NAT GAS WRITES THE RULES

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up…
June 19, 2011 (Natural Gas Watch)

"…[A] couple of stories…from completely different sources…[precipitated] a jaw-dropping sense of astonishment…"

[From New Rules Coming for Pipeline Control Rooms in Occupational Health & Safety:] “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently announced that a new regulation to improve the management of pipeline control rooms will go into effect more than a year earlier than originally planned. The final rule will include procedures to improve training, mitigate fatigue, and clearly define roles and responsibilities for employees in control rooms for DOT-regulated pipelines… U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood...[said the] new regulations will help pipeline operators make critical decisions that could stop a pipeline rupture or leak before it causes harm to people or the environment…"

The U.S. natural gas pipeline system (click to enlarge)

"The very next day…there was a story about] a detailed investigation by Hearst Newspapers…"

[From Pipeline Operators Influence Safety Studies of Regulator in the Albany (NY) Times Union:] “The studies launched by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration helped mold national and state safety rules and inspection procedures for 2.3 million miles of pipelines that carry natural gas and hazardous liquids, some underneath neighborhoods…The Hearst investigation revealed that two-thirds of the 174 safety studies of land-based pipelines…in the last decade were largely funded by pipeline operators or organizations they control. That’s because the agency has required that in most cases, at least half the funding for its pipeline safety research come from outside sources — a policy that the Obama administration is now promising to change…More than half the studies — 89 in total — received funding from five industry trade organizations that conduct research, including three with lobbying arms.”

This is what happens when pipelines aren't safe - and there's one under every neighborhood(click to enlarge)

"The Hearst story goes on to give a devastating account of how natural gas trade industry groups edited pipeline safety study reports to downplay the need for additional regulation and, in some instances, seemingly configured study groups to reach a pre-ordained conclusion that would not reflect unfavorably on the natural gas industry.

"From the Hearst report, one can’t help but think that the natural gas industry — reeling from a series of deadly, high-profile pipeline explosions around the country — had a hand in writing the regulation that LaHood so proudly unveiled..."