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Corbett Holds Signing Ceremony For New Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Law
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Gov. Tom Corbett held a public bill signing for House Bill 344 (Baker-R-Tioga) establishing regulatory oversight of natural gas pipelines in the Commonwealth with the Public Utility Commission. The bill is now Act 127.
“It is important that in conjunction with continued growth of the natural gas industry, that we have legislation in place to ensure proper oversight and regulation. I am pleased that the obvious need for this legislation was recognized by my colleagues in the General Assembly and that it was moved through the legislative process so quickly,” said Rep. Matt Baker.
Surrounded by supporters from his district, PUC commissioners, and members of the energy industry, Baker explained that the new law authorizes the PUC to conduct safety inspections and investigations of natural gas pipelines within the Commonwealth in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (U.S. DOT).
“Natural gas leaks can pose health risks to the environment and public safety, which is why this legislation was so vital,” said Rep. Baker. “We can now take some measure of comfort in knowing that uniform safety regulations are being mandated and a state agency will be performing routine safety inspections.”
Rep. Baker noted that the law contains provisions for the hiring of additional safety inspectors in order to be able to perform an increased amount of inspections, as outlined by the legislation. The money to hire the inspectors will come from both federal funding and the gas industry through assessments outlined in the law.
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3/5/2012 |
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