House approves oil, gas pipeline safety bill

The House on Monday evening approved legislation that reauthorizes federal oil and gas pipeline safety laws, and includes several improvements aimed at preventing some of the pipeline accidents that have taken place in the U.S. over the last few years.

The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act, H.R. 2845, is the result of a bipartisan agreement between Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate, and passed by voice vote under a suspension of House rules.

The bill authorizes federal pipeline rules through 2015, increases civil penalties against pipeline owners that violate safety rules, condition state-level funding on tougher measures to ensure people learn where certain lines may be before moving earth for construction, and authorizes $107 million for safety inspections.

It also allows the Secretary of the Interior to set a rule requiring automatic shutoff valves.

The bill is in large part a response to a 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., that killed eight people.

The bill is one of several non-controversial bills the House debated Monday evening; these others were expected to pass by roll call vote starting at 6:30 p.m.