Amendments address safety of natural gas pipelines and transparency related to oil spills
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today included three amendments when it passed pipeline reauthorization legislation (S. 2276).
Mass. Sen. Ed Markey
Two of the amendments by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey address “lost and unaccounted for natural gas from aging, leaky pipelines,” according to a statement from Sen. Markey’s office. “A recent Massachusetts analysis found approximately 20,000 potentially dangerous and damaging natural gas pipeline leaks,” Markey’s office said. Senator Markey’s April 2013 report found that Massachusetts ratepayers paid up to $1.5 billion from 2000-2011 for gas that never reached their homes and businesses. A third Markey amendment would improve oversight by ensuring companies submit complete, unredacted oil spill response plans to Congress.
“Aging infrastructure is costing Massachusetts consumers money …,” Markey said in a statement. “Repairing these aging and leaking natural gas pipelines is a win for safety, a win for job creation, a win for consumers, and a win for the climate. I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to ensure passage of this important legislation.”
Senator Markey has previously introduced legislation to accelerate the repair and replacement of natural gas pipelines.
