H. Res. 484 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
June 9, 2009. 
Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 miles of gas and 
hazardous liquid pipelines in this country operated by 
over 3,000 companies; 
Whereas these pipelines play a vital role in the lives of people 
in the United States by delivering the energy we need to 
heat our homes, drive our cars, cook our food and oper-
ate our businesses; 
Whereas in the past 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 rup-
tured and exploded in a park in Bellingham, Washington, 
killing two 10-year-old boys and a young man, destroying 
a salmon stream, and causing hundreds of millions of 
dollars in damages and economic disruption; 
Whereas in response to this June 10th pipeline tragedy Con-
gress passed significant new pipeline safety regulations in 
the form of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 
and the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, 
and Safety Act of 2006; 
Whereas in the past decade the U.S. Department of Trans-
portation’s Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Ad-
•HRES 484 EH 
ministration, with support from a diverse group of stake-
holders, 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 all these new pipeline safety improve-
ments, in 2008 alone there were still 274 significant pipe-
line incidents causing over $395,000,000 in property 
damage and uncounted economic disruption; 
Whereas even though pipelines are the safest method to 
transport huge quantities of fuel, pipeline incidents such 
as the 1994 pipeline explosion in Edison, New Jersey 
that left 100 people homeless, the 1996 butane pipeline 
explosion in Texas that left 2 teenagers dead, the 2000 
pipeline explosion near Carlsbad, New Mexico, that killed 
12 people in an extended family, the 2004 pipeline explo-
sion in Walnut Creek, California, that killed 5 workers, 
and the 2007 propane pipeline explosion in Mississippi 
that killed a teenager and her grandmother are still oc-
curring; 
Whereas these millions of miles of pipelines are still out of 
sight and therefore out of mind for the majority of indi-
viduals, local governments, and businesses, leading to 
pipeline damage and general lack of oversight; 
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
•HRES 484 EH 
Whereas June 10, 2009, is the 10th anniversary of the Bel-
lingham, Washington, pipeline tragedy that was the impe-
tus for many of the above-mentioned safety improvements 
and would be an appropriate day to designate as ‘‘Na-
tional Pipeline Safety Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of National Pipeline 
Safety Day; 
(2) encourages State and local governments to ob-
serve the day with appropriate activities that promote 
pipeline safety; 
(3) encourages all pipeline safety stakeholders to 
use this day to create greater public awareness of all the 
advancements that can lead to even greater pipeline 
safety; and 
(4) encourages individuals across the Nation to be-
come more aware of the pipelines that run through our 
communities and do what they can to encourage safe 
practices and damage prevention. 
Attest: 
Clerk.