12/16/24 - 110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3ubmzu7a
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Rep. Baker To Introduce Bill To Include Natural Gas Lines In PA One Call
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In an effort to increase consumer safety and ensure the delivery of essential home heating fuel is not disrupted, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga) has authored legislation that will include oil and natural gas gathering lines under the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law.
The Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law was developed to protect the public health and safety by preventing excavation and demolition work from damaging underground lines used to provide electricity, communication, gas, oil, sewage, water or other services.
Under the law, prior to any work being done that may disturb the earth, homeowners, contractors, plumbers, excavators, and others must make a Pennsylvania One Call that notifies all service providers of the work being done so they can come out and properly mark the location of the lines.
“The Pennsylvania One Call System is an important program that protects consumers and service workers from accidentally hitting a line and causing injury or disruption of service when digging for a new foundation for a house, installing a fence or even planting landscaping if you are using powered equipment,” said Rep. Baker. “It is important to include natural gas and oil lines as part of this service because a break in the lines could cause fires, explosions or asphyxiation. It could also lead to gas or oil leaching into the ground and area water supplies. My legislation will simply make sure natural gas and oil companies are included when someone calls the system.”
Rep. Baker said the natural gas industry is rapidly growing in the Commonwealth and gathering lines for gas are becoming more prevalent and, therefore, need to be included in the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Protection Law so as to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure and assure public safety and environmental protection.
“This is a commonsense and timely bill,” said Rep. Baker. “I am hopeful it will gain quick passage through the committee process and come before the full House for a vote in the very near future.”
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8/29/2011 |
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