US House approves oil and gas pipeline safety bill

The US House of Representatives has approved bipartisan laws to improve oil and gas pipeline safety, as well as provide regulatory certainty in the transportation of energy commodities.

The new PIPES Act of 2016 also aims to clarify safety oversight efforts.

Reauthorising the federal pipeline safety programme within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for four years, the PIPES Act will require the agency to update safety regulations.

The PHMSA is also required to increase transparency and embrace emerging technologies under the new law, which is the result of collaboration between the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The legislation incorporates text from separate bills that were passed out of each committee in April.

The PIPES Act also expedites the process of completing outstanding safety requirements included in the 2011 reauthorisation.

House Transportation and Infrastructure chairman Bill Shuster said: "Americans rely on the safe and effective transport of energy products through our Nation’s system of pipelines.

"The PIPES Act improves the safety of this critical infrastructure network, and brings some needed reforms to the federal pipeline safety agency.

"This legislation was produced in a bipartisan manner, and we look forward to the bill moving through the Senate and to the President’s desk."