair timelines, removal of known-prone materials from distribution systems and new performance-based geohazard regulations.","Senators and safety witnesses said leak-survey rules are outdated, pointed to methane emissions and material failures tied to fatalities, and recommended mandatory modern leak-detection rules, removal of known-prone materials and geohazard regulations.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6052445,"Senators, Industry and Watchdogs Call for Stricter Penalties for Unauthorized Pipeline Tampering",1287,3195000,4482000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023&start=3195&end=4482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","/articles/6052445/Senators-Industry-and-Watchdogs-Call-for-Stricter-Penalties-for-Unauthorized-Pipeline-Tampering","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6052445-4aa7affc3636314efe1e8f363aeba5d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775519593&Signature=QLWsPJeo~GUhY1FHS55sJLKkYbjVDYPUdeP8iA3QxZlsfYJVtuiKDB~1CNio3nI4pdPsECC7xdXIHTgS8oOmEQsieTK1wihVdi3FZsMkRnXfRUqIYyBP4UsXj7sUv4W3V4in~5eIwhEeSwDqQU-hIlDCd5n~IoJRp3F2XN2tuxMG1dyADWHRt8xOSB35JXUq6VwvknnewDO3q3XkKwllU6Wzl3EUFkvVsAcIvrty-DNR750WJE3TScZtIznna3BR2V9Q2eydUIaypRVkIM-lLsNA-wCWka5Plou9jBYXG172Qxh1hf8ngTtJHmZOtaZKIYOJPBJSnnIm~rI~iUw8Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and witnesses at a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing pressed for clearer criminal penalties and statutory language to deter unauthorized interference with pipelines, including so-called “unauthorized valve-turning” and tampering at construction sites.

The topic matters because witnesses said deliberate interference can create immediate safety hazards, cascade into broader service outages and endanger emergency responders and nearby communities.

Senator Ted Cruz said the current statute ‘‘does not expressly address eco terrorists who tamper with pipelines or damage pipelines under construction’’ and supported legislation—cited in the hearing as the Safe and Secure Transportation of Energy Act—to expand covered conduct. Industry witnesses described several recent incidents: Andrew J. Black recounted breaches of fence lines and vandalism, and Robin Rourke read an unclassified Tennessee Fusion Center summary of a May 9 incident in which an individual tampered with a gas facility and local businesses and about 430 residents were evacuated. Rourke said, quoting the incident report, that “the tampering impacted gas flow pressure resulting in safety systems being activated.”

Witnesses stressed the public-safety implications beyond immediate physical damage. A CenterPoint Energy official warned of cascading consequences: hospitals and police departments could lose gas service needed for critical operations, and extended outages could affect electric generation and other essential services.

Bill Karam, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, told the committee the trust “does not support the creation of unsafe conditions on any pipelines” and agreed perpetrators should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Senators asked about statutory language to close perceived gaps that leave pre-operational and construction-phase tampering outside existing penalties. The panel recommended specific statutory clarifications to cover tampering with pipelines both in operation and under construction, plus criminal penalties tied to safety threats.","Senators and industry witnesses urged statutory changes to cover unauthorized valve-turning, pre-operational tampering and other deliberate interference with pipelines, citing incidents that endangered communities and disrupted service.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6052447,"Witnesses Push Pilot Programs, AI and Advanced Leak Detection to Modernize Pipeline Safety",458,3375000,3833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023&start=3375&end=3833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023/thumbnail_3375000.jpg","/articles/6052447/Witnesses-Push-Pilot-Programs-AI-and-Advanced-Leak-Detection-to-Modernize-Pipeline-Safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6052447-4c14f15aac8ac5aa7f885893a7ecba86/orig.mp4?Expires=1775519593&Signature=fryqRshy29VxdI2U9nYhcNK-4DjCvGSPQK6aH789B~2zULThBMgal1fbRaYmN3IsmGkXmmAk5MU1k2PbFajeGW6V-IW6aguY9uCaty2NumYuQBdYL4ehWV8K7gIKDVEVeg0kJFtC5wsFaUm~LQsc648B-fYgOGaLZC3~WYTX-Kp6G-wG6KmnJHdnxA~YF2nUXKh9L0QfRuaqP~j9YsKkgqHB3rWtkR7Zcr6eD9Kpw-0LKIQdL4BN0eYPsiAhADiRGg~QdaW821xef~0FH7E27r1nATcdiRbL-AEBjff4UNLvyVMy7WWcKh8947~WN72PbPiOib~QpVX6k8PU65jLgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers and witnesses at a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing said modern technology — from artificial intelligence to vehicle-mounted methane detectors and smart meters — could reduce pipeline incidents if regulatory barriers are removed.

The issue matters because faster, more-sensitive detection and validated new inspection tools can shorten response times after leaks, reduce environmental harm and direct limited resources to high-risk locations.

Richard Leger, senior vice president for natural gas business at CenterPoint Energy, described his company’s deployment of “advanced metering technology” that includes a heat sensor and a flow sensor in the meter to automatically shut off service when abnormal heat or flow is detected. “The meter that we are working with has a couple of sensors on the inside... if there's a fire ... it will automatically shut that meter off,” Leger said, explaining how the device can prevent house fires and detect excessive flow.

Andrew J. Black said Congress originally authorized a technology demonstration pilot in the 2020 PIPES Act but that PHMSA’s administration of the program prevented it from operating as intended. Black told the committee that PHMSA required the pilot projects to go through a special-permit process and added lengthy reviews, including NEPA, that effectively undermined the pilot’s intent.

