Administration’s Request for $175M in Pipeline Safety Funding is Up from Last Year’s Enacted Number of $145.5M / Pennsylvania Has 7,500 Miles of Interstate Pipeline, Some Over 100 Years Old- Explosions Have Occurred in Lehigh Valley, Southeastern PA, Northeastern PA and Western PA / Increased Funding Will Allow for Pipeline Oversight, Inspection and Upgrades
Washington, DC- Following an effort by U.S Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), the Administration has proposed a $175 million investment in pipeline safety in its fiscal year 2016 (FY16) budget. The increase would be up from this past year’s enacted level of $145.5 million and the number the Administration asked for in its last budget- $158 million. Pennsylvania has some 7,500 miles of interstate pipeline some of which is over 100 years old. Explosions have impacted communities in the Lehigh Valley, Southeastern, Northeastern and Western Pennsylvania. The increased funding will allow for increased pipeline oversight, more inspections and upgrades.
“I’m pleased that the Administration has decided to request a significant investment in pipeline safety,” Senator Casey said. “Too many communities across Pennsylvania have felt the impact of these terrible explosions. Having more inspections and replacing our aging pipelines will make our communities safer.”
The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline safety program oversees and maintains the safety of our national interstate pipeline system. Pennsylvania alone contains more than 7,500 miles of interstate pipeline and 63,000 miles of intrastate transmission and distribution pipelines. These infrastructure systems, which include pipelines over 100 years old, deliver enormous volumes of natural gas and other petroleum products to Pennsylvanians every day. Increased funding, as supported by Senator Casey, would allow PHMSA to increase oversight and inspection of the system.
|
PHMSA Funding Chart Account Name |
FY 2013 Enacted |
FY 2013 Under Sequestration |
FY 2014 President’s Budget |
FY 2014 Enacted |
FY 2015 Enacted |
|
Pipeline Safety |
$110,031 |
$104,485 |
$155,073 |
$118,587 |
$145,500 |
|
Hazardous Materials Safety |
$45,253 |
$40,123 |
$51,801 |
$45,000 |
$52,000 |
|
Emergency Preparedness Grants |
$28,318 |
$26,865 |
$28,318 |
$28,318 |
$26,265 |
|
Operational Expenses |
$20,320 |
$19,295 |
$20,154 |
$20,514 |
$20,725 |
|
I Total (in Millions) |
$200,922 |
$190,768 |
$255,346 |
$214,059 |
$244,490 |
The provision that Senator Casey requested addresses the replacement of cast iron pipelines that caused the Allentown explosion. This provision will call on the Department of Transportation to receive regular updates about industry’s plans for safe management of and progress towards the replacement of cast iron pipes.
