Press Release: November 10, 2004

For Immediate Release
Contact: Carl Weimer (360) 543-5686

U.S. Secretary of Transportation appoints Pipeline Safety Trust director to national pipeline safety committee.

On November 9th U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced the selection of 10 individuals representing government, industry and the public to serve on the U.S. Department of Transportation's two committees dedicated to enhancing pipeline transportation safety. The press release can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/safepipelines/message/4605

Carl Weimer, the executive director of the Bellingham based Pipeline Safety Trust was named as a citizen representative to the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC). The federal Office of Pipeline Safety is required to seek advice on all proposed liquid pipeline safety rules and policy from this 15 member committee.

Upon notification of his appointment Mr. Weimer stated "I am extremely pleased to be asked to serve on this national committee that helps steer pipeline safety regulations. I believe that my appointment, along with the appointment of others who have also been critical of the lack of pipeline safety regulations in the past, shows a true desire for safer pipelines on the part of the Office of Pipeline Safety.

Mr. Weimer was also recently elected as Chairman of the Washington State Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety. That committee is appointed by the Governor, and advises Washington State agencies and pipeline companies on pipeline safety issues. He will also be speaking on "Restoring Trust in Pipeline Safety" at a national pipeline integrity management conference in Houston in December.

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The Pipeline Safety Trust promotes fuel transportation safety through education and advocacy, by increasing access to information, and by building partnerships with residents, safety advocates, government, and industry, that result in safer communities and a healthier environment. The Pipeline Safety Trust came into being based on the efforts and recommendations of Bellingham citizens and the families of Liam Wood and Stephen Tsiorvas who were killed in the 1999 Olympic Pipeline explosion.