WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senator Steve Daines today continued his work to increase the safety of the United States’ vast pipeline network and underscored the importance of timely inspection responses from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
During a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security hearing entitled “Pipeline Safety: Oversight of Our Nation’s Pipeline Network,” Daines today reaffirmed the challenges facing the management of Montana’s pipeline network – concerns emphasized during a field hearing held by Daines earlier this month in Billings, Montana.
“At the field hearing, PHMSA’s Administrator testified and was able to hear firsthand from Montana liquid pipeline operators, local safety experts, and local elected officials on how Montana is leading this industry,” Daines stated during today’s hearing. “It is imperative to Montana that we continue to move these commodities in a safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient manner.”
Earlier this month, Daines held a field hearing to examine current issues and challenges relating to the inspection and safe management of the nation’s pipeline network, as well as the importance of safely transporting our natural resources through pipelines, highways and rail lines.
PHMSA’s jurisdiction covers approximately 2.6 million miles of pipeline across the United States. Nearly 19,000 miles crisscrosses Montana, delivering natural gas to over 262,000 homes, gasoline and diesel to the pumps, gas and oil to businesses and facilitating exports.
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