Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pipeline Safety Primacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would give Idaho primacy over natural gas pipeline penalties; PUC says it has staff capacity
Summary
Rep. Jaren Crane said House Bill 294 would restore state authority to adjudicate penalties for pipeline safety violations and align state enforcement with federal standards. Maria Barrett Riley of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission testified the commission has capacity to assume primacy.
Representative Jaren Crane told the committee House Bill 294 is designed to restore Idaho's authority over pipeline safety enforcement, including adjudicating penalties for natural gas pipeline violations while meeting federal compliance standards.
"What we're wanting to do in this legislation is take over any protection, control and any penalties should something happen to a pipeline in the state of Idaho," Crane said. He described the measure as a federalism effort to ensure state control and faster responsiveness to pipeline issues while maintaining federal compliance.
Crane told the committee the draft removes federal penalty language so Idaho can adjudicate penalties at the state level; he cited the current federal maximum civil penalty as $200,000 per violation and up to $2,000,000 for a related series of violations. The sponsor said the bill retains federal standards but gives Idaho the ability to enforce them locally.
Maria Barrett Riley, executive director of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, testified in favor and said the commission has the staff to assume primacy. "Our FTEs are at 3; we have two and a half inspectors with one program manager," she told the committee, and added she expects no incremental resource requirement.
The committee moved HB 294 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation by voice vote. Representative Scott asked to be recorded as voting no on the bill.
