admin This week the Congressional Research Service published a report
on “DOT’s Federal Pipeline Safety Program: Background and Issues for Congress”.
According to the summary of this 36-page report:
“The U.S. energy pipeline network
includes approximately 3.3 million miles of onshore pipeline transporting
natural gas, crude oil, and other hazardous liquids. Over the past decade,
major safety incidents in California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and other
states have drawn criticism from stakeholders and have raised concerns in
Congress about pipeline safety regulation. The 2021 ransomware attack on the
Colonial Pipeline has also drawn attention to federal pipeline security
activities, including agency roles and the linkage between pipeline safety and
security.”
The report discusses ten separate policy issues related to
pipeline safety that may be of concern in Congress as reauthorization of the
pipeline safety program is slated to be considered this year. Of particular interest
here: PHMSA and Pipeline Security. In concluding its one-page discussion of the
topic, the report notes:
“In the 117th Congress, the
Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R. 3078) would have
required the Secretary of Energy to enhance coordination among “appropriate
Federal agencies,” state government agencies, and the energy sector in pipeline
security; coordinate incident response and recovery; support the development of
pipeline cybersecurity applications, technologies, demonstration projects, and
training curricula; and provide technical tools for pipeline security. What
role PHMSA might play in any future pipeline security initiatives, and what
resources it might require to perform that role, may be a consideration for
Congress.”
NOTE: CRS also published a geeky legal look
at executive agency communications with Congress during the rule making
process.