Balanced Approach Needed for PA Energy Regulation

There is no doubt that the natural gas industry has been an economic boon for Pennsylvania. Since producers started extracting resources from the Marcellus Shale sixteen years ago, ushering in an energy renaissance in the Keystone State, the energy industry has grown into a major economic contributor, responsible for close to 9% of gross domestic product in the commonwealth.

The state is grappling, however, with a pipeline capacity problem that has caused natural gas production to stagnate. Officials are discussing the best way to build out sorely needed additional pipeline infrastructure, and the issue has become a top priority for many Pennsylvanians. Addressing these concerns is important, but elected leaders and regulators must be sure that they take a balanced approach.

More than 93,500 miles of underground pipelines run throughout Pennsylvania. While the energy industry is constantly working to institute new safeguards and to minimize pipeline accidents, it’s impossible to prevent all mishaps when operating at such a scale. On the rare occasions when pipeline accidents do occur – like the explosion that occurred in West Reading last year – we must carry out a close examination of the facts. 

By identifying the causes of such incidents and finding ways to improve responses, we can quell unnecessary fear that may develop about the safety of Pennsylvania’s pipeline infrastructure. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the incident in West Reading has found that a faulty piece of pipeline infrastructure known as an Aldyl A service tee installed by local utility provider UGI was at fault. The report further found that UGI service lines were kept at full operating pressure even though the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration had warned as early as 2007 that Aldyl A service tees had a poor performance history. 

Such revelations have spurred a bipartisan response in Washington. Pennsylvania representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA 6) and Daniel Meuser (R-PA 9) have introduced legislation known as the Aldyl A Hazard Reduction and Community Safety Act (HR 5638), which would require a national assessment to document where Aldyl A service tees are located in pipeline infrastructure around the county and mandate that removal and replacement of these unreliable materials begin no more than four years after the law is enacted. 

Additional assistance from federal regulators in creating nationwide guidelines to advise businesses on steps to be taken in the rare instances when major natural gas leaks do occur would be helpful. As things stand now, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not appear to have any specific evacuation procedures in place with regards to such emergencies; formalizing such procedures would go a long way toward bolstering pipeline safety and represent the kind of commonsense and focused response that such incidents require.

Pennsylvania’s pipeline network is a vital piece of energy infrastructure, but when incidents happen, they should be properly addressed. Such targeted responses will support the continued integrity of Pennsylvania’s pipeline network while ensuring that our state’s robust energy and manufacturing industries continue to improve the quality of life for all residents.

Michael Puskaric previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was a member of the Labor & Industry Committee