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U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett letter to Office of Pipeline Safety
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett letter to Office of Pipeline Safety
View the original Adobe PDF version
June 17, 2005
Mr. Norman Y. Mineta
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Re: Reject Longhorn Partners Pipeline Plan that Violates Prior Agreement and Endangers Families
Dear Secretary Mineta,
I have received a copy of a request by Longhorn Partners Pipeline, L.P. asking to change the requirements of the Longhorn Mitigation Plan. This issue is of serious concern to me and to the residents of Travis County, Texas, and one that I hope you will act on quickly and decisively, as their request to the Office of Pipeline Safety is being considered as you read this letter, and I am told that the Office of Pipeline Safety Southwestern Regional Office is nearing a final decision approving this request.
The initial approval of the Longhorn Pipeline’s Mitigation Plan, which allowed for the pumping of highly flammable gas through residential areas and over an environmentally sensitive aquifer in Southern Travis County was a serious mistake committed by a prior administration. As many of us who opposed this pipeline from the beginning have feared, at the first opportunity to alter the terms of the original agreement and jeopardize the safe operations of the pipeline - Longhorn Pipeline has submitted a request to do just that.
The terms of the original Mitigation Plan required Longhorn Partners to do an in-line inspection within three months of start up. In their request to alter the requirements, Longhorn is asking that this inspection process be delayed indefinitely. Additionally, by delaying the in-line inspection Longhorn has failed to comply with the original Mitigation Plan requirement that any problems identified in the inspection would be repaired within three months of start up operations. As a result of this lack of action, Longhorn appears to be in violation of their Mitigation Plan and the federally required commitments that were part of that plan.
In light of their unwillingness to abide by some of the most critical safety requirements of the already agreed upon plan, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reject Longhorn Partners Pipeline, L.P.’s request for a change in requirements to the Longhorn Mitigation Plan. Additionally, Longhorn Pipeline should be ordered to cease operations until they complete the in-line inspection, make necessary repairs, and comply with all the requirements of the mitigation plan.
No less than the safety of my neighbors and the rest of the State of Texas through which the pipeline runs rest on your decision.
Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett
cc: Stacey L. Gerard, PHMSA/U.S. Dept of Transportation
Mayor Will Wynn
View the original Adobe PDF version
June 17, 2005
Mr. Norman Y. Mineta
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Re: Reject Longhorn Partners Pipeline Plan that Violates Prior Agreement and Endangers Families
Dear Secretary Mineta,
I have received a copy of a request by Longhorn Partners Pipeline, L.P. asking to change the requirements of the Longhorn Mitigation Plan. This issue is of serious concern to me and to the residents of Travis County, Texas, and one that I hope you will act on quickly and decisively, as their request to the Office of Pipeline Safety is being considered as you read this letter, and I am told that the Office of Pipeline Safety Southwestern Regional Office is nearing a final decision approving this request.
The initial approval of the Longhorn Pipeline’s Mitigation Plan, which allowed for the pumping of highly flammable gas through residential areas and over an environmentally sensitive aquifer in Southern Travis County was a serious mistake committed by a prior administration. As many of us who opposed this pipeline from the beginning have feared, at the first opportunity to alter the terms of the original agreement and jeopardize the safe operations of the pipeline - Longhorn Pipeline has submitted a request to do just that.
The terms of the original Mitigation Plan required Longhorn Partners to do an in-line inspection within three months of start up. In their request to alter the requirements, Longhorn is asking that this inspection process be delayed indefinitely. Additionally, by delaying the in-line inspection Longhorn has failed to comply with the original Mitigation Plan requirement that any problems identified in the inspection would be repaired within three months of start up operations. As a result of this lack of action, Longhorn appears to be in violation of their Mitigation Plan and the federally required commitments that were part of that plan.
In light of their unwillingness to abide by some of the most critical safety requirements of the already agreed upon plan, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reject Longhorn Partners Pipeline, L.P.’s request for a change in requirements to the Longhorn Mitigation Plan. Additionally, Longhorn Pipeline should be ordered to cease operations until they complete the in-line inspection, make necessary repairs, and comply with all the requirements of the mitigation plan.
No less than the safety of my neighbors and the rest of the State of Texas through which the pipeline runs rest on your decision.
Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett
cc: Stacey L. Gerard, PHMSA/U.S. Dept of Transportation
Mayor Will Wynn