Rep.SaludCarbajal
On the anniversary of the Refugio Beach oil spill, U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) reintroduced legislation to expand safety regulations on U.S. oil and gas pipelines to prevent devastating spills like the Refugio Beach disaster, which spilled over 100,000 gallons of oil on the Central Coast of California in 2015.
The Valve Safety Fairness Act, would restore the requirement for Type A gas gathering line operators to install these safety technologies in compliance with the 2022 PHMSA rule. Operators would be required to install automatic shut-off valves and rupture detection technologies.
“Following the 2015 Refugio oil spill, my constituents have been calling for stronger safeguards to prevent future environmental disasters from happening,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The Valve Safety Fairness Act is a common-sense solution that will help protect our coastal communities from new spills by upgrading oil pipelines with more advanced safety technology.”
“Residents along California’s Central Coast know the dangerous impacts of oil spills all too well. That is why we must ensure that pipeline owners and operators are using the most advanced technology available to prevent leaks or spills. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have worked to improve federal pipeline safety and oversight, and I look forward to continuing this work with Congressman Carbajal to advance critical legislation to close a safety loophole,” said Rep. Brownley.
Both Carbajal and Brownley serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In March 2022, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) followed through on a longtime push by California lawmakers to mandate these safety features on new and entirely replaced gas transmission lines, Type A gas gathering, and hazardous liquid (including carbon dioxide) pipelines.
In May 2023, however, a U.S. district court limited application of this rule by striking down the safety feature requirements applying to Type A gas gathering lines–the pipelines that transport gas from a production facility or refinery to a transmission line or gas main.
In 2015, the source of Plains All American Pipeline’s oil spill near Refugio Beach in Santa Barbara, which spilled over 100,000 gallons of crude oil into Central Coast beaches and ecosystems, took more than two hours to detect.
Following his election to Congress, the devastating Refugio oil spill along California’s Central Coast spurred Congressman Carbajal to champion stronger federal safety regulations for oil and gas pipelines. His leadership began with a bipartisan measure—unanimously passed by the House in September 2017—that called for automatic shut-off valves and improved leak detection standards. He later joined forces with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to press the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) directly for action.
PHMSA issued new rules in March 2022 mandating the installation of automatic and remote-control shut-off valves and leak detection technology for new pipelines.
Congressman Carbajal has previously advocated for his colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to support legislation that would expand the 2022 PHMSA rule to include all existing oil and gas pipelines.
Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County.
Thank you!
Get Oil Out!
Double containment pipelines with sensors is the best way to go
No pipeline at all is the best way to go.
If you ever get the chance to visit Alaska, be sure to make an attempt to view the Alaska pipeline. A true engineering marvel/masterpiece that was built despite incredible challenges. It’s 800-miles long and definitely showing signs of age.
In a region replete with natural beauty, be sure to visit an eyesore. Great advice!
I also recommend going to Nepal and heading up to Everest Base Camp. A good place to fixate on the huge fields of garbage….tons and tons of trash, human waste, and filth. Be sure not to notice the beauty around you….focus on the junk and smell the stench. Maybe remove the Eifel Tower. Knock down the Great Wall. Straighten up the leaning tower. Wind farms….lookin’ good. Love the beauty of the desert….let’s put up a few dozen more Ivanpah-type solar farms.
None of those things damage the planet and surrounding ecosystem like oil except for the trash maybe.
You got called out for glorifying an (as you admit) aging and ugly metal pipe that has caused damage to the ecosystem and interfered with the cultural practices of indigenous people. Own it.
“None of those things damage the planet and surrounding ecosystem like oil except for the trash maybe.” Someone needs to wake up and not miss the next train to Realityville.
BEES You fell off that train the second it left the station.
The Eiffel tower, Pisa, the Great Wall and not even a solar farm damage the surrounding ecosystem as much as oil production does.
Again, stop getting “facts” from Landman and memes.
You’re so far from reality I surprised you can even spell it.
And that someone is Bends Knees, living in a MAGA bubble fantasy world.
There are plenty of other sites in Alaska to visit besides the pipeline, particularly if you’re absolutely not interested in seeing what many consider to be an engineering marvel. A short distance (maybe 45 minutes or so) from Anchorage is Girdwood. Stop by the Alpine Bakery/Cafe and have some baked goodies and a coffee/tea/milk/juice/whatever (unless baked goods are not your thing). You can then head up to the TOP of the Alyeska Resort ski area by tram. If there are clear skies, the views are spectacular up there…maybe have a pop at the bar and watch the skiers shoosh down the mountain.
YOU are the one suggesting to go to Alaska and fixate on an eyesore, troll.
Also, no one suggested removing the Alaska pipeline … your comment displays your usual strawmen and logic failures.
Anyone can look it up in Google images and see what an eyesore it is, ruining pristine views for 800 miles … there’s absolutely no reason to go Alaska to see it, nor to go out of one’s way to see it if in Alaska for other reasons. And if one is interested in the engineering challenges, they won’t find out anything by viewing a section of the pipeline in person … just google it to find out the challenges that were met and how (for an $8 billion price tag).
Aside from that, your comment is an off-topic troll, guaranteed to bring hostile reactions.
Looks like it worked.
I’m honestly surprised PHMSA has survived DOGE so far, may it continue to do so.
Thanks Reps Carbajal and Brownlee!