GPA Midstream sent a letter to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Energy Subcommittee supporting efforts to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA’s) pipeline safety programs. The association commended lawmakers for advancing the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, calling it a practical step that strengthens safety while improving regulatory clarity.
In the letter, GPA Midstream emphasized the essential role its members play in safely transporting energy across the United States, representing more than 500,000 miles of pipelines and critical midstream infrastructure. The reauthorization legislation includes provisions that would eliminate duplicative regulation of in-plant pipeline systems.
- While hazardous liquid in-plant piping is exempt from PHMSA oversight, similar clarity has not applied to gas in-plant piping.
- These systems typically operate at lower pressures and are subject to robust safety programs, such as OSHA’s Process Safety Management standards.
- The association supports the bill’s language that would remove the unnecessary regulatory overlap.
GPA Midstream also highlighted the value of performance-based regulation, which allows operators to tailor safety measures to specific risks and operating conditions. This approach supports innovation and ensures resources are directed toward the most meaningful safety outcomes. This legislation also allows a longer reauthorization period for the agency, which would last until 2031.
GPA Midstream thanked committee leadership for their work and reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with them to get this legislation passed by both the House and Senate.
