A recent compromise offers some hope for progress toward pipeline safety improvements.
Given the long wait for progress, it was welcome news earlier this month when Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens, won subcommittee approval for compromise language on strengthening federal pipeline rules. The legislation will face further tests, including a full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee review as early as today.
Larsen worked hard in negotiating the compromise language with a key Republican, committee chair Rep. Don Young of Alaska. The compromise isn’t wholly satisfactory, falling short of what Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. John McCain agreed to put in a Senate bill.
The House compromise, though, is promising. Until now, it had been unclear whether Young was open to productive negotiations. There is always room to hope for further strengthening of the language before the legislation passes the full House. There would also be a possibility of gains in a Senate-House conference committee.
The compromise has come under criticism from some activists and an important House Democrat, Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota. Their demands for stronger language are not lacking in reason; again, however, there are opportunities for the bill to be improved. It’s important to remember, too, that it has been almost three years since a pipeline disaster claimed three young lives in Bellingham. It becomes clearer all the time that compromise is the way to break the long deadlock.
It’s a safe bet that even if an imperfect bill is passed this year, Larsen will live up to his commitments to keep seeking pipeline improvements in years to come.
The House’s compromise language, moreover, has real strengths. It would set up a process for new rules for testing of pipelines to be developed by the federal Office of Pipeline Safety. It also addresses the vital need for better training of pipeline operators.
The progress in Congress is more encouraging than it has been in a long time. Supporters of pipeline safety can continue to press for stronger language. Now, however, they have a House bill with momentum and validity.
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