US states reimbursed for pipeline safety programmes

The US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced more than US$49 million in Pipeline Safety Base Grants to reimburse a portion of operating costs for state pipeline safety programmes.

“The Federal/state partnership is the cornerstone of the national pipeline safety programme,” said US Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx. “State pipeline inspectors oversee more than 80% of the nation’s 2.6 million mile pipeline network, and we want to make sure they have the resources needed to ensure the safety of the American people.”

PHMSA’s base grants provide a reimbursement of up to 80% of operating costs for state programmes charged with inspecting intrastate transmission and distribution pipelines that transport natural gas, crude oil and other energy products within state boundaries.

The grants include a maintenance of effort clause that requires each state to contribute the average of its last three years of contributions unless the state can demonstrate an inability to maintain or increase its contribution due to economic hardship.

“PHMSA’s base grants ensures funding for state programs that employ over 340 inspectors on the front lines of pipeline safety,” said PHMSA Administrator, Marie Therese Dominguez. “This is a performance-based grant and is awarded based on the state’s estimated programme costs and recent performance scores.”

Edited from source by Stephanie Roker

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/equipment-and-safety/04072016/us-states-reimbursed-for-pipeline-safety-programmes/