The House Consumer Affairs Committee advanced this week legislation seeking to ensure that pipeline companies carrying natural gas liquids through highly populated areas provide emergency response plans to local emergency management providers.
House Bill 2293, introduced by state Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware), would require pipeline operators to provide its emergency response plans to the secretary of the Public Utility Commission, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the emergency director for each pipeline-affected county.
“In Delaware County, pipelines traverse across our landscape, often through populated neighborhoods and past schools and other areas where we need to ensure public safety,” Quinn said. “Too often, communication between pipeline operators and our local emergency management professionals breaks down, so this critical legislation will ensure that everyone has the information they need to properly respond should an issue arise.”
The bill would also ensure that all officials reviewing the response plan must adhere to the Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act. Pipeline operators that do not comply with the proposed law would be subject to enforcement action by the Public Utility Commission.
House Bill 2293 now heads to the full House for a vote.