[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 83 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5978-S5979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise today to comment on a recent action 
by the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Technology. In a 
completely bipartisan manner, the reauthorization for the Office of 
Pipeline

[[Page S5979]]

Safety (S. 1505) was approved with a substitute amendment offered by 
Senator Pressler. The compromise amendment language was crafted through 
the leadership of Senators Pressler and Exon. It was also cosponsored 
by Senators Stevens, Hutchison, Inouye, Ford, Burns, and Breaux. It is 
now ready for consideration by the full Senate.
  The negotiations involved many, and included various offices within 
the Department of Transportation. The major trade organizations ranging 
from the American Gas Association, the Interstate Natural Gas 
Association of America, the American Petroleum Institute, the American 
Public Gas Association, to the Association of Oil Pipe Lines 
participated as well. Valuable Assistance was also received from the 
dedicated staff of the Congressional Research Service. Input was also 
received from state and environmental groups like the National 
Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives, the Natural Resource 
Defense Council, and the Environmental Defense Fund. The negotiations 
were both challenging and productive. I want to compliment the staff 
from the Department of Transportation for their constructive and 
collaborative participation.
  The major stakeholders are all in agreement--the substitute amendment 
is sound public policy. And this week the Commerce Committee also spoke 
when it unanimously approved the substitute. Senator Pressler has 
produced a real consensus which respects the interests and concerns of 
all the stakeholders and furthers the safety of America's interstate 
natural gas lines.
  The natural gas industry is important to America and I want to share 
with my colleagues just a few statistics to explain why the full Senate 
needs to act on this legislation; First, 160 million Americans live in 
gas heated buildings; second, $10 billion is spent annually by 
America's gas industry for construction that uses enough pipe to almost 
circle the globe; third, America's natural gas system consists of over 
1.2 million miles of pipe or enough to circle the earth 48 times; and 
fourth, there are over 600,000 Americans working in all aspects of this 
industry. The numbers speak for themselves--the natural gas industry is 
big business. It impacts many, and it has a huge presence in America.
  I want to be clear; this legislation will codify a limited and 
targeted risk assessment, cost-benefit regulatory approach. It is 
consistent with both the Administration's principles and the goals of 
Congress. The bill's approach is a practical and responsible 
arrangement and is fully supported by the Office of Pipeline Safety. 
This legislation will also permit demonstration projects where 
flexibility from the one-size-fits-all mentality is permitted in a way 
which mandates that safety and environmental concerns must equal or 
exceed existing standards. It opens avenues for creativity, but demands 
strict accountability. This legislation will fund the Office of 
Pipeline Safety into the next century.
  In response to past criticism, I also want to be clear; this bill 
does not alter the basic statutory structure for the Federal 
Government's oversight of the interstate industry. The new steps in the 
regulatory process will cause neither undue delay nor excessive costs. 
In fact, they are designed to provide better tools and management 
indicators for informed rulemaking in the future. This front end 
analysis will make government oversight more effective and efficient. 
Also the Secretary of Transportation has specific authority to ensure 
that the demonstration projects maintain existing safety standards. And 
finally, the new funding levels reflect the amounts stated by 
administration officials during the Commerce Committee's hearing.
  This bill recognizes that new approaches to pipeline safety are 
possible without jeopardizing either the public's safety or the 
environment. It allows sound and the most up-to-date science, as well 
as common sense and flexibility when standards are established. More 
importantly, the process codified in this bill will be accomplished by 
building cooperative consensus through real consultation with all 
affected parties to avoid lengthy wasteful litigation.
  The bottom line displayed by the modified bill, through the good work 
of Senators Pressler, Exon, Hutchison, and Breaux, is that government 
and industry can produce a genuine natural gas partnership that is good 
for all Americans. I eagerly look forward to seeing this bipartisan 
consensus bill considered by the full Senate as soon as possible.
  Let me conclude by saying safety on America's interstate natural gas 
pipelines will be enhanced by this legislation. I also want to 
underscore that environmental protection along America's pipeline 
right-of-ways will also be enhanced.

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