Pipeline Industry Seeks Bill for Increased Security, Safety; Testimony Calls for Gov't Security Planning, Assistance

2/13/2002

From: Raymond Paul of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, 202-408-7970; rpaul@aopl.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The oil pipeline industry testified before Congress today in favor of federal legislation to increase security and safety measures nationwide. In the wake of the events of September 11th and continued government alerts about potential threats to the nation's energy infrastructure, the oil pipeline industry called for Congress to consider additional security legislation for the nation's pipelines. It urged Congress to pass a bill that will protect the public and assure its confidence in the safety and security of the nation's oil transportation network.

Appearing before the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines Chairman and Buckeye Pipe Line President William Shea said, "Security and safety are essential to building trust between pipeline companies, their government regulators, and the public they serve. This trust is essential for carrying out pipeline maintenance and expansion needed to ensure a reliable, secure, and affordable energy supply for all regions of our country."

The Pipeline Infrastructure Protection To Enhance Security and Safety Act (H.R. 3609), introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin, was discussed at length during the hearing. Supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, H.R. 3609 provides for strengthening collaborative pipeline safety research and development efforts, further securing pipelines against terrorist attack, expanding public safety education programs, and improving communication with local officials and the public.

"From airports to automobiles and home heating to factory operations, America's way of life is dependent on our nation's pipeline operators. As an industry, we have built a solid safety record but recognize that society expects more. We expect no less of ourselves," concluded Shea.

------ Editor's Note: More information about liquid pipelines is available on the Web site of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines at www.aopl.org.

About Association of Oil Pipe Lines The Association of Oil Pipe Lines acts as an information clearinghouse for the public, the media and the pipeline industry; provides coordination and leadership for the industry's ongoing Joint Environmental and Safety Initiative; and represents common carrier crude and product petroleum pipelines in Congress, before regulatory agencies, and in the federal courts. www.aopl.org.