Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) designating June 10th, 2009 as National Pipeline Safety Day.  The resolution commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Bellingham pipeline explosion, a tragedy that cut short the lives of three young people in Whatcom County, Washington.

Larsen led the floor debate on the resolution, which passed the House by a voice vote.  Following are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“M. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to support the designation of June 10th – tomorrow – as National Pipeline Safety Day. 

“There are more than 2 million miles of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in our country.  Pipelines play a vital role in the lives of the American people by delivering the energy we need to heat our homes, drive our cars, cook our food, and operate our businesses.

“In the past decade, significant new pipelines have been built to help move oil and gas to refineries and markets.  These pipelines are invisible to most people and are therefore out of sight and out of mind.  This can lead to pipeline damage and a general lack of government oversight. 
  
“On June 10, 1999, a pipeline leak caused a massive explosion in my district in Bellingham, Washington.  The rupture released more than a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline into Whatcom Creek.  The gasoline ignited, sending a fireball racing down the creek that killed two 10 year-old boys and an 18 year-old man.  The two boys, Stephen Tsiorvas and Wade King, were playing in a creek near their homes on an idyllic summer day, and 18 year-old Liam Wood, had just graduated from high school and was fly-fishing for trout.

“Previous generations may ask the question “where were you when President Kennedy was shot?”  But in my district people ask the question “where were you when the pipeline exploded?”  It had that much of an impact on my district.

“In response to this tragedy and several other pipeline explosions across the country, Congress passed legislation to strengthen our pipeline safety regulations.  The 2002 Pipeline Safety Improvement Act increased penalty fines, improved pipeline testing timelines, provided whistleblower protection, and allowed for state oversight.  In 2006, Congress reauthorized the 2002 law by passing the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act. 

“Since that day in June, we have made significant progress in ensuring the safety of our nation’s pipelines.  The frequency of “high consequence events” to pipelines has diminished almost 35 percent over the last ten years.  Due to the integrity management program required by the new law, pipeline operators have made extensive repairs to their pipelines that otherwise would have led to future accidents.  The 811 One Call program provides a number people can call before they dig to make sure that they won’t hit a pipeline.  And Congress has significantly increased the number of pipeline inspectors in the field.  

“However, we must remain vigilant.  That’s why I have introduced H.Res.484, a resolution to recognize tomorrow, June 10, 2009 – the ten-year anniversary of the Bellingham pipeline explosion – as National Pipeline Safety Day. 

“My resolution encourages individuals, state and local governments, and pipeline safety stakeholders to use this day to create greater public awareness of pipelines and pipeline safety.  It has the support of Washington state Governor Chris Gregoire, the Whatcom County Council, the Pipeline Safety Trust, the Pipeline Association for Public Awareness, the American Gas Association, and the American Public Gas Association. 

“I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.”

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