The Texas Railroad Commission last week voted to approve toughpipeline safety proposals that include targeting one of the largestutilities in the state – TXU Energy. The TRC voted unanimously torequire TXU to have all segments of its polyethylene 1 pipe out ofthe ground by December.

“It’s the commission’s responsibility to take a look at theresults of the Garland (TX) Report and to do whatever possible toget all poly 1 pipe out of the ground as soon as possible,” saidTRC Chairman Michael L. Williams. “Our top priority must be toprovide Texans with assurance that the pipelines running throughour neighborhoods are safe and properly installed.”

The TXU mandate was prompted by TRC’s recent release ofinvestigative findings into a January 2000 house explosion inGarland, TX, which determined that the probable cause for theexplosion was an accumulation of natural gas migrating from a crackinto the area of the fusion of two pieces of polyethylene pipe.

However, TRC didn’t stop at just singling out TXU. TRC’smeasures adopted last Tuesday also will affect the state’s otherutilities, and call for the formation of a pipeline safety taskforce charged with determining how best to identify and maintaindata related to polyethylene pipe throughout the state. A databankwill be set up to allow TRC and operators to have pipeline make,location and manufacturer information readily available ifunacceptable pipe is identified.

The state’s recommendations also followed a hearing nearly two weeks ago in the U.S. Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which is considering pipeline safety legislation (see NGI, May 15). Pending pipeline safety legislation before the Senate committee would impose stiffer penalties in the event of spills or accidents, provide better worker safety protection for anyone who becomes a whistle-blower and create a network of regional advisory councils to help oversee the safety of gas and hazardous liquids lines.

Carolyn Davis, Houston

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