The Hill: After spill, Montana senators float pipeline safety proposal
Montana Sens. Max Baucus (D) and Jon Tester (D) floated legislation this week aimed at preventing another pipeline accident like the one that spewed thousands of gallons of oil into a river in the state last month.
It’s the latest effort by lawmakers to ratchet up pipeline safety in the aftermath of a string of recent pipeline accidents.
The Baucus-Tester bill would require that federal pipeline regulators review safety rules for pipelines near rivers, boost leak detection standards and update oil spill response plans.
The bill is a response to a July Exxon Mobil pipeline spill that dumped an estimated 50,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River in Montana.
“Montanans have the right to all the information possible about pipelines and their safety,” Tester said in a statement. “Since seeing the Yellowstone River spill, it’s clear we must have more transparency and accountability. This bill adds public input, improves safety procedures and gives our first responders the information they need to do their jobs.”
