Lawmakers and watchdogs cite recent deadly pipeline incidents; press for leak-detection standards

Members of the subcommittee highlighted fatal and injurious pipeline incidents in recent years and pressed witnesses for ways to reduce similar outcomes.

Representative Larson recalled the 1999 Olympic pipeline explosion and several recent fatal incidents, saying the ‘‘recent rise in pipeline incidents and deaths should be a warning call to this committee.’’ He cited a March 2023 UGI pipeline explosion in West Reading, Pennsylvania, that killed seven people, and other events including explosions in Jackson, Mississippi, and Avondale, Louisiana.

Bill Karam of the Pipeline Safety Trust told the committee the last two years had been the deadliest two-year period for pipelines in nearly 15 years and criticized gaps in practice and regulation. "We continue to languish with consistent poor performance with a significant incident almost every day and 30 people killed over the last 2 years," Karam said.

Members questioned whether PHMSA's regulatory guidance on grading and repairing leaks is sufficiently prescriptive. Karam said the Pipeline Safety Act (2020/2021 references in testimony) directed PHMSA to write rules for leak detection and repair and that a national standard would raise baseline performance. He added that enforcement depends on whether regulators can find operators out of compliance when the regulations are not prescriptive about leak grading.

Representative Titus noted that Nevada adopted annual leak surveys for interstate natural gas pipelines (rather than every five years) and said the policy led to earlier detection of leaks. Karam agreed that a national leak-detection and repair standard could produce similar safety benefits if implemented with strong repair criteria.

Industry witnesses described existing detection practices. Eric Taylor of INGAA said operators use inline inspection tools ("smart pigs") and predictive analytics to identify threats and schedule follow-up. Andy Black said pipeline incidents have declined in recent years and argued that pipelines remain the safest mode of energy transport, while also supporting targeted regulatory updates to reflect newer technologies.

The subcommittee discussed enforcement tools, civil penalties and the role of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in investigating major incidents. Several members asked whether current penalty levels and enforcement practices provide adequate deterrence when operators know of leaks but do not promptly repair hazardous conditions.

The subcommittee did not vote on legislative text at the hearing. Members signaled interest in pressing PHMSA to finalize rules on leak detection and repair and in including clearer enforcement authority in reauthorization language.

Ending: Members said they would continue oversight and urged PHMSA to move forward on rulemakings that had been required by statute but not completed.