US grants funds for state oil and gas pipeline inspections

The US Department of Transportation has awarded more than US$ 46 million to state governments for oil and gas pipeline inspections.

The US Department of Transportation’s Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will grant funding to 46 states. New York will receive US$ 2.9 million and California will receive US$ 5.2 million. Oklahoma will get US$ 1.1 million for natural gas pipelines, and US$ 310 812 for hazardous liquid pipelines.

Prioritising safety

In a statement made earlier this week, US Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, said “Safety is our top priority and we are committed to keeping communities safe and preventing pipeline incidents.”

Foxx went on to further emphasise the importance of safety, stating "These grants help make sure that happens by funding personnel and equipment to carry out inspections and enforce important intrastate pipeline safety regulations that keep the entire pipeline network as safe as possible."

The PHMSA said the grants account for nearly 80% of the operating costs needed for state regulators to conduct pipeline inspections. There are more than 2.5 million miles of oil and natural gas pipelines in the country.

Cythia Quartmernam, Administrator of the PHMSA, said "These funds enable us to triple the number of inspectors that we have out in the field enforcing regulations, and a strong local presence is vital."

Regulatory enforcement continues as US government shuts down

Despite the US government shutting down after Congress failed to fund operations past the end of fiscal 2013, federal agencies regulating oil and gas activities have planned to continue their enforcement activities.

According the US Department of Transportation, the 167 employees at the PHMSA are scheduled to continue working. Hazardous safety inspections of pipelines are therefore set to continue uninterrupted.

Edited from various sources by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/02102013/us_grants_funds_for_state_oil_and_gas_pipeline_inspections/