PA Environment Digest

Share this:

Senators To Introduce Bipartisan Pipeline Siting Bill, 4 Other Pipeline-Related Bills Now On Senate Calendar

Senators John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) and Tom Killion (R-Delaware) recently announced plans to introduce bipartisan legislation requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to develop clear pipeline siting guidelines and permit conditions to reduce the dangers associated with new natural gas-related pipeline construction.

The legislation follows up on recommendations made by Andrew Place, Vice Chair of the Public Utility Commission, and DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell that there needs to be a “serious conversation” in the General Assembly on how state government can have a meaningful role in siting pipelines like the Mariner East 2.

Both Place and McDonnell noted other states have already taken on this role.

In a memo to their colleagues asking for their support, the Senators said, “Today, more than 1 million Pennsylvanians live or work near oil and gas infrastructure. A clear commitment to require transparent safety management and siting plans will signal to communities that Pennsylvania is taking steps to reduce potential risks while working to make Pennsylvania energy development as safe as possible by requiring advanced leak detection that will not only reduce community impacts, but will also cut down on the waste of precious American natural gas or otherwise known as methane.”

The legislation they, said would, require, “the Department of Environmental Protection to develop clear permit conditions and siting guidelines to increase the focus on pipeline safety and pipeline infrastructure siting to reduce the dangers of improper siting, improper safety management and wasted American resources—ensuring that as a state we are, at a minimum, ensuring the pipelines are built and operated in the safest way possible that minimizes the impacts to communities and sensitive environmental areas.

“Public policy leadership is essential to ensuring that Pennsylvania puts in place an oversight framework that is consistent with the pace and scale that science demands to avoid the worst effects of bad pipeline management – a framework flexible enough to adapt to technology innovation and advanced leak detection.

“The purpose of the legislation is to catalyze leadership-- reducing the risks pipelines pose to communities while allowing for the responsible development only the most essential and safest pipelines for the Commonwealth that can benefit all citizens.”

Other Pending Bills

On Monday, the Senate removed Senate Resolution 373 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery)-- a concurrent Senate-House resolution to establish a Senate-House legislative Commission to Study Pipeline Construction and Operations and to recommend improvements for the safe transport of oil, natural gas and other hazardous liquids through pipelines-- from the Table and put it in position for a final vote by the full Senate at any time.

Senate Resolution 373 was reported out of Committee in June to the full Senate.

Senate Bill 1199 (Rafferty-R-Montgomery)-- providing for a landowners’ bill of rights in cases of eminent domain, including by private entities like pipeline companies (sponsor summary)-- was also reported out of Committee in June and has sat on the Senate Calendar since then.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Dinniman-- Senate Bill 930 (Dinniman-D- Chester) setting notification requirements related to pipeline emergencies (sponsor summary) and Senate Bill 931 (Dinniman-D-Chester) requiring the installation of automatic or remote controlled safety values in natural gas pipelines in densely populated areas was reported out of committee in November of last year and has remained on the Senate Calendar without action since then.

Sen. Dinniman has followed up on his concerns about the safety and construction practices of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline by filing a petition with the Public Utility Commission in April that led to the shutdown of construction on that pipeline in Chester County.

Part of the PUC shutdown order remains in effect. The Commission is scheduled to meet on October 4 and may take additional action on this issue.

StateImpact PA reported Monday the Mariner East 2 Pipeline faces a number of regulatory hurdles with the PUC and DEP before it can complete construction and begin operation.

Senate/House Hearings

In March, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure Committees held a joint hearing on pipeline safety issues that pointed to the need to hold pipeline companies more accountable for impacts and better communication.

In July, the House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing on pipeline siting and safety issues for pipelines like the Mariner East 2 Pipeline in Chester and Delaware counties.

Pipeline Task Force

In February 2016, the Pipeline Task Force presented a series of 184 suggestions to Gov. Wolf to help Pennsylvania achieve responsible development of natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the state. Among the recommendations were--

-- Plan, site and route pipelines to avoid/reduce environmental and community impacts

-- Amplify and engage in meaningful public participation

-- Establish early coordination with local landowners and lessors

-- Educate landowners on pipeline development issues

-- Develop long-term operations and maintenance plans to ensure pipeline safety and integrity

-- Train emergency responders

-- Enhance emergency response training for responder agencies

-- Employ construction methods that reduce environmental impact

-- Minimize impacts of stream crossings

-- Ensure adequate agency staffing for reviewing pipeline infrastructure projects

Click Here for a copy of the report.

NewsClips: