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