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Committee orders PUC rule deadline revisited with bill requiring advanced leak detection rulemaking
Summary
Legislation requiring the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules for advanced pipeline leak detection technologies moved from committee after witnesses urged prompt adoption; supporters said technology is proven and urgent given public‑health and climate risks
The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee advanced a measure directing the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to complete rulemaking for advanced pipeline leak detection technologies after members heard testimony urging completion of work already required by earlier statutes.
Sponsor Senator Bull said the 2021 pipeline safety law (cited in committee as SB21‑108) directed the PUC to adopt rules on advanced leak detection; committee witnesses told legislators the PUC had not completed that rulemaking and urged an explicit legislative deadline. Jan Rose of the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate testified the technologies are long established in the oil sector and urged timely rule adoption: "We already legislated it. We already passed it. It should have already been done," she said.
Cindy Copeland, air and climate policy adviser to the Boulder County commissioners, and other environmental advocates described pipeline leaks as a threat to public health and climate. They noted methane’s potent greenhouse‑gas effect and said volatile organic compound emissions from leaks exacerbate ozone formation in the Denver‑Metro/North Front Range nonattainment area.
Sponsor testimony said federal guidance from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration was anticipated but with changes in federal timelines the PUC should move forward with state rulemaking. Sponsors urged a clear direction to the PUC so that technologies such as continuous monitoring and automated detection can be required and implemented broadly, particularly as new carbon‑transport pipelines are discussed in the state.
Committee members offered no substantive amendments and moved the bill forward. The committee roll call showed the measure passed by 6‑3.
Supporters described the bill as an implementation step to complete an earlier legislative mandate and to protect public health and climate by ensuring rapid detection and repair of pipeline leaks. The bill now proceeds to further consideration by the full Senate.
