Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Representative Lori Trahan (MA-03), of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced today the reintroduction of the Pipeline Accountability Act.
The legislation is designed to update outdated pipeline safety standards, increase transparency, strengthen accountability, and enhance community engagement in pipeline oversight. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are cosponsors.
The legislation comes in response to a series of devastating pipeline accidents, including the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions in Massachusetts and the 2020 CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi.
Both incidents underscored the risks that aging infrastructure and weak regulations pose to communities.
“Communities near pipelines pay the price for leaks, breaks, and failures—compromising their own health and safety as pipeline safety regulations and enforcement fail to keep up,” said Senator Markey.
“Our Pipeline Accountability Act would improve public safety by closing loopholes companies use to operate old, unsafe pipelines and by ensuring communities know if disasters occur and have the tools to prevent them.”
Key Provisions of the Pipeline Accountability Act
The proposed legislation lays out a comprehensive approach to pipeline safety, climate accountability, and community protection. Among its provisions:
- Enhanced safety and climate standards: Requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to account for climate impacts, infrastructure lifespan, and the transition to non-emitting alternatives when setting standards.
- Faster rulemaking: Streamlines regulatory processes by removing duplicative cost-benefit analysis requirements.
- Public engagement: Establishes a new Office of Public Engagement within PHMSA, funded at $12 million annually, and strengthens the independence of public stakeholders in safety committees.
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- Modernization and hazard prevention: Applies updated safety standards to existing pipelines, prohibits major releases of gas or hazardous liquids, and mandates rapid isolation capabilities in case of failure. It also requires new safety rules for CO₂ pipelines and studies on hydrogen blending in natural gas systems.
- Funding and accountability: Expands the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program, allocating 20% of funds to non-emitting alternatives and workforce training. The bill also strengthens enforcement by removing limits on civil penalties and enabling citizen suits against PHMSA.
The legislation has earned support from environmental and safety organizations, including the Pipeline Safety Trust, NRDC, Sierra Club, and 350.org, who emphasize that stronger pipeline safety standards are critical for both public health and climate goals.
Read more: BP Halts Indiana Carbon Pipeline And Storage Project
