Senate Passes Safe Pipes Act Calling for Federal investigation of Aliso Canyon Leak

LOS ANGELES, CA - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA, today praised the Senate's unanimous passage of the so-called Safe Pipes act, which includes her amendment addressing the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak.

"I am so pleased that the Senate recognizes the importance of reviewing the Aliso Canyon gas leak so we can protect other communities in the future," Boxer said in a statement.

The legislation -- Securing America's Future Energy: Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act -- now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Boxer's amendment, which she introduced with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- CA, directs Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to lead a broad federal review of the cause and the response to the natural gas leak at the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility, including making recommendations on immediate steps that could assist in preventing and responding to future incidents.

The task force would issue findings within six months, with interim reports as necessary to respond to the leak. In addition to the Energy Department, the task force would include representatives from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, the Department of Commerce and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The amendment directs the task force to review and issue recommendations on whether to continue operations at Aliso Canyon and other facilities in close proximity to residential populations, based on an assessment of the risk of a future natural gas leak.

The leak was discovered Oct. 23 and capped Feb. 18.

City News Service