TOPEKA, KS — U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Friday announced the Senate approved the bipartisan SAFE PIPES Act, which contains his language to improve the safety and regulation of underground natural gas storage facilities. The bill passed by unanimous consent.
“Underground natural gas storage facilities are not being regulated by the federal government, and the courts will not allow states to monitor their own storage fields if the gas in those facilities is in interstate transportation,” Roberts said. “We lost two lives and had a significant loss of property when a gas leak migrated to underground caverns in Hutchinson. As our nation begins to rely more and more on natural gas, we need to ensure there is a proper level of oversight to prevent dangerous explosions and any further loss of life.”
“I thank the Chairman Thune and Subcommittee Chairperson Deb Fischer and Senator Jerry Moran for working with me to ensure this important provision was included in the SAFE PIPES Act,” Roberts said. “We are one step closer to ensuring these facilities are inspected and safe.”
In Kansas, there are 11 interstate underground storage sites containing over 270 billion cubic feet of gas.
Last July, Roberts and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced a bill to improve safety of underground gas storage facilities. For more on the bill, go here.
Similar legislation has been introduced in the House where it awaits further debate and consideration.