| AOPL, API, the American Gas Association, and the American Public Gas Association sent a joint letter of views to the Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee this week on a pending bill to reauthorize the authority for the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). The bill, S. 1052, the Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2005, provides Congressional guidance on the various oversight programs of the TSA, including pipeline security. The joint association letter expresses support for TSA to have a lead function in the area of intelligence gathering, assessment and policy and that the Administration leverage the expertise of the Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety in the development of any specific regulations deemed necessary. We understand the Committee may hold hearings this fall to gather more information and obtain additional input on recommendations to strengthen the security oversight of all transportation modes, including pipelines. There is currently no companion legislation in the House of Representatives. We will continue to track the development of this issue and keep you posted. The joint letter may be found at http://www.aopl.org/members/docs/misc/Joint%20Associations%20Views%20Letter%20S%20%201052%20Final%208%2022%2005.pdf |