Wall Street Journal

The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the cause of the Sept. 9 pipeline blast. La Hood said his agency and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration don't need to wait for the NTSB's report to issue pipeline safety regulations. "We know what needs to be done," LaHood said. LaHood said the rules would likely include a requirement for pipeline operators to complete a "top-down review" of their pipelines and replace any pipelines that are in "critical condition, immediately." "We need to fix America's pipeline system," LaHood said. "We can do better." U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat whose district includes San Bruno, has introduced legislation that would beef up federal pipeline safety requirements. Speier said Thursday that if Congress did not pass pipeline safety legislation, the DOT could make many of the changes necessary to improve safety and require greater disclosure from pipeline operators about the locations of their pipelines and their proximity to residences and neighborhoods.

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