On 9/13/2014 1:08 PM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:41:49 -0600, Mayo > wrote:
>
>> A buried pipeline with proper maintenance is a proven safe method of
>> transport.
>
> Yet they leak.

Every man-made device will in due time fail.

> Badly, because they are buried and ignored.

That is not correct.

It is too costly not to maintain and monitor pipelines.

So they are pigged, regularly:

http://www.inlineservices.com/

Our consulting engineers are highly qualified in the management of
pigging and pipeline maintenance applications including regular cleaning
programs, corrosion problems including pitting and scaling and removal
of troublesome deposits such as black powder, liquids and waxes.
Our numerous years of extensive specialist knowledge in pipeline
cleaning and maintenance allow us to be able to access, provide and
engineer the most effective products, tools and services for most
applications.

http://www.cepa.com/about-pipelines/...-and-standards

All aspects of the life cycle of a pipeline — from design and
construction to operation and discontinuation (abandonment) — are
strictly regulated by a number of regulatory agencies and government
departments. These regulatory agencies and government departments ensure
Canada’s pipelines are operated safely, responsibly and in the public
interest.

Extensive federal and provincial regulation ensures the safe operation
of pipelines in Canada. Regulators review CEPA member performance though
inspections, audits and incident investigations.

http://www.pipelinelaw.com/2014/06/2...peline-safety/

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), state spill response
regulations may exceed federal requirements. 33 U.S.C. 2718 (stating
that OPA does not preempt a State’s imposition of additional liability
or requirements regarding oil releases within the State or any removal
activities associated with a release). Some states, including
California, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, already impose additional
spill response requirements.


Recent laws passed by the Minnesota and New Hampshire legislatures are
also intended to supplement existing federal oil spill response
requirements. These new programs affect the transportation of oil by
both rail and pipeline in those states. The Minnesota law authorizes
the agency overseeing oil transportation in the State to perform rail
and pipeline spill and discharge preparedness activities and requires
certain operators, including railroads, to submit State spill response
plans. In addition, the law imposes a fee on operators that transport
oil in the State to provide local fire departments with equipment and
spill response training. The State will also study oil transportation
incident preparedness. A New Hampshire bill, which passed the
legislature and is expected to be signed by the governor, requires
owners of oil pipeline facilities to submit spill response plans and
imposes certain notification requirements. In addition, a subsequent
bill passed in New Hampshire this month establishes a committee to study
the safe delivery of oil and gas by rail and pipeline in the State.

The federal Pipeline Safety Act expressly preempts states from
regulating interstate pipeline transportation safety. 49 U.S.C.
60104(c). State regulation of intrastate pipeline safety may exceed
federal standards, but only in those states that have been certified by
DOT. Id. Fourteen states have been certified to regulate intrastate
hazardous liquid pipelines and all fifty states have been certified to
regulate intrastate natural gas pipelines (and may exceed federal
standards). Of those states, several have recently proposed
legislation regarding excavation damage, public awareness, and bringing
civil penalty amounts in line with federal maximums.