Robin Rourke described opportunities to use AI for data management and predictive analytics. “You mentioned, Senator, the use of AI, there are huge opportunities to use AI, and industry is exploring the opportunities to use AI for data management, and then also use AI to help us to look at that data and then preemptively address issues,” Rourke said.

Bill Karam of the Pipeline Safety Trust urged requiring broader industry adoption of safety management systems (PSMS) and highlighted in-home methane alarms as a straightforward prevention tool. Karam said methane detectors “would undoubtedly save lives” if widely installed.

Witnesses recommended congressional action to reauthorize and protect technology demonstration pilots, to prevent PHMSA from adding unrelated conditions to approvals, and to require PHMSA to adopt a predictable, nationwide process for approving new technologies so that state-by-state approvals are not repeatedly required.

Committee members asked for written follow-up; senators and witnesses agreed to submit additional information to the record.","Industry and safety witnesses urged Congress to reauthorize technology demonstration pilots, streamline approvals, and remove regulatory barriers so operators can adopt AI, drones, advanced metering and vehicle-mounted methane detection.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6052452,"Senate Commerce Subcommittee Eyes PHMSA Reauthorization, Flags Delayed Rulemakings",1001,1242000,2243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023&start=1242&end=2243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3396907-d7955890e5f6e01d53ab18919e555023/thumbnail_1242000.jpg","/articles/6052452/Senate-Commerce-Subcommittee-Eyes-PHMSA-Reauthorization-Flags-Delayed-Rulemakings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6052452-05a40a78761ce683bce723d6c0a556c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775519593&Signature=Y7v-uI5zJource0qudIEbRZB-N7R-t8i10I--d3qsD~RGvtuLkvBNImVSr2zYfGhNWnckBF-GSiwzbQSwDUUxaOsQF9PRJa8GkRgeoEIseUFg8My-Qkc0U4M-u628e6aHagxdzs4X7UjNae8Ot8IUW6mPsUe8fQbcXOLpGJ8Kn4~PoZrAy5XMpqM3eoY7O9DO8SmA2AraDakcl7aQ0PXwzRuVGePE3tuTNnV3MTbzzT7YuzNSC5GEykkwdQ-7XgFCP5CfC-Pq3AGgmk58FuFP650xmwLho-vM3l69pua3PTIUOuJiBSWXDH97PhyluofZjr9zWhZ8G2BqmPLO~H87Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Todd Young convened a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on pipeline safety that zeroed in on reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and several outstanding PHMSA rulemakings.

The hearing matters because PHMSA’s regulatory agenda, witnesses said, shapes how operators adopt new safety practices and technologies across more than three million miles of U.S. pipeline infrastructure.

Industry and safety representatives said several PHMSA actions remain incomplete years after Congress directed them. Robin Rourke, vice president of midstream policy at the American Petroleum Institute, told the subcommittee that many PHMSA rules still cite outdated industry standards and urged a statutory requirement for routine updates. “If an updated standard isn't adopted, the agency should publicly explain why to provide clarity on its perspective and help industry determine a path forward,” Rourke said. He also asked Congress to direct PHMSA to adopt an official operating status for idle pipelines based on API recommended practice 1181.

Andrew J. Black, president and CEO of the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, said provisions in the 2020 PIPES Act remain unimplemented, including a technology demonstration pilot program. Black told senators that the pilot was effectively stymied by PHMSA processes and required reauthorization so operators can demonstrate and scale new inspection technologies without what he described as unnecessary procedural burdens.

Bill Karam, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust, urged changes in statutory constraints that he said make lifesaving regulations difficult to promulgate. Karam told the committee that “provisions in the pipeline safety statute like the extra burdensome cost benefit requirement make it extremely difficult for PHMSA to develop life saving regulations.” He also raised a concern about a drop in enforcement activity, citing a recent decline in enforcement case initiations compared with historical averages.

Senators pressed PHMSA’s role and pace. Senator Ted Cruz asked witnesses to describe problems with PHMSA’s special-permit process; Black and Rourke described long delays and permits that included unrelated or impractical conditions. Rourke said a recent application became “56 pages including 54 unrelated conditions” and urged Congress to bar PHMSA from adding extraneous requirements to special permits.

The subcommittee also reviewed the status of the class location rule and other required rulemakings directed by the PIPES Act of 2020. Witnesses and members said further congressional direction—particularly a clear reauthorization—would help PHMSA complete outstanding mandates and clarify how federal rules should reflect updated industry standards.

Members set deadlines for follow-up: senators may submit questions for the record through May 22, and witnesses have until June 5 to reply.

Less urgent items discussed included proposals about criminal penalties for deliberate attacks, funding for state oversight programs and coordination between PHMSA and other federal agencies.

The hearing adjourned after senators and witnesses agreed to provide the committee additional written materials and follow-up responses.","Witnesses and senators pressed for congressional direction to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to finish overdue rulemakings, update references to industry standards and fix the special-permit process during a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on pipeline safety.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senator Peters, Witnesses Cite Repeated Damage to Enbridge Line 5 and Call for Standards

Lawmakers, Watchdogs Press for Updated Leak-Detection Rules and Action on Risky Pipeline Materials

Senators, Industry and Watchdogs Call for Stricter Penalties for Unauthorized Pipeline Tampering

Witnesses Push Pilot Programs, AI and Advanced Leak Detection to Modernize Pipeline Safety

Senate Commerce Subcommittee Eyes PHMSA Reauthorization, Flags Delayed Rulemakings