III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 181 

Designating June 10, 2009, as ‘‘National Pipeline Safety Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 10, 2009 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Ms. CANTWELL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 10, 2009, as ‘‘National Pipeline Safety 

Day’’. 

Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 miles of gas and 

hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States that are 

operated by more than 3,000 companies; 

Whereas gas and hazardous liquid pipelines play a vital role 

in the lives of people in the United States by delivering 

the energy needed to heat homes, drive cars, cook food 

and operate businesses; 

Whereas, during the last decade, significant new pipelines 

have been built to help move North American sources of 

oil and gas to refineries and markets; 

Whereas, on June 10, 1999, a hazardous liquid pipeline ruptured and exploded in a park in Bellingham, Washington, 

killing 2 10-year-old boys and a young man, destroying 

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•SRES 181 ATS 

a salmon stream, and causing hundreds of millions of 

dollars in damage and economic disruption; 

Whereas, in response to the pipeline tragedy on June 10, 

1999, Congress enacted significant new pipeline safety 

regulations, including in the Pipeline Safety Improvement 

Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-355; 116 Stat. 2985) and 

the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and 

Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-468; 120 Stat. 

3486); 

Whereas, during the last decade, the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation, with support from a diverse 

group of stakeholders, has instituted a variety of important new rules and pipeline safety initiatives, such as the 

Common Ground Alliance, pipeline emergency training 

with the National Association of State Fire Marshals, 

and the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance; 

Whereas, even with pipeline safety improvements, in 2008 

there were 274 significant pipeline incidents that caused 

more than $395,000,000 of damage to property and disrupted the economy; 

Whereas, even though pipelines are the safest method to 

transport huge quantities of fuel, pipeline incidents are 

still occurring, including the pipeline explosion in Edison, 

New Jersey, in 1994 that left 100 people homeless, the 

butane pipeline explosion in Texas in 1996 that left 2 

teenagers dead, the pipeline explosion near Carlsbad, 

New Mexico, in 2000 that killed 12 people in an extended 

family, the pipeline explosion in Walnut Creek, California, in 2004 that killed 5 workers, and the propane 

pipeline explosion in Mississippi in 2007 that killed a 

teenager and her grandmother; 

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Whereas the millions of miles of pipelines are still ‘‘out of 

sight’’, and therefore ‘‘out of mind’’ for the majority of 

people, local governments, and businesses in the United 

States, a situation that can lead to pipeline damage and 

a general lack of oversight of pipelines; 

Whereas greater awareness of pipelines and pipeline safety 

can improve public safety; 

Whereas a ‘‘National Pipeline Safety Day’’ can provide a 

focal point for creating greater pipeline safety awareness; 

and 

Whereas June 10, 2009, is the 10th anniversary of the Bellingham, Washington, pipeline tragedy that was the impetus for many of the safety improvements described in this 

resolution and is an appropriate day to designate as ‘‘National Pipeline Safety Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 10, 2009, as ‘‘National 

3 Pipeline Safety Day’’; 

4 (2) encourages State and local governments to 

5 observe the day with appropriate activities that pro6 mote pipeline safety; 

7 (3) encourages all pipeline safety stakeholders 

8 to use the day to create greater public awareness of 

9 all the advancements that can lead to greater pipe10 line safety; and 

11 (4) encourages individuals throughout the 

12 United States to become more aware of the pipelines 

13 that run through communities in the United States 

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1 and to encourage safe practices and damage preven2 tion relating to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. 

Æ 

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