While our last blog post was well over a year ago, we have been hard at work here at the Pipeline Safety Trust. We started 2021 with the passage of the PIPES Act of 2020 which, among other key safety issues, began to regulate the reckless emissions of methane (the primary component of natural gas) by natural gas pipeline operators. We have been working to help PHMSA implement that mandate as strongly as possible since not only will it keep people safer from explosions, but it will take a significant step toward lowering the unconscionable amounts of methane the natural gas industry routinely dumps into our atmosphere.
As we open 2022, the Pipeline Safety Trust is feeling the effects of another provision of the PIPES Act. The legislation created a carve-out section of PHMSA’s Technical Assistance Grant program which has been appropriated to significantly support the operations of the Pipeline Safety Trust. We are very excited about this new partnership with PHMSA. Because of these funds, we are able to grow our staff from our humble three employees (two of which were part-time!) to nine employees. We get overwhelmed with excitement thinking of finally getting to all of the projects that have languished in the backs of our minds for years due to lack of staff capacity.
Over the next several months, we will introduce you to each of our new team members. We will also be kickstarting this blog, led by our new Communications and Outreach Director, Kenneth Clarkson.
We can’t wait for you to meet our new team, and witness the benefits of our increased capacity for protecting people and the environment from the risks of pipelines. Join us in celebrating this win for the public voice in pipeline safety.
Here’s to a great new year!
Bill Caram
Executive Director