BILLINGS, Mont.—U.S. officials said Thursday, Oct. 1, they want tighter safety rules for pipelines carrying crude oil, gasoline, and other hazardous liquids after a series of ruptures that included the costliest onshore oil spill in the nation’s history in Michigan.
The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed expanding pipeline inspection requirements to include rural areas that are currently exempt and for companies to more closely analyze the results of their inspections.
The agency also would make companies re-check lines following floods and hurricanes, and submit information about leaks and other problems on thousands of miles of smaller lines that fall outside of existing regulations.
This is a big step forward in terms of strengthening our regulations. It's timely, and it's raising the bar on safety.
, Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
