Senate Committee Meets June 19 To Consider Bills To Improve Pipeline Emergency Response

On June 19, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee is scheduled to meet to consider Senate Bill 258 (Dinniman-D-Chester, Killion-R-Delaware), a bipartisan initiative to improve emergency response to pipeline incidents (sponsor summary) and Senate Bill 284 (Killion-R-Delaware, Dinniman-D-Chester) require pipeline companies to provide current emergency response plans to PUC (sponsor summary).

The legislation will mandate that public utility facilities transporting natural gas or natural gas liquids meet with the county emergency coordinator entrusted to respond in the event of natural gas release and provide, at a minimum, the following:

-- Identification of any high consequence areas along the pipeline route and the potential impact radius located within the jurisdictional limits of the local emergency management organization; and

-- The public utilities current emergency operating procedures.

Senators Andy Dinniman and Tom Killion have also introduced a comprehensive  package of bills dealing with a variety of issues related to pipelines.

Sen. Dinniman also recently introduced Senate Bill 677 which would require pipeline operators conduct an end of life study on all hazardous liquid pipelines over 50 years of age.

The meeting will be held in Room 461 of the Capitol starting at 10:30. Click Here to see of the meeting will be webcast live.

Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) serves as Majority Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5072 or sending email to: rtomlinson@pasen.gov.  Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-4236 or sending email to: boscola@pasenate.com.

(Photo: Senators Dinniman, Killion.)